Principal Lawyer, Commercial and Projects

Corporate & Commercial Law (Legal)
Government - State (Government & Defence)

The Department of Transport and Planning oversees key planning, transport and land use policy decisions and management across the State. A life-cycle approach to planning, building, connecting and sustaining communities means our people can come together to; improve services, deliver sustainable projects, focus on customer engagement, streamline regulatory approval pathways, facilitate community consultation and better realise local economic opportunities for more liveable communities across Victoria.

DTP Legal is a Division within the Department, and is responsible for the provision of legal, legislative, commercial and information access advice and support to the Ministers, Secretary and Department in the achievement of the transport, land use and planning system vision, objectives and decision-making principles.

The Operations and Commercial Branch of DTP Legal provides advice and support to divisions of the Department and portfolio agencies, in relation to commercial disputes, commercial negotiations, contract management, transport operations, public private partnerships, transport franchises, commercial projects and the integration of the Big Build assets back into our transport network. The Branch comprises a large team of lawyers with expertise in commercial and contract law, commercial negotiation, dispute management, and laws associated with multi modal transport operations, rolling stock, large scale procurement, precinct development and property transactions.

We're focused on outcomes that deliver more choice, connections and confidence in our travel, ensuring the whole transport network works as one to deliver better services and outcomes.

Company description:

About Us

The Department of Transport and Planning oversees key planning, transport and land use policy decisions and management across the State. A life-cycle approach to planning, building, connecting and sustaining communities means our people can come together to; improve services, deliver sustainable projects, focus on customer engagement, streamline regulatory approval pathways, facilitate community consultation and better realise local economic opportunities for more liveable communities across Victoria.

DTP Legal is a Division within the Department, and is responsible for the provision of legal, legislative, commercial and information access advice and support to the Ministers, Secretary and Department in the achievement of the transport, land use and planning system vision, objectives and decision-making principles.

The Operations and Commercial Branch of DTP Legal provides advice and support to divisions of the Department and portfolio agencies, in relation to commercial disputes, commercial negotiations, contract management, transport operations, public private partnerships, transport franchises, commercial projects and the integration of the Big Build assets back into our transport network. The Branch comprises a large team of lawyers with expertise in commercial and contract law, commercial negotiation, dispute management, and laws associated with multi modal transport operations, rolling stock, large scale procurement, precinct development and property transactions.

We're focused on outcomes that deliver more choice, connections and confidence in our travel, ensuring the whole transport network works as one to deliver better services and outcomes.

The Principal Lawyer, Commercial and Projects reports to the Senior Legal Counsel, Commercial and Projects and is responsible for providing authoritative advice on a wide range of complex legal issues for the department, including goods and services procurements, information technology services agreements and software licensing, intellectual property law, property law and construction projects. The Principal Lawyer works collaboratively with the Commercial and Projects legal team and their clients to ensure the provision of outstanding client service and timely, clear and pragmatic legal services.

To access the Position Description, please click here.

Position Outcomes / Accountabilities

• You are a highly skilled and engaged member of your legal team, respected, and sought after for your legally excellent, clear, timely and pragmatic legal advice
• You successfully identify, and advise on how to manage, all significant legal risks in the projects that you work on
• You effectively and efficiently manage any external advisors that you engage to ensure advice and services provided are of a high standard, reflect current best practice, mitigate risk, optimise business outcomes, are consistent and reflect value for money
• You proactively establish and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders and clients to support delivery of DTP's objectives
• You present annually to your branch or the whole of DTP Legal on one or more of the matters on which you have advised
• You contribute to a positive team culture by always acting with respect and courtesy to your colleagues and clients
• You ensure that legal knowledge and other documents prepared in the course of your role are safely stored in easily accessible and searchable format
• You assist as required in the delivery of other legal advice, and perform other duties and tasks as directed.

Key Selection Criteria

The DTP is seeking a highly skilled legal professional to provide independent legal advice on complex, urgent, and sensitive matters, manage risks, and supervise the quality of advice from internal and external legal services. The role involves drafting and reviewing legally complex transactional documents, applying advanced legal knowledge to ensure compliance and manage legal risks. Additionally, the candidate will apply specialist knowledge in statutory interpretation, critical thinking, and problem-solving to deliver effective business outcomes, and will communicate effectively and understand the broader political and organisational context.

Qualifications and Experience

Mandatory

• Admitted, or eligible to be admitted, to practice law in the state of Victoria.

Desirable

• Demonstrated experience advising on complex issues relating to procurement, commercial contracts, transport contracts or projects.
• Demonstrated in-house legal experience
• Demonstrated experience working for or advising government, including awareness of government-specific considerations relevant to legal advice

What we offer

• Meaningful work making Victorian communities more accessible and liveable
• Professional growth and development opportunities across the department and the wider Victorian Public Services
• A hybrid working model focused on collaboration and teamwork
• Optimal work-life balance initiatives including flexible working arrangements
• Opportunity to work across multiple urban and suburban hubs
• We prioritise the development of a safe and inclusive culture

Culture Value

We are an equal opportunity employer, embracing a diverse range of applicants such as veterans, and people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, LGBTQIA community members, individuals with disabilities and/or health conditions, as well as those from varied faith and cultural backgrounds. At our department, we prioritize the development of a safe, inclusive, and high-performance culture through shared actions and behaviours that align with our strategy and direction. This empowers our employees to effectively contribute to our goals.

How to Apply

Non-DTP Employees (Including VPS outside of DTP)

Create an account by clicking the ‘Apply' button and follow the prompts. For help, click here for Quick Reference Guide.

Applications close at 11:59 PM on Sunday 14th of July 2024.

Please include a resume and cover letter. All applications must be submitted through the online portal. We're unable to consider email or manual applications.

For more information, contact Isabel Tsang, Acting Senior Legal Counsel, Commercial and Projects via isabel.tsang@transport.vic.gov.au . Preferred applicants will need to complete a police check and other pre-employment checks. Your information will be treated confidentially.

If you require additional adjustments across the recruitment process or accessible formats of this ad, please contact us by phone or email.

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