Director, Legal Services- STEM

Job no: 0050320
Location: Parkville
Role type: Full Time; Continuing
Department/School: COO Portfolio / Legal & Risk
Salary: SM 2- negotiable up to $250K package + bonus          

• Strategic and People Leadership Opportunity
• Work alongside some of Melbourne’s leading minds and innovators!
• Historic and centrally located University Campus

The University of Melbourne would like to acknowledge and pay respect to the Traditional Owners of the lands upon which our campuses are situated.

Legal and Risk is a vibrant and dynamic business unit and is one of several specialist and university-wide support functions that sit within the Chief Operating Officer’s Portfolio.

We pride ourselves on our collegiate approach to working across teams, functions, faculties and disciplines. Our work is interesting, challenging and rewarding, with possibly the most diverse range of clients you��ll ever get an opportunity to work with in one organisation.

The Director of Legal Services – STEM, will become a key member of the Legal and Risk leadership team, and will be responsible for supporting the customer cluster group of STEM faculties comprising:

• Faculty of Science (includes Mathematics, Veterinary & Agricultural Sciences)
• Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
• Faculty of Architecture Building and Planning

As well as parts of the Chief Operating Officer (COO) Portfolio, namely Business Services, Digital & Data and Finance & Commercial Services.

You will support these customer groups by providing and ensuring the proactive delivery of high-level, expert legal advice and assistance on legal matters in a broad range of areas to guide and inform University decision making.

Leading a small team of five (5) Lawyers, you will work proactively and collaboratively with an extensive range of internal and external stakeholders to support the University’s strategic objectives to enable early input into key decision making and ensure University risk and reputation are managed effectively.

This role has a high level of accountability and with the support of a small and highly skilled team, is responsible for the outcome of decisions and actions taken and exercises judgement, risk assessment and mitigation skills, and significant problem-solving skills to achieve outcomes that may have wide-reaching and significant impact to the University.

About You

You are comfortable operating with a high level of autonomy in complex and dynamic settings and will also be capable of demonstrating your achievement and/or experience in relation to:

• relevant postgraduate qualification (Law); preferably with 10 years post admission; current Legal Practicing Certificate
• proven success in a senior leadership role within a large and complex organization; including coaching mentoring and supporting a small team.
• ability to manage and direct complex legal matters, including experience and knowledge in providing specialised legal advice about one or more of the following possible areas:
  • the higher education sector
  • research-related contracts
  • funding arrangements and
  • commercialisation structures and vehicles
  • information technology
  • intellectual property
• proactive delivery and continuous improvement in a large and complex environment
• highly effective stakeholder management skills; constructively manage multiple diverse and complex stakeholder relationships and competing priorities without losing momentum.
• ability to deliver effective risk management strategies in delivering legal advice and support in order to facilitate the business of the University.
• ability to analyse and assimilate complex information, apply highly developed problem-solving skills to find pragmatic, workable solutions which promote the strategic goals and objectives of the cluster team.

For a more detailed outline of the scope and responsibilities of this role please refer to the attached Position Description.

To ensure the University continues to provide a safe environment for everyone, this position requires the incumbent to hold a current and valid Working with Children Check. 

Please note: To be considered for this role you must have current valid work rights for Australia.

About the University
The University of Melbourne is consistently ranked amongst the leading universities in the world. We are proud of our people, our commitment to research and teaching excellence, and our global engagement.

Benefits of Working with Us
The leadership team are champions of professional development and will support your growth in a way that suits you.

We have a strong commitment to our values and behaviours, and we recognise and reward our peers when we see those behaviours being demonstrated. We have an inclusive culture that encourages participation in many regular and ad-hoc social and wellbeing activities.
To find out more, visit https://about.unimelb.edu.au/careers/staff-benefits .

Be Yourself
We value the unique backgrounds, experiences and contributions that each person brings to our community and encourage and celebrate diversity.  First Nations people, those identifying as LGBTQIA+, females, people of all ages, with disabilities and culturally and linguistically diverse people are encouraged to apply. Our aim is to create a workforce that reflects the community in which we live.

Join Us!

If you feel this role is right for you, please submit your application including a brief cover letter outlining your interest and relevant experience along with your resume.  (You ARE NOT required to address the Key Selection Criteria found in the Position Description.)

NOTE: Internal/ Existing employees are strongly encouraged to speak with their current people leaders prior to submitting your application.  

We are dedicated to ensuring barrier free and inclusive practices to recruit the most talented candidates. If you require any reasonable adjustments with the recruitment process, please contact us at [email protected] .

Position Description