AddressThe Role
The acquisition of conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines is an historic and transformative endeavour for Australia. The whole-of-nation effort to safely and securely deliver the cutting edge nuclear-powered submarine program will transform Australia’s economic and national security landscape for decades to come.
As a new agency, the Australian Submarine Agency (ASA) is seeking to grow its in-house legal capacity to support the growing needs of the ASA. As such, we are seeking qualified legal practitioners with varied experience for a number of roles who are dedicated, committed, resilient and ready to support the provision of timely and effective legal advice.
ASA Legal provides the dedicated in-house legal function for the ASA. In addition to providing advice directly to clients within the ASA, our Legal Officers act as the interface point for the engagement of external legal service providers. You will provide timely, tailored and accurate advice on a range of legal issues within your legal subject matter expertise, and be given opportunities to engage on new areas of law that affect the ASA.
You will work within a team of in-house counsel, and alongside external counsel from both the private sector and other Government entities, to provide advice that meets both the existing and emerging needs of the ASA. You will be collaborative in your approach to providing legal advice, with an ability to develop and maintain relationships internally, across Government and with industry and international partners.
You will need to be self-aware, and positive in considering and respecting diversity of ideas and the perspectives of others.
About our Team
The legal work you will do at the ASA, while not entirely dissimilar to other Government opportunities, provides our staff with the opportunity to work on a capability that will have a once in generation change on Australia. The legal challenges are not to be underestimated, but the opportunity to make a difference on a day-to-day basis to the legal framework in which the ASA operates is the reward. The ASA offers legal practitioners the opportunity to work in a dynamic team to support the implementation of the Optimal Pathway. The legal work at ASA encompasses both the core legal functions of a Commonwealth entity (such as administrative law advising, procurement, FOI, etc) as well as new and emerging areas of law for Australia.
As part of the legal team, you will also be ready to champion the ASA’s compliance with applicable domestic and international legal requirements (including those arising under Australia’s new naval nuclear safety legislation that is currently under development).
We leverage our partnerships with other Government and private sector legal service providers to deliver holistic outcomes for the ASA. Our greatest asset is our people, and our commitment to our people is genuine.
Our Ideal Candidate
We are a dynamic organisation seeking employees who are agile, innovative and energised by high-paced work. Within the ASA, an EL 2 Legal Officer:
Works with considerable independence, and is accountable to perform and achieve very complex legal work within an integrated workforce.
Requires extensive knowledge of and compliance with relevant legislative frameworks, government decision-making and ASA’s mission and policies requirements.
Our ideal candidates will bring the following attributes and skills to the role:
- Experience providing timely, tailored and accurate strategic legal advice in one or more of the following disciplines:
- Regulatory and legislative schemes (with a particular focus on those that are applicable in a naval and military environments)
- Development and implementation of Commonwealth legislation
- Administrative law, including Freedom of Information advice
- Commercial law in a government context.
- Demonstrated ability to be accountable for, and to work with minimal supervision to deliver, high quality and trusted legal services that support strategic initiatives, meet client expectations, manage business and legal risk, manage governance and compliance requirements, and always meet professional standards.
- Broad awareness of Australia’s defence environment and the strategic issues associated with the ASA.
- Expertise in mentoring and growing more junior lawyers, setting clear performance and behavioural standards, managing performance, delegating responsibility and guiding and developing people.
- An ability to communicate and influence in a clear, concise and articulate manner, both in writing and orally, particularly when dealing with senior personnel.
- Engaging and working collaboratively with stakeholders, and negotiating and advocating on behalf of the ASA in a persuasive manner to achieve business outcomes.
- An ability to engage with legal risk, while still maintaining the professionalism needed to deliver frank and fearless legal advice in the face of challenge.
