Who we are
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is the lead government agency for the agriculture sector (the agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries) in Australia.
Our work is central to the health and prosperity of the nation. Our policies and services protect and span the entire supply chain, helping to grow Australia's economy and enable the Australian agricultural sector to produce high quality, more sustainable products for consumption within Australia and overseas.
We are a national regulator with portfolio responsibilities that include biosecurity and trade. We work in partnership with all levels of government and with local communities. We have scientific and technical expertise, connections with a range of domestic and international stakeholders and important partnerships across the private sector, from small agricultural businesses to multinational enterprises.
The Legal Division delivers all legal services and advice required by the department, including to develop its legislation, perform its functions and deliver its regulatory and policy objectives. This includes the provision of strategic advice to the Secretary, the Executive, and the business areas within the department. The Division operates in a fast-paced, exciting environment dealing with numerous complex pieces of legislation. We facilitate excellent legal outcomes for our clients and focus on ensuring our staff are supported and developed so that they are in the best position to take on the challenges of the work.
The Division is responsible for all legal services and advice required by the department, including:
The job
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.
The responsibilities of the role include:
What we are looking for
To be successful for this role you will need to meet the Senior Executive Service capability for the SES band 2 level, and you will have the following:
Mandatory qualifications
To be eligible for this position 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.
Security clearance
This position requires a Negative Vetting 2 security clearance. The successful applicant will be required to obtain and maintain a clearance at the appropriate level for this position.
