Lead Legal Counsel, Corporate & Compliance

About the role
In this role, you’ll play a key part in shaping and driving a proactive, positive compliance culture across the organisation. You’ll lead the development and implementation of effective corporate compliance strategies and be responsible for managing the City’s freedom of information (FOI) and privacy obligations

• Work type: Permanent, Full time
• Classification: SPL Commencing at $148,599 pa plus super

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Lead, develop, and manage staff within the Corporate & Compliance stream, including providing guidance to both legal practitioners and non-legal subject matter experts.
• Drive the development of departmental capabilities to proactively meet evolving organisational needs and future strategic goals.
• Ensure the Corporate & Compliance stream and broader department consistently meet statutory obligations, adhering to the objectives and principles of FOI, privacy legislation, and other relevant laws.
• Oversee the department’s resource management and budget planning to ensure efficient operations, while regularly monitoring and reporting on performance against departmental goals.
• Provide subject matter or expert advice to the Directorate, ELT and other leaders across the organisation.
• Lead the provision of specialist advice and briefings to the City on complex FOI and Privacy matters.

About you
To be successful in this role you will have a tertiary qualification in law and admitted to practice law in the state of Victoria, holding a current practicing certificate.

Essential Experience:

• Minimum 6 years post-admission experience, with experience in the provision of legal advice in the field of corporate compliance.
• Demonstrated senior leadership experience.
• Proven success in leading teams through change while maintaining strong stakeholder engagement throughout the process.
• Experience driving business planning and management, developing budgets, managing financial and resource allocation, and producing complex reports aligned with strategic goals and KPIs.

Preferred candidates will be required to undergo a National Police Check and Working with Children's Check as part of the recruitment process (funded by the City).

If this sounds like the role for you, then click apply now! 

Child Safety Responsibilities   
We are committed to being a child-safe organisation and have zero-tolerance for child abuse. We have specific policies, procedures, and mandatory training in place to support employees, volunteers, and contractors to achieve and adhere to these commitments. Please read our Child Safe Standards Management Policy.  

Diversity and Inclusion  
At the City we want a workforce that reflects the community we live in. We welcome and embrace everyone, all people with their own unique experiences, and support and encourage all our employees to do their best work, have equal access to opportunities and a just working environment. For this reason, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from First Nations people, people with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, from the LGBTQIA+ community, people with disability and people of all genders, ages and diverse experience.  

We are the City
From parks to offices, childcare centres to works depots, leisure facilities to the Wool Museum and waterfront, our team plays a vital role in shaping our vibrant and growing community. Our community counts on us to get the essentials right while looking for ways to go beyond. By listening, collaborating, and focusing on sustainability, we strive to do the basics brilliantly and create a lasting impact. If you’re ready to be part of something bigger, join us in shaping the future of Geelong.

We support accessibility and encourage discussions about any adjustments or support you may need during the recruitment process.

Applications And Enquiries

Click the Position Description link to view more information about this position.

Enquiries: Vesna Allan | Chief Compliance & Integrity Officer VAllan@geelongcity.vic.gov.au

Click the Apply button to submit your application or find out more about this opportunity. If we can assist you with any reasonable adjustments in order to submit your application for this role, please contact the Talent Acquisition team via email at careers@geelongcity.vic.gov.au noting your preferred method of communication and contact details and a member of the team will be in touch.

We collect demographic data to help us learn who our advertisements are reaching and how we can reach an even more diverse audience.  We are committed to building a more diverse team. Your responses to our demographic questions are strictly confidential and will not be individually shared.