Position Overview

The Chief Justice is responsible for the management of the administrative affairs of the Federal Court of Australia (FCA) and the effective, orderly and expeditious discharge of the business of the Court under the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth). The Court has 63 judges and registries in 7 locations nationally. The Chief Executive Officer and Principal Registrar assists the Chief Justice in the management of the business and administrative affairs of the Court. The Deputy Principal Registrar will support the Chief Justice and Chief Executive Officer and Principal Registrar in the exercise of their statutory duties and their day-to-day management and operation of the Court. The Deputy Principal Registrar will also lead the implementation and ongoing operation of the Court’s expanded corporate crime jurisdiction and criminal jurisdiction more generally, in consultation with the Chief Justice and National Practice Area Coordinating Judges.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Leadership role - supporting the Administrative Affairs of the Court

The Deputy Principal Registrar will support the Chief Justice and Principal Registrar in the exercise of their statutory duties and their day-to-day management and operation of the Court. In consultation with the Chief Justice and Principal Registrar, the Deputy Principal Registrar will:

• With the Principal Registrar, actively lead the establishment, shaping and achievement of the Court’s key initiatives and objectives across all Court operations. This includes playing a key role in the delivery of Court projects and reform initiatives.
• Ensure Court Registrars and staff resources are structured and deployed to maximise support for judges, professional satisfaction for registrars and staff and to achieve the objectives of the Court.
• Manage the development and review of the Court’s policies and practice. This will include formulation and implementation of policies within the Court, development of Court practice documents (e.g. Practice Notes & Judicial Policies) and implementing legislative changes as they arise. In addition, provide high level legal and policy advice, and preparation of key briefing material for the Chief Justice, in relation to sensitive and confidential Court matters such as media and security issues. This will involve management responsibility for staff responsible for these matters.
• Provide high level advice and support to Judicial Committees and Judicial Project Groups.
• Be a member of key Court executive and leadership committees, including Judicial Committees and the Executive Committee.
• Lead key Registrar projects and initiatives in relation to resources and structure, workload management, practice and procedure and learning and development.
• Liaise with the Principal Registrar and District Registrars, as required, in relation to the allocation of Registrar work. This will involve management responsibility for staff responsible for the allocation of Registrar work.
• Provide high level advice and support regarding judicial inductions and national judicial functions such as national conferences and seminars. This will involve management responsibility for staff responsible for managing national judicial functions.
• Take an active role in managing and supporting the Court’s international work. This will involve management responsibility for staff responsible for these matters.

The Deputy Principal Registrar will also perform the role of Acting Chief Executive Officer and Principal Registrar, as required.

Leadership role - Federal Crime

In consultation with the Chief Justice and National Practice Area Coordinating Judges, the Deputy Principal Registrar will lead the implementation and ongoing operation of the Court’s expanded corporate crime jurisdiction and criminal jurisdiction more generally, as follows:

• In consultation with the Chief Justice, National Practice Area Coordinating Judges and Judges develop the Court’s policy and practice relating to the expanded corporate crime jurisdiction and the Federal Crime National Practice Area (NPA).
• Support the Chief Justice & NPA Coordinating Judges with the management of the Federal Crime NPA.
• Lead and mentor Judicial Registrars and staff supporting the Federal Crime NPA.
• Perform delegated judicial functions at a high level, which may include presiding in Court in interlocutory hearings, “Basha” inquiries and other ancillary hearings.
• Engage with Judges collaboratively to identify critical judicial support work to be undertaken by Judicial Registrars for the effective case management and disposition of proceedings.
• Undertake workload analysis and reporting in relation to criminal proceedings.
• Liaise with internal and external stakeholders in relation to the Court’s criminal jurisdiction on a local and national basis.

Senior Stakeholder Management

The Deputy Principal Registrar will:

• Build, maintain and strengthen key strategic relationships with government agencies such as the Attorney General’s Department and other key Federal Departments on key issues of policy, governance, legislative change and regimes relating to the Court. In relation to issues requiring legal advice, the Deputy Principal Registrar will manage and coordinate the requests through the Office of General Counsel.
• Build, maintain and strengthen key strategic relationships with external stakeholders including other Courts and Tribunals, the legal profession and other agencies in relation to issues affecting the Court.
• Attend meetings and forums to represent the Court in a principal or support role, as required.
• Build, maintain and strengthen key relationships with internal stakeholders including Judges, General Counsel and National Project Officer.
• With the Principal Registrar, develop and maintain communication and engagement processes to ensure staff and stakeholders are consulted and kept informed about changes to Court practice and operations that affect them and key issues that affect the Court.

