The Role

Defence is seeking to engage multiple EL 1 Legal Officers for Defence Legal’s Commercial Branch to support its achievement of key commercial outcomes.

As a Legal Officer in Defence Legal’s Commercial Branch, you will perform a range of commercial legal work across a variety of projects. You will be accountable for ensuring you have knowledge of and comply with legislative frameworks, government decision-making, and Defence’s mission and policy requirements.

The Commercial Branch within Defence Legal provides specialist and strategic commercial, procurement and contract advice across the Defence portfolio, including on some of Australia’s most significant, largest, and most complex matters. The size and scale of the work the Commercial Branch undertakes is unprecedented in the Commonwealth.

As a Legal Officer within the Commercial Branch, you will advise key client areas on commercial law, contract interpretation, contract performance and management, liability, ICT law, insurance law, intellectual property, probity, and procurement and tendering. Your clients will include the Secretary of the Department and Service Chiefs, Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group, Defence Digital Group, Defence Science and Technology Group, Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Group, Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Group, and Joint Capabilities Group.

Given the volume and scale of Defence’s commercial arrangements, including significant acquisition and sustainment projects, Defence may be required to participate in commercial litigation or arbitration. Defence Legal is looking to develop its in-house project dispute resolution and commercial arbitration capacity, with a team of commercial lawyers who will work closely with Defence groups and projects to achieve best outcomes for Defence, including in commercial disputes.

Legal Officers support Defence to build its project, dispute resolution and commercial arbitration capacity. Commercial Branch personnel may be required work closely with commercial arbitration specialist lawyers, based in Defence Legal’s Dispute Resolution and Litigation Branch, along with other areas of Defence Legal and key client stakeholders from across Defence or the Defence portfolio.

This role is eligible for an additional remuneration benefit known in Defence as a Building Defence Capability Payment (BDCP). This enables Defence to provide a premium, in addition to the base salary otherwise payable under the Defence Enterprise Agreement (DEA), for positions in occupational disciplines/classifications that are critical to Defence capability. For further information, please contact the contact officer.

About our Team

All lawyers within Defence Legal’s Commercial Branch are given the opportunity to be mentored and developed by some of Australia’s most senior commercial and projects lawyers, including external legal advisors. EL 1 Legal Officers will also have the opportunity to supervise and mentor more junior commercial lawyers, while also continuing to develop their skills under the guidance of some of Australia’s most senior commercial lawyers.

In addition to developing strong technical legal skills, you will develop a keen understanding of the workings of Government and a deep ability to manage multiple stakeholders. Our Legal Officers are also offered opportunities for significant personal and professional development to be able to support our clients in this very rewarding environment.

Defence is an inclusive and flexible workplace where our employees’ individuality and contributions are valued. We understand the importance of balancing your work and personal life commitments, and we help with this through our suite of flexible working options and supportive and comprehensive employee assistance and wellbeing programs. Defence believes in continuous learning and professional development to assist you in achieving your career goals. We offer a range of learning and development opportunities, as well as a study assistance program.

Our Ideal Candidate

You will have excellent technical commercial legal skills, having worked across a broad range of commercial matters (including commercial and probity advice, contract drafting and review and some of varying subject matter and complexity).

You will:

• Use this technical skill to provide strategic advice to senior management and stakeholders.
• Have excellent stakeholder management and negotiation skills, including being able to initiate, establish and maintain strong relationships with a network of stakeholders internally and externally.
• Have strong people management skills.
• Have significant post admission experience (Desirable, not mandatory).

Application Closing Date: Thursday 27 March, 2025

For further information please review the job information pack, reference ASG/01466/25 on https://defencecareers.nga.net.au/?jati=1A298E59-D1D3-E42A-6480-E3A63B0D6E0D