Manager & Senior Legal Counsel $173,885.00 per annum superannuation Full time, ongoing opportunity Geelong based role (hybrid work from home – 3 days a week in office) About the role The Manager & Senior Legal Counsel is accountable for overseeing WorkSafe’s Corporate and Commercial Team, which is a team of highly qualified specialist lawyers within Corporate Legal. The role is responsible for managing, overseeing and supervising high profile, complex, and high cost litigation that carries highly sensitive and reputational risks for WorkSafe’s operational, regulatory and insurance functions. It also engages deeply and closely with WorkSafe’s General Counsel, the Chief Executive Officer, Executive Leadership Team and Board. Key accountabilities Provide and manage the provision of: Commercial legal advice in relation to tenders, contracts, trademarks, information technology, intellectual property, dispute management and other commercial and insurance law issues, as required; Legislative interpretation and operational legal advice on the application of the legislation administered by the WorkSafe with particular focus on the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013; and Strategic guidance and direction to other relevant areas of WorkSafe on legal, legislative and litigation issues. Manage, supervise, advise on and conduct complex, high profile, high cost and reputationally challenging regulatory and commercial litigation on behalf of WorkSafe in superior state and federal Courts in accordance with the Victorian Model Litigant Guidelines Effectively supervise the negotiation of a range of commercial agreements, Memoranda of Understanding and information sharing deeds Assist the Director and General Counsel to manage and provide legal advice in relation to any Integrity Investigations (including Ombudsman and Independent broad-based anti-corruption commission Investigations) and Government Inquiries Prepare (or assist with the preparation of) briefing papers for the Board and Chief Executive on matters requiring their attention or instruction Develop, support and supervise direct reports by coaching, providing performance feedback and encouraging career development Please ensure you review the Position Description here for additional information on accountabilities for this role. About you You are an experienced corporate and commercial lawyer, with a minimum of 5 years post admission experience. You are a leader who is able to manage legal practitioners in an effective manner. Your commercial negotiation, written and verbal communication skills are highly developed, and your strong stakeholder management skills allows you to build and maintain strong working relationships with a range of stakeholders. You have proven ability to identify areas of improvement, and drive and implement change through the development of effective strategies to manage legal and reputational risks. You will also possess the following skills and experience: Proven ability to consult on complex and sensitive issues within critical timeframes and offer constructive and practical solutions based on high level strategic, analytical and critical legal decision making capabilities High level judgement in identifying and managing the resolution of issues of strategic impact and importance Demonstrated experience providing high quality corporate and commercial legal advice at a senior level Excellent legal drafting skills Excellent commercial negotiation and influencing skills, with demonstrated effective outcomes in an environment of conflicting stakeholders Demonstrated experience overseeing business and governance projects High level communication skills (written and oral), including facilitation of internal and external groups and training and the ability to give advice and information succinctly and clearly Ability to establish and maintain effective and collaborative relationships with key stakeholders Understanding of the constraints of a statutory, regulatory environment Ability to develop, mentor and coach employees enabling them to develop and reach their potential Professional legal qualifications and admission to practice as an Australian Lawyer and a capacity to hold a full practicing certificate are mandatory Working with Us At WorkSafe, we aspire for every employee to feel connected, safe and valued in their team, for teams to feel valued in the workplace, and for WorkSafe to be valued in the community. We believe that a diverse workforce is the key to delivering the best outcomes for the Victorian community and strongly encourage applications from all people, including First Nations people and people with disability, diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, sexualities and genders. What’s next? Applications close 11:00pm on Tuesday 4 February 2025 . Click the link to apply, and join us in making a difference to Victorian lives. You will be required to satisfactorily complete a National Police Check and/or other checks as required for the position as part of the recruitment process. To apply for the position, you will be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident. Candidate screening may take place prior to the advertisement closing, so get your application in. For further enquiries please contact Bianca Stojanovski via email bianca_stojanovskiworksafe.vic.gov.au About us WorkSafe's Strategy has our core purpose front of mind – reducing workplace harm and improving outcomes for injured workers. We don’t shy away from the importance of our purpose to the Victorian community, that’s why we have a stated ambition to be world leading. We want Victoria to be the safest place to work in Australia and one of the safest in the world; and we aspire to be a world leader in return to work after a workplace injury. WorkSafe are striving to build a diverse workforce that reflects the Victorian community we serve.