Chief Counsel

Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry – Canberra ACT

Step into a key leadership role as Chief Counsel at DAFF, where you'll shape national legal strategy, advise senior leaders, and drive outcomes that protect and grow Australia’s agricultural industries. If you're a bold legal thinker ready to lead with integrity and influence, apply now to make a lasting impact.

The Key Duties of the Position As the Chief Counsel, you will lead the department’s legal function, providing independent, strategic, and high‑quality legal advice to the Secretary, senior executives, and portfolio Ministers. Your leadership will ensure that legal risks are appropriately managed across the department, and that the department is supported in navigating complex legal landscapes. You will guide the development and delivery of legal strategies in an agile and evolving environment, considering both the immediate and long‑term needs of the department and the whole‑of‑government perspective.

Responsibilities

Supporting portfolio Ministers, the Secretary, and the Senior Executive Service to manage legal risk

Providing legal advice to the Secretary and Minister

Leading a team that delivers independent, high quality, timely and practical legal advice that contributes to department outcomes and appropriately manages legal risk

Managing the department’s litigation, including administrative law litigation, commercial disputes, work health and safety matters and claims of negligence in a range of Courts and Tribunals

Managing the department’s Freedom of Information, CDDA and Privacy work in accordance with the law

Leading and managing the Legal and Governance Division’s budget

Being an informed purchaser of legal services on behalf of the department and managing external legal service providers

Developing and maintaining co‑operative working relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders

Complying with the General Counsel Charter and Statement of expectations of Australian Government lawyers

Promoting organisational objectives, ethics, and values in the delivery of high quality, timely legal services

Qualifications To be successful in the role you will need to meet the Senior Executive Service capability for the SES Band 2 level, and you will have the following:

Proven experience providing high‑level strategic legal advice and support, influencing senior leadership, and aligning legal strategies with both departmental and whole‑of‑government objectives

Exceptional ability to navigate ambiguity and provide clear guidance in complex and uncertain scenarios. A demonstrated capacity to work effectively when clear‑cut answers are not available

Ability to drive broad transformational change, both internal and external to the department

Outstanding leadership skills, a substantial record of achievement and a reputation for innovation, integrity and delivery of results

Excellent stakeholder relationship skills and experience in engaging with internal and external stakeholders at all levels to explore opportunities and solve complex problems

Demonstrating a strategic perspective and ability to manage competing demands and work to tight deadlines

Highly developed management and stakeholder engagement skills and ability to represent the department at a range of forums

Ability to communicate effectively with all audiences, be articulate and persuasive and capable of guiding negotiations to a point of resolution in a facilitative way

Demonstrated public service professionalism and probity

Eligibility Mandatory requirements

The department requires the successful candidate to obtain and maintain a Negative Vetting Level 2 security clearance.

You are required to hold a degree in Law, be admitted as a legal practitioner in an Australian court and be eligible to hold an unrestricted legal practising certificate.

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