Address
Form of workWe have an opportunity for an individual to join us as Principal Legal Advisor, Corporate Legal Team on a 3-year fixed term basis.
About us
The Department of Government Services (DGS) was established on 1 January 2023 to improve everyone's experience of doing business and interacting with the Victorian government. We bring important day-to-day services together in one department to make things easy and seamless for Victorians and businesses. We are doing this by connecting and digitising our systems and platforms across state and local government as well as streamlining our corporate and procurement services.
About the role
The Principal Legal Adviser will primarily support the WoVG IT Strategic Sourcing & Digital team. There will be a high degree of interaction with this team as you work to support them in establishing, operating and advising on effective whole of Victorian Government (WoVG) Technology State Purchase Contracts (SPCs) categories. This is a three year fixed term role.
Key Accountabilities include:
- Providing strategic, authoritative, risk-based legal advice and counsel on contractual and procurement issues, including by drafting and reviewing ICT contracts and providing general support in relation to ICT tendering including cloud computing, hardware, telecommunications and software licensing.
- Working independently on complex commercial matters, including the negotiation and finalisation of SPCs, including advising on material departures from transaction documents both prior to and during the evaluation and negotiation phases of the procurement.
- Leading and managing with the preparation of briefs and correspondence on significant legal and legal policy issues
- Assisting more senior members of the Office of the General Counsel with organisational improvement, capacity and capability building projects, and other tasks, and instructing and managing external legal counsel retained by DGS.
Please refer to the position description for further details.
About you
To be considered for the role, you must be able to demonstrate:
- Significant experience providing technically excellent, strategically focused and practical legal advice on complex legal issues, including considerable private and/or in-house legal experience in commercial contracting and/or government procurement, including for various ICT services.
- Outstanding written and oral communication skills.
- Excellent relationship management and negotiation skills and a strong commitment to service excellence and assisting clients and stakeholders achieve their organisation's objectives.
- A proven ability to independently and effectively manage competing priorities under time pressure and deliver results based on incomplete or ambiguous information.
- A proven ability to identify, manage and, where appropriate, escalate risks.
- Experience in any of the following will be highly regarded: government processes, policies and procedures; corporate and commercial law; procurement (including ICT procurement), is desirable.
Mandatory Requirement
You must be admitted to practice as an Australian lawyer and eligbible to hold a Victorian practicising certificate.
How to apply
Apply before the advertised closing date 11:59pm 28 February 2024. All applications should include:
- a resume; and
- a cover letter which addresses the key selection criteria (within three pages)
Other relevant information
The department is committed to providing and maintaining a working environment which is safe and without risk to the health of its employees and clients and consistent with the department's obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (OH&S Act), to support this DGS has a COVID-19 Vaccination policy which strongly recommends all DGS employees be fully vaccinated.
This position is only open to applicants with relevant rights to work in Australia.
Preferred candidates will be required to complete a Pre-employment Declaration and Consent Form. Employment of successful candidates will be subject to a National Police Check.
DGS actively promotes diversity, inclusion, and an equal opportunity workplace. We welcome applicants from all diverse backgrounds, including people with disabilities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. All roles in DGS can be worked flexibly, however it may differ from role to role.
