Overview
Principal Advisor (Building Operations – Legal Operations)
Building Commission NSW
Grade: Clerk Grade 11/12
Location: Based in Parramatta
Term: Temporary to 30 June 2026
About the Building Commission NSW The new Building Commission NSW has been established to ensure the building industry meets standards, capabilities, capacity and resilience to deliver quality homes and meet the state’s housing targets.
Building Commission NSW is an outstanding place to work due to its commitment to innovation, collaboration and professional development. With a focus on transparency and accountability, the commission cultivates a culture of integrity and responsibility.
Those who join the organisation can be confident in contributing to meaningful work that positively impacts the built environment and the greater community, making it an exciting and fulfilling place to build a career.
About the role
This position is in the Disciplinary Action Unit, which is responsible for the disciplinary process in relation to Licence Holders within the Building Industry. The Disciplinary Action Unit is responsible for making determinations about complex matters of fact and law and the appropriate disciplinary action in relation to licence holders, including whether to:
- Impose monetary penalties up to $220,000
- Implement drafted licence conditions, for example by imposing restrictions or remedying misconduct or misgovernance by ensuring quality improvements, and/or
- Whether to suspend or cancel building licences of both small and large licensed entities in NSW, including building design professionals, builders, tradesmen, supervisors and certifiers
The Principal Advisor has expertise in applying legislation to building and construction matters. The Principal Advisor has wide ranging delegation to exercise executive decision‑making functions which are similar to a member of the NSW Civil and Administrative Decisions Tribunal in its administrative and equal opportunity jurisdiction. The Principal Advisor, with the Manager, leads continuous improvement and practice development of the Disciplinary Action Unit staff.
This role will suit a legal skilled with extensive experience in litigation, drafting or regulatory decision making. Candidates should have an interest in regulatory law and practice and demonstrate strong skills in statutory and factual analysis and a well developed ability in drafting complex documents.
This is a fantastic opportunity to join the next phase of the Building Commission within NSW. Role Description available on the NSW Government site.
Responsibilities
- Consider the most complex referred briefs of evidence and the oral and written submissions of licence holders and other affected parties.
- Recommend and determine disciplinary action through administrative decisions.
- Prepare Notices to Show Cause and draft decisions determining factual and legal matters and take any appropriate disciplinary action.
- Work collaboratively with internal stakeholders including investigators, inspectors, mediators and legal officers, as well as external stakeholders, including lawyers, traders and consumers.
- Undertake and contribute to supervision, training and development of more junior staff in the team.
- Undertake organisation wide development and process improvement in relation to referrals, evidence collection and presentation, and procedural fairness.
Qualifications and experience
- Experience as a solicitor who handles highly complex legal and factual issues and determines appropriate disciplinary action, including drafting conditions to remedy misconduct and ensure legislative compliance.
- Legal qualifications or relevant experience including the ability to understand legislation and apply it in a regulatory environment (minimum of 7 years).
- Strong analytical and drafting skills, knowledge of investigative processes and the application of the rules of evidence, and principles of procedural fairness and natural justice.
- Highly advanced written communication skills with the ability to express complex issues concisely and logically.
- Qualifications or experience related to building, surveying or planning would be advantageous but not required.
What we need from you
An up-to-date CV and a brief cover letter (2 pages maximum) outlining how your skills and experience are aligned to the role.
For recruitment related queries please contact Afrah Saied, Talent Advisor on Afrah Ahmed Saied via email.
Salary: Grade 11/12, base salary starting at $149,739 plus superannuation.
Application process
Information on the recruitment process and practice questions can be found on the Capability Application Tool page. Closing Date: Thursday, 09 October 2025 (09:59am).
Careers at Department of Customer Service
A career at the Department of Customer Service (DCS) gives you the opportunity to help improve government services and be part of reform that benefits people across NSW. We are focused on delivering excellent customer service, digital transformation, and regulatory reform. Come join us and influence the future of our great state.
Belong in our diverse and inclusive workplace The strength of our workforce lies in its diversity and embracing difference, while the key to our success is leveraging the contributions of employees with different backgrounds and perspectives. You can view our full diversity and inclusion statement. If you have any support or access needs that may require adjustments to allow you to fully participate in this selection process (including an alternate format of the application form) please contact the listed email or phone number.
For more information, please visit the NSW Government site for role details. Information on some of the different types of disabilities and adjustments available for the recruitment process are available on the site.
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📌 Principal Advisor
🏢 Nsw Government
📍 City of Parramatta Council