We are seeking a motivated and commercially minded Legal Officer to provide in-house legal services across a broad range of Council operations. This role will focus on contracts, procurement, governance, compliance, risk management, and dispute resolution while partnering with stakeholders across the organisation.
Reporting to the Deputy General Manager & CFO, you will provide timely and practical legal advice, draft and negotiate agreements, support compliance initiatives, and contribute to strengthening Council's legal and governance framework.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide clear, practical legal advice across Council operations.
- Draft, review and negotiate contracts, deeds and procurement documentation.
- Support procurement and contract governance activities.
- Identify and manage legal, commercial and compliance risks.
- Assist with dispute resolution and risk mitigation strategies.
- Review policies and procedures to ensure legislative compliance.
- Develop and maintain contract templates and legal documentation.
- Deliver legal training and guidance to internal stakeholders.
- Liaise with external solicitors, contractors, suppliers and government agencies.
To be successful, you will have:
- A Law degree and eligibility for admission as a lawyer in New South Wales.
- Experience in legal practice, commercial law, contracts, procurement, governance or compliance.
- Strong contract drafting, review and negotiation skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to explain complex legal matters in plain English.
- Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
- High attention to detail and sound professional judgement.
- A proactive, commercial and solutions-focused approach.
Experience or exposure to:
- Government or local government environments.
- Procurement and tendering legislation.
- Commercial and property transactions.
- Construction, ICT or waste management contracts.
- Planning, environmental, privacy, information access or intellectual property law.
At Chandler Macleod, we are committed to fostering a diverse workforce where everyone is welcome. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, women, people living with a disability and the LGBTIQA+ community.
You can read more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion at https://www.chandlermacleod.com/diversity-and-inclusion
