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General Counsel to the Chief Executive

Life Without Barriers (National)

About Life Without Barriers

We believe what unites us are the rights we have and should all enjoy as human beings. We each expect to have the freedom to pursue what we want from our lives without having to relentlessly fight for it. Yet the opportunity to live freely, without significant barriers, is not afforded to all Australians. This reality drives us - a collective of diverse people - to tackle, disrupt and dismantle the barriers which stand in the way of far too many members of our community.

As a leading charity and social purpose organisation, we offer services for many people who may face barriers now or in the future including;

  • Children, young people and their families who are in the child protection system
  • People with disability
  • Older Australians in need of in-home support
  • People experiencing mental health issues
  • People seeking refugee status and asylum in Australia.

About the role

We are seeking a skilled and highly experienced senior legal professional with an interest in promoting and implementing the value of legal guidance in the community services sector. This means recognising and valuing the rights of people we support, offering guidance on opportunities that relate to our commitments to influence the systemic barriers people face and supporting the efforts of our 8000 plus workforce.

You will lead a team of in house legal specialists and provide senior, legal, regulatory and best practice advice and counsel to the Chief Executive and Life Without Barriers Board.

You will recognise the opportunities of offering insightful legal consultation on sensitive matters facing vulnerable people and provide leadership in our response on various inquiries. You will understand the value of relationships and work collaboratively with key internal and external stakeholders on various responses, in a client focussed way.

Note we are open to both part and full time employment.

We are flexible as to the location for this position and are committed to our employees having access to a Covid safe office environment while enabling flexible work options.

Key Responsibilities

  • Demonstrate leadership as a senior member of the Office of the Chief Executive
  • Support the Chief Executive and Office of Chief Executive by providing considered legal insights that support the Life Without Barriers strategy and other organisational programs and initiatives whilst demonstrating our values.
  • Demonstrate values led leadership to direct reports
  • Manage the appropriate engagement of external legal representation as required
  • Provide strategic advice on the management of sensitive matters ensuring that Life Without Barriers meets its legal and regulatory obligations including:
    • managing the response of Life Without Barriers to various inquiries, hearings, reviews, or reports
    • consulting and engaging with relevant external stakeholders
    • working with Media and Communications to consider external or internal public statements
    • working with operational and policy services to maintain and improve client safety and well-being
  • Provide senior oversight of matters that require coordination across stakeholders, regulatory bodies or inquiries such as Royal Commissions
  • Manage the immediate implementation of decisions of the Chief Executive or the Senior Executive team.
  • Manage the conduct of civil considerations

Skills & Experience

  • Tertiary qualifications in Law, with Strategic Policy experience particularly welcome.
  • Substantial experience in legal practice either as practising solicitor or Barrister
  • Substantial experience working with external regulatory bodies in the community services sector.
  • Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate complex legal concepts to a range of audiences.
  • Demonstrated experience in managing competing priorities and to deliver high quality outcomes within agreed timeframes.
  • Ability to understand relevant legislative and regulatory environment for areas of business responsibility.
  • The ability to influence and work collaboratively with a range of stakeholders including peers, employees, external organisations, funding bodies and government agencies.
  • Must have a human rights approach and an ability to build relationships, engage and influence in a positive manner.

Successful candidates will be required to clear probity checks including National Criminal History Record Check.

Benefits

  • We are committed to our employees having access to a Covid safe office environment while enabling working from home options
  • Not for profit salary packaging benefits that reduces your taxable income
  • Working for an organisation with a clear social purpose and values led culture

How to Apply

Simply click ‘Apply’ and follow the prompts or contact David Meere on 0418 439 728 for a confidential conversation.

We are accepting applications across multiple locations and are dedicated to playing our part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and bring continuity of care and support to our clients. With this in mind, if you are successful, we will discuss with you an alternative to a face to face interview if required. 

We want to employ people who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. We enthusiastically encourage people with disability or a lived experience and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background to apply.

Life Without Barriers supports the Royal Commission into violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability. We believe people with disability need to be heard and for these experiences to influence how support services like ours are delivered. View our statement here https://bit.ly/2GzZGWA.

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