Title:  Principal Lawyer, Public Transport Ticketing

About Us

We create thriving places and connected communities. We bring together transport, planning, land use, precinct and policy functions in a single department to deliver the best outcomes for Victorians.  

Together with our portfolio agencies, we are responsible for planning, building, operating and maintaining Victoria’s transport, planning and land services for use by all.  
We foster a safe, inclusive and constructive place to work.  

People, Legal and Governance provides business enabling people, legal and corporate services functions, to drive a high-performance culture; timely and accessible legal advice and services; and to support integrated operations and portfolio wide programs.

DTP Legal is a Group within People, Legal and Governance, and is responsible for the provision of legal, legislative, commercial and policy advice and support to the Secretary and the department in the achievement of the transport system vision, objectives and decision-making principles.

About the Role

This is a 2 year fixed term position

Principal Lawyer, Public Transport Ticketing will join the Operations and Commercial Team within DTP Legal, providing high-level advice on complex legal matters that support the delivery of the Future Public Transport Ticketing (PTT) project. This role is responsible for delivering exceptional client service and producing timely, clear and practical legal advice to guide critical commercial and operational decisions across the program.

To access the Position Description, please click here. 

Position Accountabilities

• Provide authoritative, specialist advice on complex commercial and contractual matters related to the PTT program, including drafting, reviewing and negotiating key agreements and amendments.
• Lead the preparation and settlement of complex legal documentation across commercial, IT transformation and ancillary contracts, ensuring high-quality, risk-aware outcomes.
• Identify, assess and mitigate legal risks proactively, partnering with business areas to develop and implement effective risk management strategies.
• Build and influence strong stakeholder relationships across DTP Legal and the department to support strategic program delivery and uplift legal capability.
• Monitor emerging legal developments and provide guidance to enhance organisational awareness, ensuring compliance and strengthening legal practice across the department.

Key Selection Criteria

The role requires a highly resilient and strategically minded legal professional who can deliver authoritative advice on complex commercial, IT and transport-related legal issues while maintaining sound judgment under pressure. Success in the position relies on strong analytical capability, the ability to influence and negotiate at senior levels, and a commitment to collaborative, high-quality service delivery. The ideal candidate will think systemically, plan strategically, communicate with clarity and work both independently and across teams to deliver timely, robust and practical legal solutions for the department. 

Qualifications and Experience

Mandatory

• Admitted, or eligible to be admitted, as a lawyer in Victoria. 

Other Information 

Culture Value

We welcome applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds representing the community that we serve, including veterans, parents, carers, First Peoples, people with disability, multicultural, multifaith and LGBTIQA+ individuals.

As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and high-performance culture. Through shared actions and behaviours aligned with our strategy and direction, we empower our people to thrive and meaningfully contribute to the department’s goals.

What we offer

Working at the Department of Transport and Planning provides people with the opportunity to contribute to creating thriving places and connected communities for all Victorians.

For further details please refer to Careers at the Department of Transport and Planning.

Pre-employment checks and employment conditions 

All new appointments to the department will be subject to a National Criminal Records Check, Misconduct Screening, and a Qualification Check where there is a requirement for a mandatory qualification. Information provided to the Department of Transport and Planning will be treated in the strictest confidence consistent with the requirements of the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014.

Applicants must be an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or hold a valid work permit or visa necessary for the nature of the position.
Recipients of Victorian Public Service (VPS) voluntary departure packages should note that re-employment restrictions apply.

Non-VPS applicants will be subject to a probation period of six months.

How to apply

Click the ‘Apply’ button to be redirected to our recruitment platform, where you may need to create an account to submit your application.

If you encounter any issues, refer to our Quick Reference Guide for step-by-step instructions.

Applications close at 11.59pm on Thursday 04 December 2025.

Please include both your resume and a cover letter. All applications must be submitted via the online portal, we’re unable to accept email or manual submissions.

For further information about the role, please contact Naomi Messenger Director of Legal, Public Transport Ticketing at naomi.messenger@transport.vic.gov.au

Important Information:

If you require any adjustments to fully participate in the recruitment process, or need the advert or attachments in an accessible format (e.g., large print), please contact us by phone or email.