Senior Legal Counsel

WorkSafe is Victoria's workplace health and safety regulator. We are also the workplace injury insurer. Our job is to reduce workplace harm and improve outcomes for injured workers. This is our promise to the Victorian community and the reason we exist.

Senior Legal Counsel, IR/ER

• $163,604.00 per annum + 12% superannuation
• Full time, fixed term opportunity until 31/10/2026 (parental leave)
• Geelong or Melbourne CBD based role (hybrid - 3 days a week in office, min 1 day in Geelong)

About the role

Reporting into the Director, Corporate Legal, this role is responsible for the provision of high quality, client focused Industrial Relations/Employer Relations (IR/ER) legal services to the People and Culture Division. Additionally, you will provide Legal advice, project work and ad hoc people management, as required by the Director across the Corporate Legal Team.

Key accountabilities

• Provide high quality, client focused, strategic, constructive and practical legal advice to People and Culture (P&C) Division and other business areas where required on IR/ER issues, including on WorkSafe's enterprise agreement (EA), its policy and procedures and on individual matters.
• Appear as an advocate or instruct external lawyers on IR/ER matters in various forums, for example, Fair Work Commission, Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC), the Federal Court and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
• Provide high quality, client focused, strategic advice in relation to the negotiation and drafting of the WorkSafe EA.
• Provide project management on a range of legal and business projects.
• Analyse and interpret complex legislation and laws, including the various Acts, Orders and Regulations administered by WorkSafe, and their interaction and application to WorkSafe including its enterprise agreement, policies and procedures.
• Effectively negotiate, influence and assist in the resolution of any IR/ER disputes and any issues relating to WorkSafe's enterprise agreement, policies and procedures.
• Provide effective legal risk management services including development and delivery of training for P&C and other business areas where required on IR/ER issues.
• Prepare (or assist with the preparation of) briefing papers for the Minister, Board, Chief Executive and other managers on matters requiring their attention.
• Supervise the work performed by junior lawyers and paralegals in relation to matters under the Senior Lawyer's control.

Please ensure you review the Position Description here for additional information on accountabilities for this role.

About you

You are an experienced lawyer who is admitted to practice as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria or jurisdictional interstate equivalent. Your negotiation, written and verbal communication skills are highly developed, and your strong stakeholder management skills allows you to build and maintain strong working relationships with a range of stakeholders. You have proven ability to consult on complex and sensitive issues within critical timeframes and offer constructive and practical solutions based on strategic, analytical and critical decision making capabilities.

Additionally, you possess the following skills and experience:

• Holder of a current Victorian practising certificate authorised to engage in legal practice as a principal or employee of a law practice, volunteer at a community legal centre or as a corporate legal practitioner and/or capacity upon commencement to immediately apply for and be granted within a reasonable time a Victorian practising certificate as a corporate legal practitioner. Supervised legal practice conditions must be disclosed and agreement for manager supervision obtained before commencement. All other Victorian practising certificate conditions must be disclosed and agreed to before commencement and at any time thereafter imposed. Maintenance of a current Victorian practising certificate including legal practice within the conditions upon the practising certificate is mandatory and evidence of certification must be provided upon renewal and at any time requested.
• Demonstrated experience providing legal advice which should include conduct of matters at the Fair Work Commission, the Federal Court and VCAT and conducting or assisting with internal and external investigations.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing business and governance projects.
• A detailed understanding of the scope of WorkSafe's functions, objectives and of relevant legal requirements including the following legislation: Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013; Occupational Health & Safety Act 2004; Equal Opportunity Act 2010; Fair Work Act 2009; Charter of Human Rights & Responsibilities Act 2006.
• Ability to prioritise and work to deadlines in a dynamic, complex environment and to deal effectively and efficiently with a wide diversity of tasks.
• Demonstrated capability in driving and implementing change through the development of effective strategies to manage legal and reputational risks.
• Demonstrated experience in working independently as a specialist or directly managing and leading a small team.
• Professional legal qualifications and admission to practice as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria and capacity to hold a full practicing certificate are mandatory

Working with us

At WorkSafe, our goal is for every employee to feel connected, safe, and valued within their team, for teams to feel appreciated in the workplace, and for WorkSafe to be respected in the community.

We believe that a diverse workforce is essential for delivering the best outcomes for the Victorian community. We strongly encourage applications from all individuals, including First Nations people, people with disabilities, those from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and individuals of all sexualities and genders.

What's next?

Applications close 11:00pm Monday 25 August 2025. Click the link to apply, and join us in making a difference to Victorian lives.

Only applications submitted via the WorkSafe Careers website will be considered.

Preferred candidates will be required to satisfactorily complete a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and/or other checks as required for the position as part of the recruitment process.

Eligibility for ongoing employment with WorkSafe Victoria requires Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency.

Due to the volume of applications received, individualised feedback will only be provided to candidates who progress to interview stage.

For further enquiries please contact Bianca Stojanovski via email