Principal Legal Officer

About the role: 

The Principal Legal Officer takes a lead role in providing the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission (MHWC) with authoritative legal and strategic advice relating to the Commission's powers and functions, including in relation to complaints, investigations, inquiries, compliance activities and the Commission's monitoring and reporting function. This includes providing advice on complex and sensitive legal matters and supporting the MHWC in areas such as Freedom of Information (FOI), privacy, and policies and procedures.

The role has managerial oversight of a small legal team.

About us: 

The Mental Health Wellbeing Commission (MHWC) is an accountability body in the mental health and wellbeing system established under the new Act and recommended by the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System. The new MHWC includes Commissioners with lived experience of mental illness or psychological distress and lived experience as a family member, carer, or supporter.

Further information about our functions are available on the MHWC website.

How you'll make a difference:

• Passionate about meaningful work and contributing towards the reform of Victoria's mental health system.
•  A confident senior legal professional with exceptional interpersonal skills who works well with others in the pursuit of shared goals.
• Passionate about human rights and looking for a challenging opportunity to make a difference through your work.

Suitable applicants will be able to demonstrate:

• Providing expert legal advice on commercial matters relating to procurement, contracts and intellectual property issues, including reviewing, preparing or outsourcing commercial and contractual matters.
• Managing a team to support the MHWC's legal functions and ensure legal advice and services is delivered to a high standard.
• Managing Freedom of Information (FOI) requests and supporting the MHWC to comply with privacy and data protection laws and standards.
• Advanced skills in statutory interpretation and providing advice on sensitive legal and factual issues, preparing legal briefs, reports and correspondence. 

To learn more refer to the Position Description.

If you are viewing this advertisement on the Careers.vic or Seek website, Please click ‘Apply' to access the Position Description 

What we offer: 

• The opportunity to perform meaningful work, making direct contributions toward enabling Victorians to be the healthiest people in the world.
• A wide range of growth and development opportunities within the department and wider Victorian Public Service & Sector.
• A strong commitment to work-life balance, including a diverse array of flexible working arrangements.

How to apply: 

Applications should include a resume and a cover letter summarising their skills, relevant experience and what they can bring to the role.

Click the ‘Apply' button to view further information about the role including key contact details and the advertisement closing date. 

We are committed to developing and supporting a workforce that is well equipped and highly motivated to provide responsive and quality services to all Victorians. We continue to build an inclusive workplace that embraces diversity of backgrounds and differences to realise the potential of our employees for innovation and delivering services aimed at enhancing the lives of all Victorians. 

All roles can be worked flexibly and we encourage applications from Aboriginal people, people with disability, LGBTIQ+ and people from culturally diverse backgrounds. Please contact us if you require any adjustments to participate in the recruitment process at inclusion@health.vic.gov.au. For more information on our commitment to inclusion and diversity see inclusion and diversity at the Department of Health.

Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and other pre-employment checks. Information provided will be treated in the strictest confidence, in line with our Privacy Policy. 

The Jobs and Skills Exchange (JSE) Recruitment Policy allows for priority consideration for employees who apply through the Jobs Skills Exchange (JSE) jobs board platform. As such, these employees are strongly encouraged to submit their application through the JSE.