About the Treaty Authority

The Treaty Authority is an new independent entity with a mandate to facilitate the formation of treaties between the State of Victoria and First Peoples in Victoria.

The Treaty Authority’s work is grounded in Aboriginal culture, lore and law and led collectively by a panel of five Members committed to Aboriginal self-determination and empowerment. It engages with a broad cross-section of stakeholders including the State of Victoria, the First Peoples’ Assembly and Traditional Owners in Victoria.

The objects of the Treaty Authority’s work are to:

• Facilitate the journey towards reconciliation, mutual respect and tolerance between First Peoples and other people of the State and to
• Maintain, promote and advance the self-determination and empowerment, culture and human rights of First Peoples.

About the Role

General Counsel within Treaty Authority is a key leadership position focussed on providing strategic legal advice, risk management and ensuring legal compliance across the Treaty Authority’s operations. This role will be responsible for establishing the Treaty Authority’s legal team and will be critical in providing expert and timely advice across a broad range of legal, regulatory, administrative and legislative matters that may be complex and highly sensitive.

This key role will be a trusted advisor to Treaty Authority Members, the CEO and the executive leadership team.

This is a three-year fixed-term opportunity, based at our offices in Collingwood.

Key Duties

• Leadership and guidance on a broad range of legal, regulatory, administrative, legislative matters while ensuring expert legal advice and support is provided to deliver the statutory remit and build confidence in the Treaty Authority.
• Providing high-quality and timely strategic legal advice to the Members, CEO and across the organisation.
• Monitoring compliance with legal requirements and initiating corrective actions where necessary.
• Advising on a wide range of contracts, agreements and legal documents, including collaborating with internal stakeholders, external legal counsel and other relevant parties.
• Ensuring advice to and engagement with Members and staff is culturally considerate and accessible.
• Identifying legal developments relevant to the Authority and advising on potential opportunities and impacts.
• Providing strategic, risk-based legal advice and counsel on treaty-related regulation and laws, and legal issues related to legislative interpretation and corporate governance.
• Providing strategic advice on legal aspects of corporate governance matters. This includes drafting and reviewing of governance documents and policies.
• Identifying and managing legal risk whilst contributing actively to the strategic direction of the Authority.
• Playing a key leadership role in fostering positive team engagement and inspiring an inclusive and high-performing culture across the Treaty Authority.
• Actively promoting and advocating the vision and initiatives of the Treaty Authority within and outside the organisation as a member of the executive leadership team.

Selection Criteria

• Law degree essential with 10+ years post-admission experience.
• Admitted to practise law in an Australian State or Territory and current unrestricted practising certificate (or ability to readily obtain one).
• In-house legal experience is preferred but not essential.
• Broad range of legal experience in corporate and commercial law, corporate governance, risk and compliance, public law and First Peoples legal issues.
• Exceptional interpersonal, relationship-building and leadership skills with the ability to develop and coach staff.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills and the ability to explain and express complex legal ideas in a clear, accessible form to suit the audience.
• Broad legal knowledge and exceptional legal judgment, commercial acumen and analytical skills.
• Preferred experience working with the Aboriginal communities of Victoria, with sound working knowledge of Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, Traditional Owner groups, legislative and regulatory regimes, Aboriginal histories and leaders, democratic processes, machinery of government and the Victorian Public Service.
• Demonstrated knowledge of First Peoples law, policy and practice preferred.
• Able to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic and growing environment, with a high level of adaptability and resilience.
• Highly ethical and reliable with a strong sense of personal integrity.
• Able to always maintain confidentiality and professionalism to achieve strategic objectives and outcomes.
• Able to manage ambiguous situations and achieve positive outcomes.

This position is commensurate with a SES1 range starting at a salary of $216,376 including super, depending on the successful applicant’s experience.

This position is open to everyone; however the nature of the Treaty Authority’s work means we strongly encourage First Peoples to apply.

If you feel you could contribute well in this role, click the Apply Now button to submit your application.