Senior Legal Counsel

The Opportunity
At APA, our purpose is to secure Australia's energy future. We're not doing it alone. We're doing it with our customers and communities as Australia's energy infrastructure partner, a role our unique experience and expertise positions us to play.

We have an exciting opportunity available for a Senior Legal Counsel, HSEH & Approvals to join the APA Legal and Governance team in Brisbane, Sydney or Perth, on a permanent fulltime basis.

Reporting to the Group Counsel - HSEH & Approvals, the primary objective of this position is the design and delivery of legal advice and services for projects and operations, focusing on access and approvals, as well as general property and legal matters, to ensure the efficient management of APA's legal risk.

Key Responsibilities

• Delivery of hands on, effective, timely and accurate legal advice in all States and Territories in relation to Native Title, Cultural Heritage, Environment & Planning and general operational safety matters
• General legal support in the areas of project approvals and access agreements, including infrastructure interface and crossing management
• Managing insurance claims as and when they arise
• Drive team performance to reduce reliance on external law firms by helping the team implement legal operations initiatives to achieve the function's strategic priorities.
• Management of legal risk in relation to project approvals, operational approvals and stakeholder management matters across the business
• Assist the Group Counsel - HSEH & Approvals with strategic legal projects focussed on improving efficiency and reducing spend

Your background

• Admitted to practice as a Legal Practitioner in Australia with a current practising certificate
• Strong and extensive hands-on experience in Native Title, Cultural Heritage, Mining or Environment and Planning approval laws and preferably gained from law firm training, coupled with in-house experience
• Local market knowledge and experience or exposure to owner/operator led infrastructure development and operation
• The technical skills to drive strategy and work as 'trusted advisor' to the business unsupervised and comfortable dealing with ambiguity and change
• Proactive, results-drive, intellectually curious and willing to upskill in unfamiliar speciality areas
• Strong communication and influencing skills, collaborative and the ability to work with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders

About The Team
The Legal, Governance & Regulatory function exists to support APA to manage legal risk through the delivery of independent, commercially orientated, cost effective, high quality and timely legal advice and services.

We have a strong culture of continuous improvement and working towards Net Zero with the introduction of renewable green gas into the Gas Networks. We need people who are courageous, nimble and ready to make a positive impact.

Working at APA
At APA we're committed to fostering a safe and inclusive workplace where you can achieve your best. We'll provide you with access to targeted career development programs, competitive remuneration, employee benefits, flexible working arrangements, and wellbeing programs. We also have an inclusive parental leave policy providing 18 weeks leave including superannuation to support parents at work and in life.

We employ more than 2700 people across Australia and are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive culture, where everyone feels safe, valued, and trusted to do their best every day.

We are APA
APA Group is a leading Australian energy infrastructure business.

We proudly own, operate and manage a diverse $26 billion portfolio of gas, electricity, solar and wind assets which deliver essential services to communities and customers across Australia. And we own more than 15,000 kilometres of gas pipelines which deliver energy to households and businesses across every corner of Australia.

As the partner of choice in delivering infrastructure solutions for the energy transition, we're focused on bundled remote grid energy solutions, electricity and gas transmission, and future energy, including hydrogen and carbon capture and storage.

Our customer centric approach means we understand our customers and offer them reliable, innovative, and cost-effective energy solutions that support their decarbonisation ambitions.

We are committed to securing Australia's energy future by delivering infrastructure solutions for Australia's energy transition and supporting the decarbonisation ambitions of our customers and communities.

Join our team and be part of securing Australia's energy future. We'd love to hear from you.
APA is an equal opportunity employer. The safety, health and wellbeing our people, community and environment a priority. We embrace diversity in our people to ensure our workforce is representative of the communities that we operate in.

Applicants must be eligible to work in Australia to be considered.

This vacancy works with critical APA data, systems or infrastructure and candidates are subject to background vetting (including Police checks) before & during employment.

Role closes Friday, 5 September 2025. Role Reference Number JR3130

APA Group will not accept unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies.

We will contact successful candidates after the closing date.