• Full time continuing opportunity for an experienced senior lawyer to join the University's Office of General Counsel
• Hybrid work from home and from campus
• Offering a competitive remuneration package including 17% superannuation

About the opportunity

Join a next generation legal team and use your talents to have meaningful impact in higher education and research.
We are seeking an experienced senior commercial lawyer to join a dynamic and collaborative team within the University's Office of General Counsel, working on a diverse range of interesting and challenging matters of strategic importance to the University.

The Senior Lawyer (Corporate and Commercial) will provide sound, timely and cost-effective legal advice and support to the University on a broad range of matters with a focus on general corporate and commercial law, and policy advice matters. In this role, you will work closely with clients within the University including Procurement, ICT, the Education Portfolio, University Faculties and Schools, as well as other University teams and Professional Service Units such as Finance, Risk Management and Marketing and Communications.

You will be required to deploy your expertise and advise on a variety of matters which involve complex legal issues and other issues of strategic importance and/or high risk to the University.

About us

The Office of General Counsel enjoys a highly trusted and collaborative culture, based out of a modern office on our heritage Camperdown campus, and welcomes a hybrid model where staff work from home 2-3 days per week (subject to meeting an initial probation period).

We are a trusted and strategic business unit that embraces innovation and continuous learning, including through a dedicated learning and development program with a focus on business, technology, and career skills. This role is ideal for an experienced legal professional who wants to work in a more innovative and business savvy legal team and is open to championing new ways of working.

Your key responsibilities will be:

• providing high level strategic legal advice to University clients on a broad range of issues relating to the University's operations which may include intellectual property law, information technology law, privacy, procurement and probity, collaborations, corporations' law, contract law, trust law and competition law
• advising on the interpretation and application of internal legislation and policy documents, and their relationship to external legal and regulatory requirements
• drafting, reviewing and negotiating agreements
• actively partnering to share deep institutional knowledge and legal expertise to support strategically aligned decision making, and to optimize operational efficiencies
• proactively identifying actual and potential legal and regulatory risks and providing strategic recommendations for managing identified risks
• commercial dispute resolution, and to negotiate provisions which promote the University's strategic interests, as instructed by senior officers of the University
• contributing to the development of policy and legislation affecting the higher education sector
• communicating to the University about legal concepts, issues and developments.

About you

• qualifications in law and admission to practice in Australia and hold a current practicing certificate
• approximately 8 years post admission legal experience
• extensive experience in contracts, intellectual property and commercial law, and the conduct of negotiations, the drafting of documents and the provision of advice in these and related areas
• experience in drafting and reviewing a range of commercial agreements (including services agreements, documents for tenders, collaborative agreements, funding agreements, confidentiality agreements, and a range of collaborations between public and private sector organisations
• experience in providing advice on changes and developments in the Australian regulatory environment related to contracts and consumer protections
• excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to communicate complex legal issues in verbal and written reports, including the ability to develop trusted relationships and operate with tact and professionalism across complex internal and external environments
• ability to work with a range of different stakeholders both internally and externally
• a growth mindset and willingness to tackle new challenges and ways of working is essential.

Sponsorship / work rights for Australia

You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.

Pre-employment checks

Your employment is conditional upon the completion of all role required pre-employment or background checks in terms satisfactory to the University. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment.

EEO statement

At the University of Sydney, our shared values are trust, accountability and excellence and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that thrives through diversity and reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this through our commitment to diversity and inclusion, evidenced by our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTIQ+. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.

We are proud to be recognised as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Gold employer. Find out more about our work on diversity and inclusion.

How to apply

Applications (including a cover letter, CV, and any additional supporting documentation) can be submitted via the Apply button at the top of the page.

For employees of the University or contingent workers, please login into your Workday account and navigate to the Career icon on your Dashboard. Click on USYD Find Jobs and apply.

For a confidential discussion about the role, or if you require reasonable adjustment or any documents in alternate formats, please contact Nayomi Siriwardane, Recruitment Operations by email to nayomi.siriwardane@sydney.edu.au

Copyright The University of Sydney

The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.

Click to view the Position Description for this role.

Applications Close

Tuesday 18 March 2025 11:59 PM