Executive Director, Funding, Disclosure And Compliance, And General Counsel

·       Significant role supporting the transparency and integrity of the NSW electoral and regulation systems.

·       Influential role as a key member of the Executive Team.

·       Leads a large multi-disciplinary team.

About the NSW Electoral Commission

The New South Wales Electoral Commission delivers trusted and independent systems, processes, oversight and engagement that support democracy in New South Wales. Our vision is to maintain confidence in the integrity of the democratic process and make it easy for people to understand and participate.

Our work includes:

1.              Running and regulating elections and administering the NSW electoral funding scheme;

2.              Managing the register of third-party lobbyists;

3.              Educating and guiding the public and our stakeholders about electoral and lobbying issues; and

4.              Investigating possible offences and enforcing electoral laws such as the Electoral Act 2017 and the Electoral Funding Act 2018

About the Executive Director, Funding Disclosure Compliance and General Counsel

The Executive Director, Funding, Disclosure, Compliance and General Counsel leads the compliance and investigation, legal and privacy, lobbyist regulation and electoral funding (campaign finance) functions of the NSWEC. To support the transparency and integrity of the NSW electoral and lobbying regulation systems, the role is responsible for the delivery of services by the Division to assist external stakeholders to meet their regulatory obligations, to ensure accurate payments of public funding are made to eligible election participants, to ensure elections are conducted consistently with statutory requirements and to enforce breaches of electoral and lobbying legislation. As General Counsel, the role also provides strategic legal, privacy, integrity, and policy advice directly to the Electoral Commissioner, to senior executive colleagues, to other independent and executive NSW, Commonwealth, and inter-state/territory agencies and to the three-member Electoral Commission to ensure legislative obligations and strategic objectives are achieved.

The NSW Electoral Commission is committed to maintaining public confidence in the integrity of the electoral system. The NSW Electoral Commission expects that employees refrain from membership of any political party and from engaging in political activity which could be seen as reflecting adversely on the strict political neutrality of the NSW Electoral Commission. Applicants who are seen to be or are active in political activities should disclose such information as part of their application.

Essential requirements

As the successful candidate, you will have:

·       Expertise and significant experience in analysing and interpreting legislation and providing guidance around investigations into regulatory and alleged criminal offences and briefs of evidence for prosecution purposes.

·       Significant leadership and management experience in a legal and regulatory environment, including responsibility for staff and financial management.

·       Experience working within governance frameworks and practices across multi-disciplinary functions

·       Relevant legal qualification and unrestricted practicing certificate

·       Politically neutral with no affiliation to political parties or other election participants, consistent with our Political Neutrality Policy.

·       Criminal Record check.

Applications from individuals with public and/or private sector experience will be considered.

How to apply

You should include a covering letter summarising your skills, knowledge and work experience, along with an up-to-date resume which clearly detail your skills and experience as relevant to this role. Please submit your application to LegalSearch@kornferry.com

For further information regarding the role please download the Role description

For further queries, contact Wendy Lim from Korn Ferry at LegalSearch@kornferry.com

Applications Close Sunday 24 March 2024 @11.59pm

Applying for a role in the NSW Public Service

For more information on how to apply for a role in the NSW Public Service, please refer here

The NSW Electoral Commission embraces diversity and inclusion and is committed to creating a workplace that reflects the population of New South Wales. We welcome applications from people from diverse backgrounds and encourage women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, LGBTQIA+, people with disability, mature-age people, and people from culturally diverse backgrounds to apply for this role. Please let us know if we can make some adjustments to our recruitment/interview process to assist you, please contact Talent Team at talent@elections.nsw.gov.au

Applications received and completed after closing time will not be considered for selection.

The selection process will include a range of assessment techniques to assist in determining your suitability for the role.

We also offer

·                Employee Assistance Program

·                Hybrid working opportunities

·                Access to Fitness Passport

Other Information

Your employment will be subject to National Criminal Records Check to determine your suitability for employment.  

A talent pool may be created from this recruitment action for ongoing and temporary roles of the same work classification that may become available for filling over the next 18 months.

This role is based in at our Elizabeth Street, Sydney office with a hybrid work arrangement.