Principal Legal Officer

Who we are

The NSW Early Learning Commission (Commission) established as the independent regulator for early childhood education and care (ECEC) in New South Wales on 1 December 2025 is responsible for regulating more than 6000 ECEC services across the state.

Our role is to ensure services meet high standards of safety quality and compliance through ongoing assessment monitoring and enforcement.

The Commission places children at the centre of all decision-making working to ensure they are safe respected and supported to thrive in high-quality early learning environments that promote their development wellbeing and lifelong learning. It also drives continuous improvement across the sector through evidence-informed regulation and reform to strengthen community confidence in ECEC services.

The Commission respects and values Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia.

• Ongoing Full-Time opportunity to make direct impact on Early Childhood Education and Care sector
• Located in Parramatta with flexible working arrangements available
• Salary ranges from $165865 to $169359 p.a. plus superannuation and annual leave loading

About the role

As the Principal Legal Officer you will lead a high-performing legal team to deliver high quality and client-centred legal services and provide strategic expert advice to support the Commissions regulatory functions and uphold public trust and confidence in NSW early childhood education and care (ECEC) services.

Your responsibilities include:

• Providing strategic legal advice to clients senior management and teams across a wide range of legal matters and proactively manage legal risk
• Leading and managing litigation representing the Commission before courts tribunal and other forums
• Draft develop and review complex and sensitive documents including contracts legislation policies court documents and briefings
• Lead mentor and develop a high-performing team foster a culture of professional development and continuous improvement
• Design and deliver legal education and training to internal and external stakeholders to build legal capability and support quality legal advice and services

For further information please click here to view the role description

About you

As the Principal Legal officer you will have proven leadership capability and extensive experience as a solicitor with the ability to provide expert legal advice and influence strategic outcomes. Through your legal expertise you will support the Commissions regulatory priorities to ensure quality and safe education and care for children.

You will also bring:

• Extensive experience providing senior-level legal advice in administrative law and compliance and regulatory law
• Experience in legislative reform (desirable)
• Experience within government public sector or highly regulated environments (desirable).
• Demonstrated expertise in statutory interpretation legal risk analysis and the application of procedural fairness principles in regulatory decision-making
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and the ability to build trusted relationships
• Effective communication when preparing and reviewing documents and the ability to translate complex legal concepts into practical advice
• Experience in managing or coordinating external legal service providers including tribunal and court matters
• Experience in managing and mentoring a small team of lawyers in their development whilst meeting client expectations in the delivery of legal services.

Essential requirements of the role

• Legal qualifications and a current unrestricted NSW legal practising certificate (or eligibility for one).
• Current and valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) Clearance for paid employment.
• Demonstrated understanding of and committed to the value of early childhood education and care.

Benefits

• Flexible working arrangements
• 35 hour working week
• Competitive remuneration salary sacrificing employers contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading
• Flex Leave entitlements generous holidays & leave conditions
• Health & Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programs.
• Opportunities for advancement and mobility across the Early Learning Commission to support your career growth

How to apply

If youre excited by the information above we look forward to receiving your application including a copy of yourresume (maximum 5 pages) and a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining how you meet the requirements and capabilities of this role as well as your response to the pre-screening question below:

Question 1

Describe a time you provided legal advice on a complex or sensitive administrative or statutory matter where legal policy and operational considerations intersected. How did you approach the issue and how did your advice support a lawful and defensible outcome

Applicants are encouraged to prepare their application materials independently. The selection panel values authentic and personally written responses that reflect your own experience insights and alignment with the Departments values and priorities.

Please refer to the Applicants Guide to Applying to assist you with your application.

If you are an existing Education Support Staff (corporate staff) with the NSW Department of Education or NSW Early Learning Commission click here for instructions on how to submit your application.

All other applicants please submit your application by clicking Apply Now.

Note: the selection process will include a range of assessment techniques to assist in determining your suitability for the role. Successful candidates will be required to undertake pre-employment screening for this role which includes a National Criminal History Check.

This is a child-related role. As a condition of employment you will be required to provide a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) Clearance number (for paid employment). Visit the website for more information.

Candidates must have Australian work rights (citizens permanent residents New Zealand citizens or a valid work visa). Ongoing (permanent) roles are open to Australian citizens and permanent residents and New Zealand citizens while temporary roles welcome applicants with a visa.

Closing date: Wednesday 3 June 2026 at 11:59pm.

For role enquiries please contact Mellissa Buchanan at and for recruitment process enquiries please contact Jenny Nguyen at

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds including but not limited to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people people of any age or gender people from culturally and linguistically diverse groups and/or from the LGBTQIA community veterans refugees people with disability people with sensory differences and neurodiverse people. If we can make some adjustments to our recruitment/interview process to better help you shine please reach out to the contact person for this recruitment details listed above. For more information visit the NSW Department of Educations Diversity equity and inclusion webpage.

A recruitment pool may be created through this process for ongoing and temporary opportunities in the same or similar roles. The pool will consist of applicants assessed as suitable who may be considered for temporary term or ongoing positions over the next 18 months.