Senior Project Officer – Emerging Lawyers Program

An exciting opportunity for a skilled project professional to lead the delivery of our Emerging Lawyers Program, building capacity across the community legal sector in family violence and family law.

Women’s Legal Service Victoria | Melbourne CBD | Immediate start | Hybrid working model | Part-time – 0.8 FTE | Maximum Term until 30 September 2027

• Be a part of a feminist community legal service supporting Victorian women and non-binary people.
• Your expertise will directly contribute to building a more gender-equitable society.
• Competitive remuneration, 5 weeks annual leave and flexible work arrangements.

About Us

For over 40 years Women’s Legal Service Victoria (Women’s Legal) has championed women’s rights to live free from violence. We are a dedicated team with a passion for working with women and non-binary people to live free from violence and discrimination by:

• Providing high quality integrated legal services for Victorian women and non-binary people who are victim-survivors of family violence and disadvantaged or marginalised by structural and systemic barriers.
• Building the capacity of professionals who work with women and non-binary people, to better understand the law and navigate the legal system safely.
• Advancing gender equality by challenging unsafe and discriminatory policies and laws and informing and advocating for legal and policy initiatives that respect and promote the rights of women and non-binary people.

About The Role

As the Senior Project Officer, you will provide project management expertise to support family violence and family law capacity building initiatives. Working closely with the Manager, Program Delivery, you will coordinate and deliver the Emerging Lawyers Program, which supports early career lawyers in community legal centres across Victoria.

In This Role You Will:

• Lead the development, coordination and execution of the project-related activities to ensure outcomes are achieved.
• Monitor and report on progress against milestones, contributing to evaluation and impact.
• Collaborate with partner community legal centres and participating lawyers to ensure a positive program experience.
• Support the delivery of funder requirements and reporting obligations.

About You

You are a proactive and collaborative project management professional with excellent communication skills and a strong focus on delivering high quality programs. You thrive in a dynamic environment, bringing both strong organisational ability and a commitment to continuous improvement. You are confident in engaging stakeholders and motivated by meaningful outcomes for the community legal sector.

Key to your success is your:

• Strong project management skills with the ability to deliver complex projects on time and within scope.
• Ability to evaluate performance, manage risks, and use project management tools effectively.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Collaborative and flexible approach to working in teams and with diverse stakeholders.
• Commitment to continuous learning, growth and adaptability in times of change.

You Will:

• Hold qualifications or relevant experience in project or program management.
• Demonstrate experience successfully planning, executing and managing projects.
• Have experience working with stakeholders and partners to deliver collaborative projects.
• Bring experience drafting project communications and supporting strategic initiatives.

Why Women’S Legal?

In return for your dedication, we offer:

• Competitive remuneration
• 5 weeks annual leave, plus bonus leave between Christmas and New Year!
• Paid parental leave and reproductive health leave
• Cultural leave
• A strong commitment to your professional development, personal development, and wellbeing
• A hybrid working model and a flexible working environment that supports work/non-work balance
• NFP salary packaging benefits (up to $15,900 in tax-free pay every year) plus meal and entertainment benefits (up to $2,650 tax-free pay per year)
• Fresh fruit available in the office
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program

To Apply

Submit a resume and covering letter to tell us how you are the right candidate for this role. Please ensure the cover letter addresses how you personally align to Women’s Legal values as described in the attached position description.

Research shows that women are less likely to apply for roles if they don’t meet 100% of the selection criteria. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all the criteria, but this role sounds like a good fit for you.

All successful candidates will be required to produce a national criminal history check prior to the commencement of their employment.

Disclosure of a criminal record does not necessarily preclude appointment by Women’s Legal, but if needed, we invite applicants to address this issue early in the application phase. Should a criminal record disclosure be advised by a candidate, Women’s Legal will endeavour to provide clarity over whether the conviction would preclude a candidate from being able to carry out the position duties.

Please note, all staff employed by Women’s Legal Service Victoria are required to comply with Section 121 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law.

Enquiries

Enquiries can be emailed to Ruth McKendrick, HR Officer at hr@womenslegal.org.au.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We recognise our work benefits greatly from the unique knowledge, skills, and expertise of individuals with diverse experiences, including people who are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, with disability, with lived experience of family and sexual violence, and from migrant, refugee, culturally and racially marginalised backgrounds.

If this is you, we strongly encourage you to apply.

Women's Legal relies on an exception under the Equal Opportunity Act to employ women only.