Principal Government Lawyer

• Principal Government Lawyer - EL2
• Adelaide, SA; Brisbane, QLD; Canberra, ACT; Darwin, NT; Hobart, TAS; Melbourne, VIC; Perth, WA; Sydney, NSW; Alice Spring, NT; Bendigo, VIC; Mackay, QLD; Newcastle, NSW; Orange, NSW; Rockhampton, QLD; Townsville, QLD
• $167,502 - $181,300

About The Department Of Employment And Workplace Relations
We are committed to empowering futures, ensuring rights and enriching lives. We support people to have safe, secure and well-paid work with the skills for a sustainable future as we ourselves strive to be a model employer.

We provide the framework for fair and productive relationships between employers and employees. We also oversee skills development and training initiatives to support those entering the workforce or re-training to take advantage of emerging employment opportunities.

With us, your work directly contributes to shaping the employment landscape. Whether you are engaging in policy development, program implementation, or direct support services, your efforts will have a tangible impact on job seekers, employees and the economy by giving them a framework to build a future anchored and realised through employment.

It is our ambition to do things differently, to create the 'department of great jobs'– where our people reflect our purpose.

The Role
We are seeking a Principal Government Lawyer with strong commercial law expertise to co-lead and manage, in partnership with another Principal Government Lawyer, a specialist commercial law team within the Commercial and Information Law Branch.

The Branch services all commercial law needs of the department (with the assistance of external legal service providers where relevant) so the work is interesting and varied. You will be joining and experienced management team that is well established and respected for our high quality, solution focused advice across the department.

As an 'in house' legal unit, you and your team will have a unique opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the core business of your client areas. Your team will primarily service the commercial law needs of the department's Corporate and Enabling Services Group (including commercial property work, centralised procurement advising, and IT procurement and contracting), the Pacific Labour Operations Division (which administers the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme through deeds with participating employers) and the Workplace Relations Group.

We aim for a flexible and inclusive work environment where we are invested in each other's success and development, maintain a 'can do' attitude and enjoy some camaraderie and good humour along the way.

Duties And Responsibilities
Responsibilities of the APS Level EL2 may include:

• Providing a broad range of legal services to the department's Workplace Relations, Pacific Labour Operations Division and Corporate and Enabling Group, as outlined under 'The Role'.
• Demonstrating the capabilities listed under the 'Capabilities' section of the job description.
• Ensuring compliance with relevant Commonwealth legislation and policies, including:

Qualifications and Education
How to Apply

• Public Service Act 1999
• Legal Services Directions 2017
• Upholding high standards of legal practice and ethical conduct in line with departmental and government expectations.
• A degree in laws from an Australian tertiary institution, or a comparable overseas qualification, which is appropriate to the duties of the position; and
• Admission as a legal practitioner, however described, of the High Court or the Supreme Court of an Australian State or Territory.

Applicants are required to provide a summary (no more than
1000
words) that outlines skills, knowledge, and experience and why you should be considered for this vacancy. You should take into consideration the position overview (including any detailed position specific requirements) when drafting your response. Where possible include specific relevant examples of your work.

The

In the eRecruit (the department's online recruitment system) you will also need to:

• upload a Curriculum Vitae
• provide contact details for 2 Referees.

Eligibility
Don't meet all the role requirements?
At DEWR we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and seek to recruit staff with a wide range of backgrounds, skill levels, disciplines and working styles. If this role resonates with you and you are excited about making an impact, but your past experience doesn't align perfectly, we encourage you to apply anyway.

Citizenship
- to be eligible for employment with the Department, you must be an Australian Citizen or, in limited circumstances, in the process of obtaining it.

Security Clearance
- our successful candidate is required to hold, or have the ability to obtain, and maintain a
Baseline
security clearance.

Please refer to the Job Information Pack for more information about the role.