Senior Legal Officer

Do you want your work to make a difference for NSW?

Together, we create thriving environments, communities and economies.

• Join a world class organisation and make a difference to the environment
• Thrive in a supportive, collaborative and creative environment
• Job Grade / Classification: Environment Officer Class 9
• Remuneration starting from $120,701 - $134,459 plus superannuation
• One ongoing full time role available within the Litigation Team and one temporary full time role up to 2 years available within the Legislation and Legal Advice Team. (This process will be used to fill further roles as they become available in the future in both the Litigation Branch and Legislation and Legal Advice Branch)
• Roles based in Parramatta/Flexible work arrangements and use of CBD satellite office available

About the roles and the team

The Environment Protection Authority has one ongoing Senior Legal Officer (Environment Officer Class 9) role available within their Litigation Team and one temporary Senior Legal Officer (Environment Officer Class 9) role available within their Legislation and Legal Advice Team. This process may be used to fill further roles as they become available in both the Litigation Team and Legislation and Legal Advice Team.

The EPA’s Legal Team is a high performing group of specialist in-house lawyers who prosecute and defend EPA cases in Court and who provide legal advice to the EPA across all areas of its work.

Litigation Team

In relation to the advertised role in the Litigation Team, reporting to a Manager Litigation, the Senior Legal Officer will prepare and conduct prosecutions and civil litigation for the EPA to enforce environmental laws, support the development and administration of environmental legislation and provide legal advice, training, and education to EPA staff.

Key accountabilities

The key accountabilities relevant to the role include but are not limited to:

• Assist compliance officers to investigate offences, prepare and conduct complex prosecutions and civil enforcement litigation to address contentious, long-term and emergent issues and to enforce and support the administration of environmental legislation.
• Prepare and conduct complex cases defending the administration of environmental laws to maximise positive environmental outcomes.
• Provide high quality legal and policy advice to stakeholders on complex litigation issues to ensure the effective resolution of legal issues.
• Participate in the delivery of legal and investigative education seminars and training programs.
• Develop and maintain cooperative, productive and professional working relationships with key stakeholders.

To be successful, you will be a mid-level lawyer, with strong litigation experience. In addition, you will ideally have knowledge in legislation administered by the EPA and legislation relating to criminal and civil enforcement, and also knowledge of environmental principles and practices and exposure to the complexity of the environmental debate.  You will have strong attention to detail and excellent organisational and stakeholder management skills and experience in the provision of complex legal advice at a senior level. You must be admitted or immediately eligible to hold a practising certificate in NSW.

Legislation and Legal Advice Team

In relation to the advertised role in the Legislation and Legal Advice Team, reporting to a Manager Legislation and Legal Advice, the Senior Legal Officer will provide advice on a range of compliance, regulatory and commercial issues, draft legal documentation, participate in legislative reform, and provide training and education.

Key accountabilities

The key accountabilities relevant to the role include but are not limited to:

• Develop and maintain cooperative, productive and professional working relationships with key stakeholders.

• Provide high quality professional research and advice to stakeholders on environment protection, administrative law, machinery of government and agency contract, lease and grant arrangements to assist with the effective resolution of legal issues.
• Draft and review legal documentation.
• Develop relevant and contemporary legislation and contribute to the legislative review program to ensure the achievement of corporate objectives of the EPA, within the framework of the Government agenda.
• Contribute to the development and participate in the delivery of legal education seminars and compliance programs.

To be successful, you will be a mid-level lawyer, with strong government, regulatory or environmental law experience. In addition, you will ideally have expertise in legislation administered by the EPA, and also knowledge of environmental principles and practices and exposure to the complexity of the environmental debate. You will have strong attention to detail and excellent organisational and stakeholder management skills. You must be admitted or immediately eligible to hold a practising certificate in NSW.

Essential Requirements

• Admitted or immediately eligible to hold a practicing certificate in NSW

For more information read the full Role Description – Senior Legal Officer

To Apply

• Attach your resume that sets out your education, work history and other facts about yourself that relate to the role (maximum of 4 pages)

• Attach a cover letter (maximum of 2 pages) that is relevant to the role. The information provided in your cover letter must show how you meet the focus capabilities and other essential requirements of the role. (Refer to the role description for details about the capabilities and the associated behaviour indicators. The role description also lists the essential role requirements.)  

Applications close: Sunday 4 May 2025 at 11.55pm

Should you require further information about the role please contact Caterina Giglio  - caterina.giglio@epa.nsw.gov.au or call (02) 9995 6187.

About us

As the environmental steward and regulator of our State we are committed to a sustainable future.

Our people are proud to play a role in protecting the environment of NSW. We partner with Aboriginal people, industry and the wider community to protect, restore and enhance our diverse ecosystems.

We bring scientific expertise, experience and actions to inspire innovative solutions as we transition our state to a circular economy.

As we respond to urgent current issues, including climate change, we educate and support our stakeholders to create an environmentally healthy future.

Join us on our mission to protect tomorrow together.

Why work for us?

EPA people are energised by our purpose and focussed on the environment and we invite all our team members to:

• Be part of protecting what matters – be purpose led making a meaningful impact to the environment, economy and communities delivering for a better NSW
• Do more and be inspired together – be members of passionate united teams who protect the environment and each other through care, trust and collaboration.
• Bring who you are and grow with us - we put people first creating a culture where everyone can be themselves, respecting and developing our diverse skills & aspirations and prioritising our safety and wellbeing.

Some additional benefits to working for us include:

• A competitive salary and leave entitlements, salary packaging to save tax, fitness passport and free & confidential counselling services
• Opportunities and pathways for learning and developing your skills with access to online and face to face training and mentoring
• Flexible work arrangements
• Opportunities to make an impact and help shape the future for our environment
• Interesting and challenging work aligning with personal values that allow you to reach your full potential
• Recognition programs

In our inclusive and accessible workplace, differences are embraced, contributions are valued, and everyone has a sense of connection and belonging. The EPA supports various employee affinity groups, practice flexible working, offer job share and workplace adjustments.

The EPA is an independent statutory authority aligned with the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).

For more information on the work we do at NSW EPA, go to www.epa.nsw.gov.au/your-environment

Good to know

A recruitment pool may be created for ongoing and temporary opportunities of the same role or role type that may become available over the next 18 months.

If you are deemed as a recommended candidate following your interview, we will be inviting you to complete various background checks as part of our recruitment process before a final decision is made on the outcome of your application.

Our background checks may include, but are not limited to Reference Checks, National Police Checks, Working with Children and Medical Checks. The background checks will vary depending on the requirements of the role you have applied for and the work and environments you will be working across.

Capability application tool

The capability application tool helps job applicants understand and use the NSW Public Sector Capability Framework when applying for jobs with the NSW government. To access the tool please click here.

Looking for more information or assistance in applying? Our Diversity team can assist to:

• provide alternative formats to apply
• make adjustments to the recruitment process
• offer information about workplace adjustments and support networks

We encourage people with disability to apply. If you have disability and require more information on adjustments and assistance to apply, contact the Diversity team on Diversity@DPIE.nsw.gov.au  (please include reference number).

If you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander check out Our Mob on Country to see the work we do and get assistance in applying.