General Counsel

Life at the St Vincent de Paul Society

At Vinnies, we are what we do. We believe in making a difference. We are one of Queensland's most-loved charitable organisations and are committed to leading with our values and mission at heart. We work together to build a legacy that we can be proud of, supporting those in need within our communities. Our companions are why our journey started, striving to shape a more just and compassionate society. Our employees, members and volunteers are the reason our journey continues, and why we will succeed.

What we can offer you

• Work with a purpose – not your average organisation and not your average role
• Competitive hourly rate and excellent employment benefits under our Employee Agreement
• Salary packaging arrangements – helping you save on tax
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program – our people are our most valuable asset
• A welcoming and inclusive environment where you'll always feel part of a team

The Role

We are looking for a strategic legal leader with a passion for governance and purpose-driven impact to join our team in the position of General Counsel & Corporate Secretary.

As the General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, you will play a pivotal role in safeguarding the legal foundation of the Society. You will oversee a broad portfolio including legal advisory and counsel, risk management, regulatory compliance, and insurance management.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead the in-house legal department, providing strategic legal advice to stakeholders and business units across the Society's good works.
• Oversee governance , ensuring efficiency, compliance, and cost-effective practices.
• Design and maintain systems for enterprise  regulatory compliance management.
• Support State Council and committee processes, including policy reviews and director-level training.
• Provide legal, secretarial, and governance support to the CEO and State Council.
• Ensure all governance and risk activities comply with legislation.
• Promote compliance across programs, policies, and procedures for members, volunteers and employees.
• Promote best practices in governance, legal and risk.
• Champion the Society's mission in all operations and interactions.
• Foster a culture of safety, excellence, and continuous improvement.

This is a Permanent, Full-time position (38 hours per week) based in South Brisbane.

To be successful in the role, you will meet the following criteria:

• Relevant tertiary qualification in law and qualified to practice law in Australia
• Minimum 10 years post-admission experience in corporate and commercial law, ideally with property and/or construction law experience also.
• Current practising certificate in QLD.
• Understanding of and commitment to the philosophy of the St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland and an ability to work in accordance with policies and procedures to promote the values and mission of the Society

Ready to apply? We can't wait to hear from you. Submit your application today via SEEK or directly on our careers page

We are a child safe organisation

At St Vincent de Paul Society QLD, we are dedicated to creating a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all individuals we support, especially children, young people, and at-risk adults. We recognise our duty of care and are committed to upholding the highest standards of safeguarding across all our programs and services.

For roles involving direct work with children or at-risk adults, a valid Blue Card (or equivalent Working with Children Check in other states) is mandatory and must be verified prior to commencement. All successful candidates will undergo appropriate background screening and reference verification as part of our recruitment process.

We are committed to meaningful equity and diversity in our workforce. Applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are strongly encouraged. To be eligible for this position you must have an appropriate visa to work in Australia/New Zealand.