Commercial General Counsel - Department of Defence - IndustrialCareer

First listed on: 11 April 2019

Commercial General Counsel 

The Department of Defence’s Primary role is to defend Australia and its national interests.  In delivering Defence capability to the Australian Government, the Defence Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG) is seeking a highly qualified and experienced legal practitioner to fill the position of Commercial General Counsel.

The Commercial General Counsel will provide strategic legal advice to the CASG senior leadership group and Defence more broadly on legal aspects of complex contracting and procurement matters and will help to ensure better identification and management of CASG’s and Defence’s commercial legal risk. The Commercial General Counsel will also have remit for the delivery of all of Defence’s in-house commercial legal function and will lead the Commercial Law Team in Defence Legal.

The Commercial General Counsel will manage the use of CASG external legal resources (who provide the majority of legal services to CASG) and will help to better ensure the optimal delivery of legal resources to CASG. The combined team that the Commercial General Counsel will lead will be approximately 20 to 25 lawyers.

The role is required to have good knowledge, skills and advanced professional expertise as a senior legal practitioner, as well as experience in the application of law in a commercial setting. An understanding of the relevant environmental factors affecting Defence, the relationship between complex issues and a sound grasp of Commonwealth frameworks, such as procurement, financial, employment and security, are all important. The occupant of the role must have high level relationship management, influencing and negotiation skills, with strong leadership ability.

The remuneration package includes superannuation, an Executive Vehicle allowance and, where applicable, relocation expenses. The salary component for this position may be negotiated with the successful candidate, within the Band 1 salary range.

Engagement may be negotiated on an ongoing basis or for a specified term. To be eligible for engagement, an applicant must have more than ten years of post-qualification legal experience; hold a relevant degree in law (or equivalent qualification); hold a graduate diploma in legal practice (or equivalent); be admitted as a lawyer, legal practitioner, barrister, solicitor or barrister and solicitor of the High Court or Supreme Court of an Australian State or Territory; and be eligible to hold and maintain a practising certificate in the jurisdiction in which they practice. To be eligible for engagement, an applicant must be a permanent Australian citizen.  This is a security-designated position.  The successful applicant will be required to undergo security assessments to the appropriate level.   

To discuss the requirements of this position, after obtaining the selection criteria, please telephone Jonathon Beaumont or Fabrizia Luca, Gillian Beaumont Legal on 02 6126 4500 quoting reference GBL5026.

Applicant information packs, including selection criteria and application instructions, can be obtained by visiting https://defencecareers.nga.net.au/cp/?audiencetypecode=defenceext. Applications close at 11:30pm (AEST) Thursday, 25 April 2019.

For Senior Executive Service administrative recruitment enquiries please contact the Directorate of Senior Officer Management on (02) 6265 1742 or via email at DSOM@defence.gov.au.