Title:  Principal Lawyer, Commercial Contracts

About Us

The Department of Transport and Planning oversees key planning, transport and land use policy decisions and management across the State. A life-cycle approach to planning, building, connecting and sustaining communities means our people can come together to; improve services, deliver sustainable projects, focus on customer engagement, streamline regulatory approval pathways, facilitate community consultation and better realise local economic opportunities for more liveable communities across Victoria.

DTP Legal is a Division within the Department, and is responsible for the provision of legal, legislative, commercial and information access advice and support to the Ministers, Secretary and Department in the achievement of the transport, land use and planning system vision, objectives and decision-making principles.

About the Role
Full time – 12 months

Reporting to the Senior Legal Counsel, Commercial Contracts the role of the Principal Lawyer is to provide, and manage the provision of, authoritative advice on a wide range of legal issues, with a focus on the commercial and operational matters primarily arising out of the five Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) managed by the Commercial Advisory division (Southern Cross Station PPP; CityLink; EastLink; Peninsula Link and the Western Roads Upgrade).

To access the position description, please click link here.

Position Outcomes

• Provide high quality, authoritative and pragmatic legal advice on a wide range of legal and commercial matters relating to the PPPs managed by the Commercial Contracts team, including in relation to contract law, statutory interpretation, land-related matters, major project interfaces, construction and general commercial law.
• Prepare and review a range of legal documentation, including advice, correspondence, contractual notices and contracts, variations to such documents (including Concession Deed amendments), Ministerial briefs and cabinet submissions.
• Develop and review legislative and regulatory proposals and prepare associated briefing submissions in relation to legislative amendments and related matters.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with relevant stakeholders, including DTP staff, the private road operators, interdepartmental staff and other Government agencies.
• Identify and advise the Commercial Contracts and DTP Legal teams on new legal developments and emerging risks.

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA

The ideal candidate for the Principal Lawyer, Commercial Contracts position will demonstrate exceptional stakeholder management skills by proactively adding value for clients and stakeholders, addressing issues constructively, and ensuring ongoing satisfaction. They will possess strong influence and persuasion abilities, tailoring their communication to diverse audiences and effectively managing objections. Critical thinking and problem-solving will be key strengths, enabling them to resolve issues through deep analysis of guidelines and collaborative efforts when necessary. The candidate will be flexible and adaptable, able to embrace changing priorities with ease and work collaboratively across teams. A self-aware individual, they will understand their emotional responses in professional settings, leveraging feedback to continuously improve their personal and team contributions.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

Mandatory

• Admitted as a lawyer in Victoria

Desirable  

• A minimum of 4 years post-qualification experience
• Experience in private practice and in-house with a broad range of commercial

agreements and PPPs would be viewed favourably

• Previous experience with Victorian State Government processes and systems is advantageous but not essential

What we offer

• Meaningful work making Victorian communities more accessible and liveable 
• Professional growth and development opportunities across the department and the wider Victorian Public Services
• A hybrid working model focused on collaboration and teamwork
• Optimal work-life balance initiatives including flexible working arrangements
• Opportunity to work across multiple urban and suburban hubs
• We prioritise the development of a safe and inclusive culture

Culture Value
We are an equal opportunity employer, embracing a diverse range of applicants such as veterans, and people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, LGBTQIA community members, individuals with disabilities and/or health conditions, as well as those from varied faith and cultural backgrounds. At our department, we prioritize the development of a safe, inclusive, and high-performance culture through shared actions and behaviours that align with our strategy and direction. This empowers our employees to effectively contribute to our goals.

How to Apply

Non-DTP Employees (Including VPS outside of DTP)

Create an account by clicking the ‘Apply’ button and follow the prompts. For help, click here for Quick Reference Guide.

Applications close at 11:59PM on Sunday 27 April 2025.

Please include a resume and cover letter. All applications must be submitted through the online portal. We’re unable to consider email or manual applications.

For more information, contact Martin John, Senior Legal Counsel, Commercial Contracts via martin.john@transport.vic.gov.au

Preferred applicants will need to complete a police check and other pre-employment checks. Your information will be treated confidentially.

If you require additional adjustments across the recruitment process or accessible formats of this ad, please contact us by phone or email.