Work Type: Ongoing - Full-time
Salary: $142,790 - $191,084
Grade: VPS 6
Occupation: Legal
Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs
Reference: 10712
About Us
We work for the people of Victoria by helping the Government achieve its strategic objectives. We do this by supporting the Premier, the Minister for Treaty and First Peoples and the Multicultural Affairs, as well as the Cabinet. Our vision is to be recognised and respected leaders in whole-of-government policy and performance.
The Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) upholds and demonstrates the values of the VPS and is the embodiment of VPS leadership. DPC’s values are adopted from the Public Administration Act 2004:
About the Branch
The Office of the Secretary supports the Secretary of DPC, Jeremi Moule, and his leadership of the DPC and the Victorian Public Service.
The Treaty Negotiations and Strategy Branch is responsible for leading, implementing and facilitating a whole-of-government approach to the Treaty process in Victoria. Our work includes:
About the Role
The Treaty Negotiations and Strategy Branch within the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) is seeking a talented and passionate individual committed to progressing the Victorian Government’s nation-leading work with First Peoples.
This is a unique opportunity to work in new and innovative ways that recognise First Peoples as the self-determining drivers of Aboriginal affairs in Victoria. This role will contribute to the ground-breaking work of the Group in the areas of truth, Treaty, self-determination and cultural rights.
The Principal Legal Advisor within DPC’s Treaty Negotiations and Strategy (TNS) branch will be a key part of a small legal team working on the State’s response to First Peoples’ Treaty aspirations through critical legal advice.
The successful candidate will lead, under the supervision of Special Counsel – Treaty, a small team of legal advisors to provide advice to DPC in relation to Treaty. Matters will relate to a broad range of legal issues arising, but particularly whole-of-government preparations for Traditional Owner Treaty negotiations and the implementation of Statewide Treaty. This is likely to include matters relating to land justice, existing First Peoples recognition and rights frameworks, interactions between Treaty considerations and current Victorian and Federal legislation, the role of the State and representative individuals within Treaty negotiations and implementation, meeting obligations under Treaty-related legislation and the Treaty Negotiation Framework, and other matters relating to Gellung Warl (from 1 May 2026) and the Treaty Authority.
Reporting to the Special Counsel - Treaty, the successful applicant will possess strong leadership, as well as significant relevant legal expertise, and the ability to apply these skills in ground-breaking areas of treaty negotiation and strategy for the state of Victoria. You will be experienced in considering complex legal problems, people management, and confident in providing high quality authoritative advice within a politically pressured environment. Key stakeholders will include Gellung Warl (from 1 May 2026), the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, the Minister for Treaty and First Peoples, Premier, Cabinet, the Solicitor General, the Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office, the Office of General Counsel and senior executives on Treaty and other related entities.
DPC recognises the invaluable contribution of existing Aboriginal staff and is committed to promoting Aboriginal leadership. DPC welcomes applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and strongly encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people interested in this position to apply.
About You
As our ideal candidate you will have:
Mandatory Requirements
Applicants must hold a Bachelor of Laws, Juris Doctor or equivalent legal qualification conferred by a university in a common law jurisdiction.
Applicants must be admitted to practice as an Australian lawyer or eligible to hold a Victorian practising certificate.
Desirable Requirements
For more information, please see the Position Description.
How to apply
Apply before the advertised closing date 11:59pm on Sunday 17 May 2026. All applications should include:
This position is only open to applicants with relevant rights to work in Australia.
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. DPC 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 DPC can be worked flexibly, however it may differ from role to role.