* Canberra, Melbourne
* Applications close 21 July
* The salary range for this role is $122,235 - $146,491
About the Department
The Department of Industry, Science and Resources and our broader portfolio are integral to the Australian Government's economic agenda. Our purpose is to help the government build a better future for all Australians through enabling a productive, resilient and sustainable economy, enriched by science and technology. We do this by:
* Growing innovative & competitive businesses, industries and regions
* Investing in science and technology
* Strengthening the resources sector.
The APS and the department offer a clear direction and meaningful work. You will be able to create positive impact in people's lives whilst contributing to improved outcomes for Australia and our people.
If you would like to feel a strong connection to your work and you are accountable, committed and open to change, join us in shaping Australia's future.
Please see the APSC's APS Employee Value Proposition for more information on the benefits and value of employment within the APS.
About the Anti-Dumping Commission
We are Australia's international trade remedies authority – the Anti-Dumping Commission - and part of the Industry, Science and Resources Portfolio. The commission is responsible for undertaking investigations into allegations of unfair practices in international trade and administering Australia's anti-dumping system. These investigations seek to deliver a level playing field for Australian manufacturers by assessing the need to address dumping and countervailing subsidies by the imposition of duties (commonly referred to as tariffs). Professionalism, excellence, and independence underpins the commission's world-class reputation.
The commission is a connected team of professionals with skills and experience across various fields. Our strengths include international trade, investigations, economics, and the law. We are committed to a positive workplace culture. We encourage and support flexible working arrangements. We embrace diversity and inclusion.
About the team
The Legal Branch, led by the Executive Director, Legal (EDL), is a small specialist legal service team with expertise in regulatory, administrative and trade remedies law. The team supports and works closely with the Investigations Branch and the Strategy and Operations Branch. Each of the two Principal Legal Counsel have approximately two to four direct reports for management purposes. Legal staff work across the Legal Branch on work as required and determined by the EDL and Principal Legal Counsels.
Work in the Legal Branch is fast paced, intellectually challenging and rewarding. The team is committed to providing high quality legal advice in a highly collegial culture.
The opportunity
The Senior Legal Counsel works independently under limited direction/supervision from the Principal Legal Counsel in performing their role and providing client-focused specialist legal advice and support to the commission staff on complex matters related to trade remedies law and investigative practice.
The commission has a collaborative investigations model where Senior Legal Counsels work as part of commission-wide teams undertaking anti-dumping investigations. As a Senior Legal Counsel in the commission, you will provide advice throughout investigation processes and be involved in merits and judicial review processes. As part of a best-practice regulator, you will be informed by developments in foreign jurisdictions and the jurisprudence of the World Trade Organization. Drawing on novel issues arising from investigations and other international developments, you will take the initiative to identify practice-related improvements to enhance the commission's outcomes in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
Our ideal candidate
To be successful in this role, as a motivated and skilled legal professional, you will have:
* 2-3 years post-admission experience.
* Experience providing legal advice that is client-focused, solutions-oriented, and evidence-based. This includes identifying legal requirements, legal risks, and developing legally compliant options for managing those risks in a way that meets the client's objectives.
* Highly developed collaboration and advocacy skills, including the ability to negotiate, liaise and influence colleagues and stakeholders, including those from a non-legal background.
* Well-developed leadership, planning and organisational skills.
* High standards of professional and personal integrity.
* Knowledge of, or the ability to quickly acquire knowledge of, Australia's anti-dumping legislation (Part XVB of the Customs Act 1901) and Australia's obligations under the World Trade Organization Anti-Dumping Agreement and the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures.
* Legal experience in advisory, government/regulatory practice or litigation in areas such as international trade, administrative/public law, or commercial/competition law will be highly regarded.
Our department has a commitment to inclusion and diversity, with an ambition of being the best possible place to work. This reflects the importance we place on our people and on creating a workplace culture where each and every one of us is valued and respected for our contribution. Our ideal candidate adds to this culture and our workplace in their own way.
What you will do
This role's key duties include:
* Providing client-focused legal services to investigators, including from non-legal backgrounds. This includes taking a proactive partnership approach to identify and resolve matters and help decision-makers to manage risks.
* Providing effective legal advice verbally and in writing, such as in relation to statutory interpretation, trade remedies law, evidentiary matters, and investigations practice/procedure.
* Managing merits review matters, including drafting submissions and participating in conferences with Anti-Dumping Review Panel members, and providing input to judicial reviews.
* Monitoring developments in the Anti-Dumping Review Panel, the Federal Court, and the World Trade Organization, and informing the commission of consequences for legislation, policy, and practice.
* Identifying opportunities for continuous practice and operational improvement, aligned to the commission's strategic direction.
* Providing input to develop legislation and policy.
* Mentoring and supervising more junior lawyers.
* Actively contributing to a positive, productive, and collaborative team environment across the commission.
* The Senior Legal Counsel will perform the role and manage their workload in a manner consistent with the APS Values and Code of Conduct and internal Anti-Dumping Commission procedures.
Please refer to the APSC Work level standards: APS Level and Executive Level classifications for general information about the role of an EL1 In the Australian public service.
Eligibility
Essential:
* Tertiary qualifications in the field of law and admission as a legal practitioner of the High Court or the Supreme Court of a State or Territory of Australia.
* Eligible for a practising certificate issued by the Law Society of the ACT or in their state or territory of residence.
A minimum of 2-3 years post admission experience is required to apply.
To be eligible for employment in the APS and the department, candidates must be Australian Citizens.
Positions require a Baseline security clearance, and successful candidates will be required to obtain and maintain a clearance at this level.
Notes
A merit pool may be established and used to fill future vacancies within 18 months from the date the vacancy was first advertised in the Gazette.
The department does currently offer flexible work opportunities for many roles. This vacancy is Canberra, ACT and Melbourne, Victoria based, although flexible or remote work arrangements may be considered for the right candidate. Please reach out to the contact officer to discuss this further.
Application information
Your application must not contain any classified or sensitive information. This includes in your application responses, CV and any other documents. The selection panel may not consider applications containing classified information.
Please provide a pitch explaining how your skills, knowledge and experience will be relevant to this role and why you are the best candidate for the position. Your pitch can contain no more than 750 words and should align to the key duties listed above.
Please complete your application online and provide your current CV with your application. (CVs must be in .doc, .docx, or .pdf format).
Accessible application documentation is available in other formats on request. Please contact *************************** or (************* if you require assistance with your application.
Please refer to our Applying for a position information for additional information on how to apply.
Contact Information
For more information regarding this opportunity, please contact Katrina Gunn on ************ or via email on ********************************