Director, Legal Services

Role Overview:As the Director, Legal Services you will play a pivotal role in advancing the OIA's mandate. Your work will directly impact the integrity and trustworthiness of public administration in Queensland.
You will lead a team of legal professionals providing complex legal and strategic advice on matters related to administrative law, investigations, and compliance. You will lead the legal team in providing legal advice and preparing, instructing and appearing in disciplinary proceedings, and other related proceedings, before the Councillor Conduct Tribunal (CCT), the Queensland Civil Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) and the courts. You will be an integral member of the OIA's leadership team, fostering a positive culture of strong teamwork, open communication, leadership, innovation, respect, inclusion and diversity. You will be required to foster a culture which drives performance against the strategic and operational priorities of the team.
Key Accountabilities:Reporting to the Deputy Independent Assessor, you will:- Provide strategic and operational leadership to the legal team.- Provide oversight of and lead the team in the provision of superior, authoritative, oral and / or written high level legal advice to OIA officers in relation to the investigation and potential prosecution of councillor misconduct and associated matters.- Lead the legal team to review and settle briefs of evidence and relevant affidavits, applying evidentiary considerations and advising on prospects of success for mattersbefore the CCT, QCAT, Magistrates Court and judicial reviews.- Manage the referral of legal matters to external legal providers, ensuring value for money, quality and timeliness of work produced, adhering to the OIA's budget.- Case manage matters through the disciplinary process by:- preparing natural justice and referral documentation for matters referred to the CCT in consultation with the Independent Assessor;- representing the Independent Assessor in CCT matters, including appearances at directions and oral hearings; and- drafting legal submissions for matters before the CCT. Review briefs of evidence submitted by officers and provide technical advice to ensure successful prosecution of disciplinary applications.
About you:One of your key strengths will be your ability to nurture meaningful partnerships by providing expert legal advice and your ability to articulate complex concepts by presenting a clear and convincing rationale. You will be at ease using your influence in challenging situations and know how to tailor your communication style for maximum impact and results and champion respect, inclusion and diversity in the workplace.
With your positive outlook you will also thrive when you are mentoring staff and focussed on continual improvement where it is needed, staff support and development as well as championing diversity of thinking.
You will have a relevant tertiary qualification in law and be able to interpret and apply legislation, administrative law principles and policies, investigation processes and evidence analysis within the scope of the Local Government Act.
Familiarity or previous experience working within a local government will be highly regarded.
To learn more about the role, download the role description or for a confidential discussion contact Charlie Kohn, Deputy Independent Assessor on telephone 07 3334 2603 or email charlie.kohn@oia.qld.gov.au
Applications will remain current for 12 months.
Job Ad Reference: QLD/548480/24
Closing Date: Thursday 14 March 2024