Manager and Principal Legal Adviser

About Us

The Department of Treasury and Finance (DTF) serves the government by providing leadership in economic, financial and resource management. We influence outcomes that can have a real impact on people’s lives. We strive for excellence in financial and economic management to improve the lives of all Victorians. We value our people and motivate them to lead, influence, collaborate and innovate.  

DTF upholds and demonstrates the values of the VPS and is the embodiment of VPS leadership. DTF’s values are adopted from the Public Administration Act 2004:   

• Leadership                                                                                 

• Integrity  

• Responsiveness  

• Impartiality 

• Accountability  

• Respect  

• Commitment to Human Rights

About the Branch

DTF Legal provides internal legal and advisory services to the Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC, the DTF Secretary and board, and other DTF business units. The team advises on the full spectrum of issues faced by our stakeholders.

Our work includes providing advice on the delivery of State significant social and economic infrastructure and commercial projects (for example, social and affordable housing programs, the VicRoads Modernisation project, the economic regulatory framework for the Port of Melbourne); Victorian tax reform projects (such as the Commercial and Industrial Property tax legislation), Victoria’s financial management framework (including the delivery of the annual State Budget); as well as public policy and administrative law matters and managing litigation and disputes (including in relation to employment, freedom of information, constitutional and contractual issues).

About the Role

In DTF Legal you will, as a generalist lawyer, build on your fundamental legal skills by working across a variety of legal areas, while still having the opportunity to develop a specialisation in one of our key areas of focus.  The breadth of work DTF Legal undertakes, with a range of stakeholders, ensures that a career in DTF Legal is interesting, challenging and fulfilling.

 Key Accountabilities

• With limited supervision, provide technically sound, solutions-based legal services across the full spectrum of issues faced by the Department and its associated Ministerial portfolios.
• Identify and resolve issues referred to or emerging from DTF Legal’s work (including governance, policy, operational and other non-legal advice and analysis relevant to the Government, the public sector and public administration) that could affect DTF’s or its portfolio Ministers’ interests and positions.
• Draft contracts, legal instruments, correspondence, briefs for Ministers and senior executives, Cabinet submissions and policy proposals, including those for which there is no precedent.

• Contribute to DTF Legal’s positive culture by working cooperatively and flexibly with a diverse team of lawyers.
• Manage and lead a team of lawyers, including providing leadership and mentoring on career development, performance planning and management, and general health and wellbeing support.
• Support the General Counsel and the Deputy General Counsels with the leadership and management of DTF Legal, including workload and resource allocation, staff management responsibilities.
• Develop close, effective and open relationships and negotiate effectively with other DTF business units, other departments and agencies.

• Lead and contribute to major policy and legislative projects, including managing the preparation and enactment of legislation and other significant policy proposals.
• Manage and provide advice on matters involving disputes, litigation, and the exercise of statutory powers and rights
• Assist in procuring and project managing external legal services providers for DTF, achieving value for money outcomes and to help effectively manage the scope, output and budget of the external adviser.

About You

We are seeking applicants who have demonstrated experience from the following criteria:

• Highly developed conceptual and analytical skills and a proven ability to provide pragmatic, concise, solutions-based legal advice on matters arising in the operations of government, including in at least two of the following areas: commercial and corporate; energy, infrastructure or construction; banking and finance; contracting; public and administrative law; statutory interpretation; disputes and litigation; competition and regulatory; property; employment law.
• Proven communication, relationship management and negotiation skills at a senior level, demonstrating a strong understanding of excellent customer/client service delivery.
• A proven ability to be flexible, adaptable, collegiate and work collaboratively as a member of an energetic, high-performing, and busy team.
• A proven ability to work in a sustained way and deliver results under pressure, where there are competing priorities, incomplete or ambiguous information, and with limited supervision.
• A proven ability to identify, manage and, where appropriate, escalate legal, policy and commercial risks.

Mandatory requirements

The successful candidate will be:

• Admitted, or eligible to be admitted, to practice as a legal practitioner in Victoria, with at least 6 years PQE.

• Recognised within the legal profession for well-developed and considered judgement and impeccable professional ethics and integrity.

This role is a 12-month fixed term.This position is only open to applicants with relevant rights to work in Australia.

For more information, please see the  Position-Description.

How to apply 

Apply before the advertised closing date 11:59pm on 20 November 2026. All applications should include:  

·       a resume; and  

·       a cover letter which addresses the key selection criteria (within three pages).

Other relevant information

To be eligible for appointment to this role, applicants will possess corresponding work rights for the advertised employment period. Appointment to an ongoing role is only available to an Australian/New Zealand citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident.  Preferred applicants will be required to undertake pre-employment screening. DTF actively promotes diversity, inclusion and an equal opportunity workplace. We welcome applicants from all diverse backgrounds, including people with disabilities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. All roles at DTF can be worked flexibly, however it may differ from role to role.