Senior Governance Advisor

This is your chance to make a genuine impact by championing good decision‑making and upholding integrity across all governance activities. You’ll join a team that thrives on care, collaboration, and continuous growth, where your governance expertise will help shape the future of the community. The organisation offers a warm, inclusive environment with flexible working options and ongoing training to fuel your professional development. If you’re passionate about building trust, supporting responsible decisions, and contributing to a positive workplace culture, this role is the perfect springboard for your next career adventure. Benefits & Collaboration Become part of a supportive team dedicated to fostering integrity and building trust within the community through outstanding governance practices—your contributions will be valued every day. Enjoy flexible working arrangements and continuous professional development opportunities designed to help you flourish in your career while maintaining work‑life balance. Work in an inclusive environment that celebrates collaboration, empathy, and shared success—make a real difference in local government operations while growing alongside inspiring colleagues. What you’ll do As a Senior Governance Advisor, you’ll be at the heart of providing specialist advice on governance matters while driving good governance practices across the organisation. Your daily work will see you collaborating enthusiastically with colleagues to ensure statutory provisions are met, policies are followed diligently, and risks are managed proactively. You’ll play a key role in maintaining compliance frameworks, overseeing insurance portfolios with care, preparing essential documentation for leases and agreements with precision, reviewing legal documents for accuracy and risk management with attention to detail, administering vital registers efficiently, managing policy manuals thoughtfully, advertising meeting dates promptly, preparing insightful reports for Council consideration, and supporting code of conduct reviews. Success in this role means working together towards departmental goals while nurturing fresh ideas within your team. You’ll also have plenty of opportunities to optimise work processes by identifying improvements that enhance service outcomes for both internal stakeholders and the wider community—making every day rewarding. Deliver high‑level legislative, compliance, and internal governance advice regarding the Local Government Act 2020 and associated legislation to ensure the organisation remains fully compliant. Take ownership of updates to Council's Instruments of Delegation, ensuring all legal requirements are met and communicating changes clearly throughout the organisation. Administer the distribution, completion, and return of the Annual Compliance Audit Return to maintain statutory compliance and demonstrate organisational accountability. Support reviews of the Code of Conduct and manage legislative processes for creating, amending, or repealing local laws as needed to keep governance standards current. Provide expert advice and information on statutory, regulatory, or policy requirements to both staff and councillors so everyone can make informed decisions confidently. Manage Council's insurance portfolio including renewals, schedule updates, staff advisories on insurance requirements, cost allocations, claims processing (excluding certain categories), and annual reviews with asset owners for comprehensive risk management. Prepare documentation for commercial and non‑commercial leases and occupancy agreements in consultation with relevant stakeholders to ensure clarity and compliance. Review legal documents such as MOUs, agreements, terms and conditions; offer guidance on potential issues to safeguard against risks and support best practice. Administer registers for corporate legal documents and develop procedures for governance administration; oversee policy manual reviews and renewals for robust record‑keeping. Advertise Council and Committee meeting dates; prepare reports on governance matters; oversee common seal register administration including monthly reporting for transparency. What you bring Your experience as a Senior Governance Advisor showcases your ability to deliver exceptional support across all aspects of governance within a public sector setting. You bring formal qualifications relevant to business administration or management along with hands‑on experience navigating complex legislative frameworks. Your analytical thinking empowers you to develop robust procedures that align with statutory obligations while your interpersonal skills foster collaborative relationships across departments. You have demonstrated proficiency in drafting policies and reports that inform strategic decisions at senior levels. Your understanding of insurance practices further enhances your ability to manage risk effectively. In addition to technical expertise, your commitment to continuous learning ensures you remain adaptable amidst changing regulations. Your approachable nature allows you to engage empathetically with colleagues while resolving operational challenges promptly. By leveraging these skills alongside your attention to detail and dedication to ethical standards—including confidentiality—you consistently contribute positively towards achieving organisational objectives. Formal qualifications in Business or Public Administration, Management or other related discipline are essential for this position. At least 12 months' experience in governance or administrative roles within local government or public sector environments is required. Demonstrated expertise in developing local laws, policies, guidelines and strong report writing capabilities is highly valued. Extensive working knowledge of statutory requirements applicable to local government or public sector administration is crucial. Comprehensive understanding of local government structures, functions, strategic directions and corporate objectives is expected. Proven ability to think analytically and laterally when formulating effective procedures, plans or strategies that address complex challenges. Familiarity with insurance practices—particularly within a local government context—is advantageous but not mandatory; willingness to learn will be supported by training opportunities. Ability to anticipate operational needs and resolve customer issues efficiently within established corporate guidelines is important. Possession of a current C Class Drivers Licence is required for mobility between sites as needed by the role. Ability to obtain or possession of a current National Police Certificate is necessary for compliance purposes. What sets this company apart This organisation truly stands out thanks to its unwavering commitment to integrity, trust‑building, and responsible decision‑making at every level. Employees are encouraged daily to embody core values such as care for colleagues and community wellbeing; inclusivity through partnership‑driven collaboration; curiosity‑driven learning; resilience; mindfulness; constructive feedback; sustainable choices; pride in work; realistic goal‑setting; celebration of achievements; openness towards change; creativity in problem‑solving; resourcefulness in service delivery; accountability for personal development; equal employment opportunity; diversity inclusion; respect for individual rights; fairness; equality; dignity; zero tolerance towards discrimination or bullying. The workplace culture fosters genuine teamwork where everyone's contributions are celebrated—creating an environment where you can learn from mistakes without fear while striving together towards shared goals. Flexible working arrangements allow employees balance between professional growth opportunities (including training) and personal wellbeing initiatives supported by comprehensive health & safety policies. The organisation's focus on continual improvement means you'll always have access to resources that help you excel both individually and collectively. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are encouraged to apply. What’s next If you’re ready to energise your career by making a real difference in local government governance—this is your moment Apply today by clicking on the link below—don’t miss out on joining an enthusiastic team where your expertise truly matters To apply please click apply or call Brendan Ward on 61 8 9266 0914 for a confidential discussion. #J-18808-Ljbffr