The Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions is focused on growing Victoria’s prosperity, building the productive capacity of our economy and increasing participation – by creating more opportunities for people through skills and jobs; helping businesses and industries to thrive; and building vibrant communities and regions. For more information, see the DJSIR Strategic Plan 2023-2027.
Our work spans numerous portfolios, supporting departmental ministers and operating across metropolitan, regional and international offices.
The Department welcomes and encourages applications from diverse applicants, including First Peoples, refugees or asylum seekers, people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, LGBTIQ+ people and people with disability. All roles at DJSIR can be worked flexibly and we offer reasonable adjustments for applicants with disabilities.
Senior Advisor, Legal Practice
- Salary: $113,002 - $136,747 (Plus superannuation)
- Ongoing position
- Usual hours of work: Full time (flexibility may be available)
- Usual work location: 121 Exhibition Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 (flexibility may be available)
The Role
A Senior Adviser, Legal Practice provides expert guidance, often strategic, to stakeholders, contributing to their growth and decision-making. They analyse complex issues, offer recommendations, and may lead or manage teams, depending on the specific role. Their role may involve:
- offering strategic advice to stakeholders to help them make informed decisions and navigate complex challenges.
- analysing data, trends, and information to identify opportunities, risks, and potential solutions.
- identifying and resolving complex issues, often involving multiple stakeholders and high levels of uncertainty.
- effectively communicating their findings and recommendations to senior management, stakeholders, and teams, often requiring strong interpersonal and presentation skills.
- demonstrating leadership and management capabilities including mentoring staff and leading teams.
Main accountabilities:
- Contributes to strategic business planning Interprets and applies business plans and policies in own area of responsibility and provides advice to others on implementation issues.
- Negotiates with stakeholders and peers with the object of gaining co-operation and meeting timelines for delivery of project, service or advice.
- Develops briefs on highly complex issues that provide options for discussion and consideration and will contribute to the development of a set of final options for decision.
- Provides high level expertise dealing with more complex issues in a specialised corporate support function.
- Initiates and maintains relationships with peer and senior internal and external stakeholders
- Advice and analysis influences policy development.
The Team
The position of Senior Advisor, Legal Practice forms part of Legal & Legislation Branch which sits within Corporate Services Group.
The Corporate Services group consists of specialist functions including strategic communications, finance, investment and procurement, performance and governance, legal and legislation, people and culture, information technology and workplace services and emergency management. These functions enable the department to operate efficiently and effectively and support the Secretary and Ministers to meet legislative obligations and responsibilities whilst actively supporting the department's portfolio groups and Ministers to create the conditions for growing Victoria's prosperity, building the productive capacity of our economy, and increasing participation.
The Legal and Legislation Branch is the centralised provider of legal services to the Department. It supports the Department's strategic priorities by partnering with our client areas and delivering quality legal advice, dispute management, legislation development and commercial legal services.
About You
To be successful in this role, you will have the following main skills and experience:
- Strategic Planning: Thinks at the whole of system level and undertakes internal and external scanning, considering wide-ranging possibilities in developing a vision for the future.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Identifies and responds to stakeholder's underlying needs; Uses understanding of the stakeholder's organisational context to ensure outcomes are achieved.
- Flexibility and Adaptability: Adapts systems and processes quickly to changed priorities and
situations.
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Takes into account wider business context within business unit when considering options to resolve issues. Identifies recurring problems and prevents future recurrence by integrating solutions into work process.
- Team Management: Translates organisational strategy into workforce requirements (e.g. roles, team structures, capabilities). Takes actions to optimise workforce effectiveness.
- Resilience: Keeps self and others calm when under pressure; Is decisive and charts course of actions enabling teams to resolve a challenging situation.
Further Information
For a confidential discussion, please contact Tom Saunders, General Counsel and Executive Director, Legal & Legislation Branch on 0423 874 364 or [email protected]
The Department is committed to creating and maintaining a child safe organisation. We have zero tolerance of child abuse and are committed to taking the necessary steps to protect children from harm by adopting a preventative, proactive and participatory approach to child safety in accordance with the Child Safe Standards.
Successful candidates will be required to undergo a National Police Records Check prior to commencing employment with the Department. To be eligible for this position you must hold the mandatory qualification as outlined in the position description. For further information on the position, please refer to the attached position description.
For Finance Roles:
The Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry, and Regions is an accredited CPA Australia Recognised Employer Partner.
Please note: We are committed to inclusive recruitment. If you require an adjustment to participate in any stage of the recruitment process or have a particular requirement to be communicated with by either telephone or email only, please notify the DJSIR Talent Acquisition Team on 0472 875 685, or via email at [email protected] with the position number in the subject line.
How to Apply
Please click the ‘Apply Now' button. As part of the application process, applicants will need to submit a resume and a cover letter showing your interest in this position.
Applications close at 23:59pm Sunday, 26 April 2026.