Senior Legal Counsel

Job no: 493511
Work type: Full Time
Location: Head Office, Canberra, Adelaide, Melbourne
Classification: Executive Level 1

About us

Defence Housing Australia (DHA) is a nationally recognised Government Business Enterprise with the primary role of providing housing and related services to Defence and their families. DHA manages one of Australia’s largest national housing portfolios of about 17,000 properties and has an opportunity for an experienced Senior Legal Counsel to join the team.

About your team

Working as part of the Legal Services team, the Senior Legal Counsel provides legal advice and assistance to the Chief General Counsel, Principal Legal Officer, and other staff on a broad range of legal matters affecting DHA. DHA Legal Services’ mission is to enhance DHA’s operations through our role as a trusted advisors within the business. In giving legal advice, we adopt the approach, “simplicity on the other side of complexity”.

About the role

As a Senior Legal Counsel, you will be expected to provide advice on a broad range of legal matters including dispute resolution, administrative and government law, leases, commercial contracts (drafting and advice) including design and construct development contracts.

In this role, you are expected to:

• Be a trusted advisor who provides and influences the adoption of legally sounds approaches
• Provide quality practical legal advice on a range of issues, in particular in areas including planning and environmental law, residential tenancies, commercial contracts, administrative law and commercial matters
• Assist external counsel to facilitate the smooth progression of advice and litigation
• Contribute to legal knowledge within DHA

This is a Non-ongoing Engagement for a period of up to twelve (12) months.

Benefits for working at DHA include:

• 15.4% superannuation
• Generous leave entitlements, including 18 days personal leave and 20 days annual leave per year
• Work-life balance
• Positive workplace culture where you can bring your whole self to work
• Opportunities for growth and development
• Career progression and opportunities
• ADF partner employment conditions when posting to a new location

For information on DHA’s Employee Value Proposition, visit our website.

How to apply

To apply, click the Apply Now button below with your current resume and a 500-word one page pitch, addressing the requirements of the role.

For more information about the role, click View Position Description button below.

Any questions? Please contact Samantha Brajdic, Principal Legal Officer T: 02 6217 8526 E: samantha.brajdic@dha.gov.au

Order of Merit

A merit pool will be established from this process which will be valid for 18 months from the date of advertising. This merit pool may be used throughout this period to fill similar positions in the event positions become vacant.

Inclusion and Diversity

DHA is committed to building an inclusive and diverse workforce. We welcome applications from across our community including, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, women, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those who identify as LGBTIQ+, ex-defence members, mature aged employees and carers.

RecruitAbility

RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy. Under the RecruitAbility scheme you will be invited to participate in further assessment activity for the vacancy if you choose to apply under the scheme; declare you have a disability; and meet the minimum requirements for the job. For more information visit: https://www.apsc.gov.au/recruitability

Eligibility

Employment with DHA is conditional on successful applicants demonstrating that they are an Australian citizen and can obtain and maintain a security clearance at the required level.

Applications close

AEST 11.55pm Thursday, 5 December 2024

View Position Description