General Counsel and Director, Legal Services

• Full-time, ongoing role (salary grade: VPS 7.2)
• Provide independent legal advice and shape legal strategy
• Lead a high-performing legal team and contribute directly to safeguarding Victoria's democratic processes.

The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) is an independent and impartial body established under the Electoral Act 2002 (Vic). The VEC has 2 important roles in Victoria's democracy: running elections and regulating elections.

The General Counsel and Director, Legal Services is a pivotal senior leadership role reporting to the Assistant Commissioner, Electoral Integrity and Regulation. As the VEC's principal legal advisor, you will provide expert, independent and timely legal advice and guidance to the Electoral Commissioner, Deputy Electoral Commissioner, executives and senior leaders in a complex, politically sensitive and often time-critical environment. You will lead the in-house Legal Services function and oversee legal strategy, disputes and litigation, legal support for electoral services, regulatory compliance and enforcement, legislative reform, external counsel, budget management, quality assurance and corporate governance.

This role will be required to initiate, develop and nurture partnerships with internal and external stakeholders and decision-makers, and negotiate solutions to complex problems, including in relation to major projects and high-value commercial matters. You will also deputise for the Assistant Commissioner during election delivery and in response to significant issues, risks or threats.

Success in this role will require a senior legal professional with expert knowledge and leading practice in administrative law, constitutional law, government law, and regulatory compliance and enforcement. You will have substantial experience and pride yourself in your ability to provide high-quality legal advice, analysis and research; managing and developing lawyers at various stages of practice; and leading complex legal matters, including appearing as solicitor-advocate, instructing counsel or overseeing external legal advisors. You will exercise sound judgement and influence solutions to complex problems in a busy and politically sensitive environment. You will have experience or a solid understanding of public administration, assurance, integrity, crisis management, risk management, statutory reporting, and the Victorian Public Sector, including Cabinet and Parliamentary processes and machinery of government.

Your leadership will build trust, foster collaboration, and support a high-performing, inclusive and capable in-house legal team. Experience within an electoral management body or related government policy environment is desirable, but not essential. You must be admitted to practise law in Australia and hold a current Victorian practising certificate as a government legal practitioner, or be eligible to obtain one before commencing. You must also have at least seven years of post-admission experience in legal practice as a lawyer in a common law jurisdiction.This is an opportunity to make a significant contribution to safeguarding Victoria's democracy while working with an organisation committed to independence, integrity, fairness and inclusion.

The VEC offers a safe, modern, and accessible workplace and a hybrid working environment, which is predominantly 2 days in the office each week. Additional days in the office will likely be required during operational peaks. Setting employees up for success is a priority, as is the health and wellbeing of employees. Elections are exciting and lively, and the VEC is open to the challenge of a changing environment. During major election events or key programs of work, extra hours will be required but know you will be helping to safeguard Victoria's democracy.

The VEC welcomes applications from people of diverse backgrounds and is committed to making reasonable adjustments for applicants and employees.

In accordance with section 17A of the Electoral Act 2002 (Vic), the VEC will ask preferred applicants to disclose specific political activities that could compromise the perceived independence of the organisation. Appointment will be made subject to satisfactory completion and assessment of a Disclosure of Political Activities form. More information is available here:

https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/work-with-us/disclosure-of-political-activities

Appointment will be subject to satisfactory assessment and completion of relevant checks, including a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check, Australian Entitlement to Work Check, Working with Children Check where applicable, eligibility to obtain and maintain a minimum NV-1 national security clearance, and disclosure and assessment of relevant political activities. Due to the security clearance requirement, applicants must be Australian citizens. Employees must maintain the independence and impartiality of the VEC and comply with the Victorian Public Sector Code of Conduct.

Employment conditions: Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement 2024

Applications close: Monday 26 October 2026 at 11:59pm.

To view the Success Profile, please paste this link into a browser: https://tinyurl.com/bdhwfh22

To apply, please submit your application including a current resume and cover letter addressing your suitability for the position.

For further information, or a confidential discussion about the role, please contact:

Paul Lefebvre - Paul.Lefebvre@Davidsonwp.com

Kate Chase - Kate.Chase@Davidsonwp.com