Title: Senior Lawyer Commercial and Projects
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.
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
In this role, you are a trusted legal advisor, known for delivering high-quality, timely, and pragmatic legal advice that supports the Department’s strategic objectives. Success means identifying and managing significant legal risks with confidence, while ensuring that external legal services are well-managed, cost-effective, and aligned with best practice. You foster strong, collaborative relationships with stakeholders, contribute to a respectful and high-performing team culture, and share your expertise through presentations and accessible knowledge management. Your impact is felt not just in the quality of your advice, but in your ability to support project delivery, mitigate risk, and enhance legal capability across the Department.
Position Description, please click here: PD Senior Lawyer Commercial and Projects 2025
Key Selection Criteria
To succeed in this role, you’ll bring accomplished legal expertise across complex advice, drafting, and statutory interpretation, with a proven ability to navigate sensitive or high-stakes matters independently. You apply sharp critical thinking to assess legal and operational risks, develop creative and pragmatic solutions, and deliver advice that aligns with both legislative frameworks and broader organisational objectives.
Your ability to communicate with clarity and impact, coupled with your awareness of the political and organisational landscape, ensures your legal contributions are strategic, well-informed, and influential. You also support and assure the quality of others’ legal work, fostering a high standard of practice within the team.
Personal Attributes
On a personal level, success means leading with a collaborative and adaptive mindset. You’ll foster a culture of teamwork across the organisation, actively seek opportunities to partner with external stakeholders, and remove barriers to effective communication. You’re flexible in your approach, open to new ideas, and confident in shifting direction when needed to achieve better outcomes—bringing others along with you to embrace change and deliver results.
Qualifications and experience
Mandatory
Admitted, or eligible to be admitted, to practice law in the state of Victoria.
Desirable
Demonstrated experience advising on complex issues relating to procurement, commercial contracts, transport contracts or projects.
Demonstrated in-house legal experience
Demonstrated experience working for or advising government, including awareness of government-specific considerations relevant to legal advice
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, 31 July 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 Isabel Tsang - Senior Legal Counsel – Commercial and Projects at isabel.tsang@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. We're here to support you.
