* Senior Executive Service Band 1 per annum plus superannuation
* Legal Division
* Canberra, ACT
Who we are
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) leads the Australian Government’s efforts to support, protect and grow the country’s food and fibre production industries.
We play a pivotal role in developing and promoting Australia’s sustainable agricultural production practices, increasing trade and international market access, maximising economic opportunities for Australia’s First Nations peoples and helping our producers become more productive, profitable and resilient.
As a department, we deliver world-class work in areas such as agricultural economics, plant and animal sciences, and use digital technology to deliver better regulatory outcomes. We help keep Australians safe through effective biosecurity. Each day, we protect our industries, communities and natural environment from potentially devastating pests and diseases. We support every clean, safe meal that Australians sit down to enjoy.
Our work touches the lives of all Australians, particularly those living in regional and rural areas.
The Legal Division delivers all legal services and advice required by the department, including to develop its legislation, perform its functions and deliver its regulatory and policy objectives. This includes the provision of strategic advice to the Secretary, the Executive, and the business areas within the department. The Division operates in a fast-paced, exciting environment dealing with numerous complex pieces of legislation. We facilitate excellent legal outcomes for our clients and focus on ensuring our staff are supported and developed so that they are in the best position to take on the challenges of the work.
The Division is responsible for all legal services and advice required by the department, including:
* Litigation and claims resolution
* Contracts and grants advice
* Commercial and corporate law
* Statutory interpretation
* Employment law
* Regulatory law
* Legislative development
* Legal policy and legal training
* Information law
* Debt recovery
The Legislation and Training Legal Branch supports the department to develop and progress legislation and facilitates legal training to support staff across the department in delivering effective regulation.
The branch is responsible for:
* Providing legal advice and assistance to develop and progress fit-for-purpose legislation, including working with business areas to prepare drafting instructions, explanatory materials and briefing for Parliamentary processes and advising on draft bills and instruments.
* Coordinating legislation processes for the department and assist engagement with nonportfolio Bills that will impact portfolio legislation.
* Facilitating legal training to support staff across the department in delivering effective regulation.
As the General Counsel, Legislation and Training Legal, you will be responsible for:
* Supporting portfolio Ministers and the Executive to manage legal risk.
* Contributing to a positive, collaborative, and professional culture in Legal Division.
* Supporting the Chief Counsel to develop and lead an internal legal practice with appropriate knowledge management systems, templates, clearance procedures and supervise, train and mentor Legal Division lawyers.
* Managing branch resources and briefing of legal firms and Counsel in accordance with arrangements under the Whole of Australian Government Legal Services Panel and Legal Services Directions.
Who we are looking for
To be successful in the role you will need to meet the Senior Executive Service capability for the SES Band 1 level, and you will have the following:
* Extensive legal expertise, including knowledge of legislative frameworks that apply to government agencies, and ability to apply problem solving skills to achieve outcomes that manage legal risk.
* Ability to contribute to the strategic direction of the organisation by influencing and working with senior executives and other internal stakeholders to deliver outcomes and inform key decisions.
* Excellent leadership skills and ability to foster a highly skilled, engaged and adaptable workforce who deliver on the department’s strategic agenda, including by fostering an environment that empowers and facilitates the leadership capacity of others, ensures expertise and capabilities are valued and innovates to improve service delivery.
* Ability to communicate effectively with all audiences, with demonstrated experience building productive working relationships and promoting collaboration to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and capabilities to achieve strategic outcomes.
* Demonstrated public service professionalism and integrity.
Security Clearance
This position requires a Negative Vetting Level 1 security clearance. The successful applicant will be required to obtain and maintain a clearance at the appropriate level for this position.
Position
Please note this position is located in Canberra, ACT.
Mandatory Qualifications
This position requires you to hold a degree in law and be eligible to hold an ACT legal practising certificate.
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