Work Type: Ongoing - Full-time
Salary: $116,413 - $140,849
Grade: VPS 5
Occupation: Legal
Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs
Reference: VG/DE/PES/1944478
Employment type: Ongoing Full-time role
About the role:
An exceptional opportunity has arisen for a lawyer to further progress their legal career working in an outstanding legal team, in the Commercial Law Unit of the Commercial and Legislation branch in the Legal Division of the Department of Education.
Senior Lawyers in the Commercial Law Unit contribute to the provision of specialist, technical and strategic legal advice on commercial law matters and risk management in relation to schools and the corporate department. The successful candidate will have strong legal skills with specialist expertise in advising on commercial legal issues and documenting and settling commercial transactions.
The Commercial Law Unit provides strategic support in relation to the procurement, negotiation, and management of a variety of contracts, service agreements, funding agreements and other commercial documents. This includes all necessary advice before going to the market, including supporting any tailoring of standard documents to make them fit for purpose, supporting supplier selection through responding to requests for contract departures, assessment of any best and final offers, subsequent contract negotiation and drafting, and consequential contract management (primarily in relation to disputes).
Why join us?
How to apply
Applicants are required to submit a CV and a cover letter summarising their skills and experience (no more than two pages).
About us
The Department of Education is responsible for delivering and regulating state-wide learning and development services to approximately one-third of all Victorians across the early childhood and school education sectors. The department is also one of Victoria's biggest employers, with approximately 80,000 teaching staff and around 5,000 public service employees.
The Legal Division provides highly valued legal services to support the delivery of the department's strategic objectives, key reforms and to manage legal risk. In doing so, Legal Division provides direct, practical and strategic legal advice to portfolio ministers, the secretary, other senior staff and over 1,600 government schools, supporting approximately over 650,000 Victorian Government school students.
Further Information
For more details regarding this position please see attached position description for the capabilities to address in application.
The department values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the Department website and our Diversity and Inclusion page
Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.
Information about the Department of Education's operations and employment conditions can be located at www.education.vic.gov.au.
For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Katie Hanstein - Principal Lawyer and Manager Commercial Law via email [email protected].
Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Education will be treated in the strictest confidence.
Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.
Applications close 11:59pm on Sunday, 13 September 2026.