Executive Legal, Governance & Risk

5-year full time Contract

Salary range of $227,955 to $270,000, plus superannuation

Why The City of Melville?

We are a welcoming and diverse community that enjoys a blend of retail and business precincts and an abundance of open spaces in a unique, natural landscape, along the shores of the beautiful Swan and Canning Rivers. We are proud to be recognised as an Inclusive Employer 2024-2025—a prestigious award that benchmarks workplace inclusion across various diversity areas. This recognition is the only one of its kind in Australia and highlights our commitment to fostering a workplace where diversity is celebrated, and inclusion thrives. In everything we do, we focus on our EPIC values of Excellence, Participation, Integrity and Caring and we aim to achieve an inclusive, vibrant, and sustainable future.

WhyBelong?

Elevate your work experience with the City of Melville’s benefits!

Be part of an award-winning, Inclusive Employer recognised for creating diverse, accessible, and welcoming workspaces.

Professional growth support with our structured professional development and study assistance programs

Enhance your health and wellbeing with complimentary membership to our LeisureFit centres^, Employee Assistance and Wellness programs.

An active social club to connect with colleagues and make lifelong friends.

6 weeks’ annual leave

What are we looking for?

We’re looking for an experienced leader with legal expertise, sound judgement, and a strong understanding of governance and risk in the local government sector.

You’ll be confident providing clear, authoritative advice on complex matters, and comfortable working across both strategic and operational issues.

You’ll build trust quickly and work well with Council, the CEO, and senior leaders — we are looking for someone who can engage, influence, and follow through.

You’ll bring a future-focused mindset and help strengthen the City’s legal, governance, and risk frameworks to support strategic decision-making and compliance.

About the Opportunity

This is a rare opportunity to step into a key executive role at the City of Melville, reporting directly to the CEO and working closely with Council. As Executive Legal, Governance & Risk, you’ll lead the City’s legal, governance, and risk functions — overseeing frameworks that support decision-making, compliance, and long-term organisational integrity. You’ll provide high-level advice across a diverse and complex portfolio, ensuring the City meets its obligations while continuing to evolve and adapt to the future.

In return, and in addition to our broader employee benefits, we’re offering a salary between $227,955 and $270,000, plus superannuation.

To be successful in this role, you will possess:

Essential Requirements

Legal qualifications with relevant experience as a certified legal practitioner.

Extensive post-admission legal experience with demonstrated expertise in local government law, administrative law, commercial contracts, and governance.

Proven experience providing strategic, practical, and results-focused legal advice in complex and politically sensitive environments.

Demonstrated executive leadership experience building high-performing teams and a strong culture of compliance, governance, and risk accountability.

Strong understanding of the Local Government Act 1995 (WA), associated legislation, and best practice governance frameworks, with the ability to apply these in a practical and enabling manner.

Exceptional interpersonal, communication (written and verbal), and negotiation skills, with the ability to engage, influence and build trust across diverse stakeholders and regulatory agencies.

Demonstrated experience in strategic and business planning, corporate performance, and delivery of organisational improvement or transformation initiatives.

Experience preparing high-level legal reports, Council documentation, and delivering professional presentations in formal settings.

Advanced conceptual and critical thinking skills with a proven ability to assess legal and governance risks, resolve complex issues, and drive innovation.

How to Apply

If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, we strongly advise you to apply as soon as possible by 15 June 2025. The City reserves the right to close this advertisement before the closing date.

Please provide:

A comprehensive resume that outlines your skills, experience and achievements demonstrating fulfilment of essential criteria (as stated in the Position Description - attached)

A cover letter of no more than 2 pages addressing the Essential Requirements

For further queries regarding the position, contact: People & Culture at [email protected]

The City of Melville celebrates diversity, inclusion, and belonging. We welcome and strongly encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including but not limited to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally diverse backgrounds, and people living with disabilities.

All candidates applying for a position where the use of ‘plant and machinery’ or driving a vehicle is an inherent requirement of the role and other ‘high risk’ facilities where public safety is at risk, will be required to pass a drug and alcohol test as part of a pre-employment medical. This position requires the preferred candidate to provide a satisfactory and current National Police Clearance.

We appreciate the interest from Recruitment Agencies in collaborating with us, however, at this time, the City of Melville is managing the recruitment process for this role. Please refrain from submitting candidate profiles to our team. Rest assured, should the need for external assistance arise in the future, we will not hesitate to reach out to recruitment agencies.