EL1 - Assistant Director, Real Property Lawyer
EL1 - Assistant Director, Real Property Lawyer
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Job Description
EL1 - Assistant Director Real Property Lawyer
Title:
EL1 - Assistant Director Real Property Lawyer
Classification(s):
Executive Level 1
Employment Type:
Ongoing Full Time
Salary:
$122667- $139534per annum plus 15.4% superannuation
Business Division:
Legal Legislation Liaison and Privacy
Branch / Section:
Commercial Real Property
Location:
Canberra Brisbane Melbourne Sydney
We want to recruit the best people to our department and support flexible work arrangements including the opportunity to work remotely from one of our many offices in Canberra Melbourne Syndey and Brisbane or hybrid working (mix of home-based and in-offfice work).
Security Clearance:
Baseline Vetting
Job Reference No:
46836
Contact Officer:
Closing Date:
11.59pm AEST Sunday 13 July 2025
The department supports workplace diversity and values the contribution of people from diverse backgrounds. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples people with disability people with cultural and linguistic diversity and LGBTQIA people. The department is committed to achieving gender equality and in particular supporting womens progression into senior leadership.
The opportunity we have available
The Legal Legislation Liaison & Privacy Division is seeking an experienced (EL1 level) dynamic and talented real property lawyer to join our growing legal team.
Reporting to the Principal Lawyer - Real Property (EL2) you will collaborate with other lawyers to deliver practical strategic and solutions-focused advice as part of a high performing legal team managing a diverse portfolio of real property matters. This is an opportunity to advance your career and gain experience working in the Australian Public Service on high profile matters and with a wide range of stakeholders.
As an EL1 Senior Lawyer you will build and nurture collaborative client relationships as their trusted legal adviser and have an opportunity to supervise and develop more junior lawyers.
You will be responsible for providing advice on a broad range of real property and leasing matters relating to:
- major infrastructure projects including air road and rail;
- regional development initiatives;
- support for the administration of offshore non-self-governing Australian territories;
- communication services;
- broader corporate and procurement services for the department; and
- surface transport matters including aviation maritime and road transport.
We may establish a merit pool for future vacancies.
What will you do
Operating under the general direction of the Principal Lawyer - Real Property Commercial you will contribute to the success of the Commercial Law team by:
- providing proactive strategic high quality and solutions-focused advice on a wide variety of complex and significant real property issues and transactions (such as agreements for lease leases licences easements covenants contracts for sale) to enable the department to assess legal risks and make sounds decisions on contractual and commercial matters;
- developing and maintaining the departments real property templates and precedents;
- participating in the peer-review and second-counselling of colleagues legal work and providing guidance to junior members of the Commercial Law team;
- assisting with the efficient and value for money engagement of external legal service providers in accordance with the Legal Services Directions 2017 and other Commonwealth requirements;
- contributing to organisational level continuous improvement and skills/capacity building initiatives including by delivering internal training to the department on real property related issues from time to time; and
- actively contributing to the divisions positive work environment and culture.
We actively support flexible work arrangements in terms of mixed home-based and in office work upon discussion with the General Counsel Commercial and Privacy.
Who are we looking for
The successful candidate for this position will demonstrate their capability against the Executive level 1 Work level standards.
Essential
Our ideal candidate will:
- have broad real property legal practice experience strong legal skills and sound commercial acumen gained in a law firm in-house environment or government agency including:
o advising on drafting reviewing and negotiating a range of real property arrangements; and
o strong problem-solving skills and the ability to provide timely strategic and high-quality legal advice that enables decision makers to assess risk and make sound decisions on real property matters. - demonstrate initiative and the ability to proactively manage legal matters and deliver client-focused outcomes
- communicate clearly and persuasively in plain English both verbally and in writing
- have well-developed interpersonal skills and the ability to build strong collaborative working relationships with clients colleagues and stakeholders
- be able to triage manage and prioritise their workload
- be a flexible resilient and strong team player who can work independently and with a geographically dispersed team
- have an appreciation (or ability to quickly acquire an appreciation) of the policy and legislative framework governing the departments real property dealings including its obligations as a land manager and when undertaking real property procurements and disposals
- strive to continuously improve and develop including by responding to constructive feedback; and
- have integrity and be committed to practising in accordance with the Statement of Expectations of Australian Government lawyers.
Favourable
While not a mandatory requirement given the legal expertise this role requires we expect many suitable candidates are likely to have at least 3 years relevant post qualification experience.
In addition the following would be favourably considered:
- some experience in managing real property disputes including using alternate dispute resolution and/or
- some experience in general commercial legal practice.
RecruitAbility minimum requirements
Minimum requirements for this role include:
Meeting the eligibility requirements outlined below
Excellent communication skills both written and oral
Real property legal practice experience advising on complex legal property matters
Ability to prioritise manage and progress a number of real property matters in a complex environment
RecruitAbility is a scheme which aims to attract and develop applicants with disability and also facilitate cultural changes in selection panels and agency recruitment.
Job applicants with disability who met the requirements are advanced to the next stage of the selection process:
Opt into the scheme
Declare they have a disability and
Meet the minimum requirements of a vacancy advertised in the scheme
More information can be found at RecruitAbility scheme: A guide for applicants Australian Public Service Commission.
What else can we offer
Eligibility requirements
Employment with the Department of Infrastructure Transport Regional Development Communications Sport and the Arts is subject to conditions prescribed within the Public Service Act 1999 including:
- Citizenship: candidates must be an Australian citizen at the time of submitting your application.
- Admission as a legal practitioner however described of the High Court or of the Supreme Court of an Australian State or Territory and hold or be eligible to obtain a practising certificate in the relevant jurisdiction.
- Health Assessment: The preferred candidate may be required to undergo a medical examination conducted by the departments preferred medical provider.
- Security Clearance: The successful candidate must be able to obtain and/or maintain a security clearance at AGSVA Baseline Level. You must be willing to disclose all relevant and required information. You must have lived in Australia or have a checkable background for at least the preceding five years for Baseline Vetting clearances. More information on the security clearance vetting process is available on the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) website.
Timeline and assessment
A selection panel will be established to assess your suitability against the advertised role.
If a merit pool is established it will be valid for 18 months from date it first appeared in the APS Gazette.
Applications open: 19 June 2025
Applications close: 13 July 2025
Application shortlisting: 16 July 2025
Further assessments: 28 July 2025
Selection report finalised: 11 August 2025
Offers and announcements: 18 August 2025
The above is indicative only please reach out to the contact person if you have any questions on the recruitment process or timeframes.
Your application will be assessed against the requirements of the job and the Work level standards. Once the entire applicant pool has been assessed the panel will create a shortlist of applicants. If your application is shortlisted you may be asked to undertake further assessment this may include work sample testing interviews and reference checks.
How to apply
Applications for this opportunity close at 11:59pm AEST Sunday 13 July 2025.
In applying for this position you are not required to address individual selection criteria. Rather you should provide in a PDF document a statement of no more than two (2) pages outlining your background capabilities and experiences and how these align with the advertised role. The capabilities and behaviours required to be successful for this role are identified in the Who are we looking for section.
You should also provide a tailored CV in PDF no more than four (4) pages.
Your application should be received through the departments online recruitment system. Applications via Indeed will not be accepted.
If you experience any issues with the system please contact the recruitment team onor via email at to discuss an alternative way to submit your application.
Please advise the contact officer if you require reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process. The department is committed to the accessibility of our systems. If you identify as someone with disability and you require accessibility assistance or more information please email
Work with us. Apply now!
Required Experience:
Director
Employment Type
Full-Time