Experience, Skills & Attributes

The Deputy Principal Registrar will have demonstrated experience at the executive level, with a track record of innovation, operational improvement, people leadership and senior stakeholder management. This will be combined with a legal background and legal qualifications. To perform the role effectively, the Deputy Principal Registrar will require:

• Advanced legal qualifications and extensive experience in litigation, including criminal litigation.
• Advanced senior management experience, including a significant understanding of the Public Sector and experience in dealing with government agencies.
• Highly advanced strategic, analytical and change management skills.
• Extensive experience creating a culture of achievement and establishing, communicating and maintaining high performance standards including professionalism, rigor and transparency.
• Extensive experience leading and managing staff in a senior management role with a strong collegial reputation and a proven record of motivating and encouraging staff.
• Exceptional communication and leadership skills and the ability to engender trust and respect.
• Proven capacity to exemplify and maintain standards of professionalism, commitment and probity.

Qualifications

The Deputy Principal Registrar will need to be legally qualified and have been admitted as a practitioner of the High Court and/or the Supreme Court of a State or Territory of Australia.

A minimum of 10 years’ post admission experience in legal practice, with considerable experience in, and knowledge of criminal litigation, is essential.

Selection Criteria

The successful applicant for the role will need to meet the Integrated Leadership System capabilities for the SES Band 2 level, and will also need to have the following:

• A minimum of 10 years’ post admission experience in legal practice, with considerable experience in, and knowledge of criminal litigation, is essential.
• Substantial management knowledge and significant experience working in a complex courts administration environment and assisting with the operational management of a Court;
• Extensive experience working with, and within, Government, including:

- Extensive experience in the formulation of policy and the provision of high level legal and policy advice and support;

- Substantial experience in financial management and budgets, including demonstrated strategic, analytical, and financial management skills;

- Significant leadership and management experience in senior roles. The Deputy Principal Registrar will lead through demonstrating their professional excellence and their commitment to the Courts’ objectives and reforms;

- Demonstrated ability to drive change management and broad transformational change, including the development and implementation of fundamental reform and changes to national policies and procedures;

- Highly developed organisational, analytical and problem solving and dispute resolution skills, including the ability to effectively manage multiple responsibilities and competing demands and priorities appropriately;

- Well-developed professional networks across the courts, government and key stakeholders groups;

- Exemplary communication, negotiation and relationship building skills, including the ability to sustain positive relationships with a network of key stakeholders internally and externally;

- Highly developed interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work in an environment requiring utmost tact, diplomacy and discretion; and

- Demonstrated knowledge of the principles of public sector governance and accountability. A sound knowledge of the unique situation of self-managing courts within the Australian Constitution.

Eligibility

Employment with the Court is subject to the conditions prescribed in the Public Service Act 1999, and the following:

1. Australian citizenship – the successful applicant must hold Australian citizenship.
2. Security and character clearance – the successful applicant must satisfy a Police Records Check and may also be required to complete security clearances during the course of their employment.
3. Successful applicants engaged into the APS will be subject to a probation period.

Interested candidates who have received a redundancy benefit from an APS agency are welcome to apply but note that they cannot be engaged until their redundancy benefit period has expired.

Diversity and Inclusion

Federal Court Australia is committed to supporting an inclusive and diverse workforce and welcomes and encourages applications from People with Disability.

First Nations peoples, LGBTIQA+ people, people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds, Mature age workers, as well as young workers and supporting an inter-generational workforce and supporting gender equity and families.

Federal Court Australia will provide reasonable adjustments for candidates to participate equitably in the recruitment process and discuss workplace adjustments to fulfil the inherent requirements of the role.

Contact Officer

For more information, please contact Andrea Jarratt, Director, Principal Registry and National Operations via telephone (03) 8638 6814 or email [email protected].

How to apply

To apply, please complete the application form on the Court’s careers portal.

As part of your application, you will be required to submit a written response to the selection criteria listed in the position description (maximum word limit 1500). Please ensure this document is attached before submitting your application

If you have any technical issues with applying, please email [email protected].

Application Close: Thursday 15 May 2025 at 11:30 pm (AEST)

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.