EL 2 Principal Lawyer Corporate Legal Services (Litigation/Advice)

About the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner

Working with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) will put you at the forefront of data protection and access to information regulation. As an independent statutory agency, the OAIC’s work is of national significance and plays an important role in shaping Australia’s information handling landscape across the economy - from government, digital platforms and the online environment, to health, finance and telecommunications. Our mission is to uphold and promote Australia’s privacy and freedom of information laws.

We are an agency within the Attorney-General’s Department portfolio with responsibility for numerous statutory functions including:

• privacy functions under the Privacy Act 1988 and the Digital ID Act 2024, the My Health Records Act 2012 and in relation to the Consumer Data Right (CDR) under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010, in particular, investigating breaches, handling complaints, conducting audits, developing codes, providing policy guidance and educating the public and industry on privacy;
• freedom of information functions under the Freedom of Information Act 1982, in particular, review of decisions made by agencies and ministers, handling FOI complaints, monitoring and investigating agency compliance, providing policy guidance and educating government and the public on FOI rights; and
• information commissioner functions under the Australian Information Commissioner Act 2010 including reporting to the Minister regarding government policy and practice with respect to the collection, use, disclosure, management, administration or storage of, or access to, information held by government and the systems used.

Leadership roles in the OAIC

Leadership within the OAIC work as a united team, collaborating and supporting each other and staff in achieving outcomes for the Australian community, and ensuring the agency’s success.

You will demonstrate leadership that aligns with the values of the OAIC, which include:

• modelling and championing the OAIC’s Guiding Principles (‘4 Pillars’): being proactive, proportionate, purpose-driven and people-focused
• acting with integrity at all times and demonstrating alignment with the APS Values: Impartial, Committed to service, Accountable, Respectful, Ethical and Stewardship
• managing limited resources effectively and aligned to the OAIC’s regulatory priorities
• empowering and supporting staff to make lawful administrative decisions in accordance with the applicable statutory framework
• leading your team and directly contributing to communicating (internally and externally) and delivering on the strategic direction of the OAIC.

About the Team

The Corporate Legal Services team operates in a fast paced and exciting environment. It provides expert legal advice and support to Commissioners and the OAIC Executive on high-priority matters related to statutory obligations, administrative law and broader regulatory action. The team plays a critical role in managing litigation brought against the Commissioner in a range of Courts and Tribunals, with a focus on merits review and judicial review proceedings, including complex, high-risk cases. The team also advises on a range of corporate legal matters including in the areas of employment and industrial relations, contract management, procurement and ensuring the OAIC’s operations are compliant with relevant legislation and regulations.

Corporate Legal Services staff contribute to the delivery of the OAIC’s stated priorities and principles and support the OAIC’s shift towards a more harm-focused approach that actively engages with risk to develop legally sound solutions.  We focus on a high performance culture where staff are supported and developed to work collaboratively and flexibly.

Key Relationships

You will be expected to develop and maintain effective and productive working relationships with a broad range of external stakeholders including external legal providers, portfolio agencies, government, academia, private sector and the Minister’s Office. You will represent the OAIC (for activities both within and outside your division) at high levels within and outside government. You will be required to build and maintain strong working relationships across the OAIC, particularly with the Commissioners and SES colleagues.

Together, the team’s Principal Lawyers will provide leadership, guidance and mentoring to staff within the legal division to foster their professional development and career progression.

About The Role

You will lead with a high degree of independence and will support the Principal Director, Head of Legal Services and Commissioners in establishing priorities, practices and methodologies to deliver strategic and quality legal outcomes for the OAIC.

Reporting to the Principal Director, you will contribute to overseeing and delivering the team’s independent and expert legal advice to Commissioners and the OAIC Executive, and its management and conduct of litigation brought against the OAIC. You will facilitate access to external legal advice where needed, support external legal providers, and identify and manage legal risk.

You will have expertise across a broad range of in-house legal practice areas including litigation, statutory interpretation, administrative law, employment/industrial relations, procurement and contract management. You will also have a demonstrated understanding of the principles and practices of WH&S, equity, and diversity in the workplace.

You will maintain a high level of integrity and abide by the APS Code of Conduct. You will also support the Information Commissioner in ensuring compliance with the Legal Services Directions.

Key duties include: 

• Working collaboratively between Principal Lawyers to lead, guide and mentor the Corporate Legal Services team with a focus on high performance and continuous improvement, and fostering ongoing professional development
• Managing complex litigation brought against the Commissioner both strategically and efficiently, mitigating risks, and striving to achieve desired outcomes for the OAIC and the Australian public
• Providing efficient and proportionate expert legal advice (oral and written) on matters of information law, administrative law, statutory interpretation and corporate fields, and across a range of legislative instruments
• Providing expert advice and guidance on regulatory and operational matters to the Commissioners, outlining risks and opportunities
• Preparing and reviewing materials for consideration by the Commissioners, ensuring accuracy and timeliness
• Exercising delegation and sound judgement on the principles of good administrative decision making
• Positioning the OAIC and its regulatory posture to be responsive to emerging risks and aligned with community and government expectations
• Preparing and providing legal input into briefs and submissions on law reform and where required, representing the OAIC in complex matters before parliamentary committees and other public and government forums
• Contributing to corporate functions including legal reporting, education and resource development
• Developing and maintaining effective and productive networks within the OAIC and across portfolio agencies, government, academia, private sector and the Minister's Office, positioning the OAIC as a trusted regulator
• Other duties as required.

Job Specific Capabilities, Skills & Experience

We are seeking applications from candidates who have:

• Legal qualifications including the ability to obtain and maintain an unrestricted practicing certificate
• Experience in leading and managing people to achieve organisational priorities
• The ability to provide impartial and forthright advice to Commissioners’ and stakeholders
• Broad legal experience working with/in government
• Experience advising upon and running litigation (Highly regarded: experience in the conduct of merits review and judicial review proceedings)

• Experience operating in, and advising upon, regulatory environments
• Broad experience in providing expert advice across various areas of law (Highly regarded: experience in administrative and information law)

• Excellent negotiation skills combined with highly developed communication and people skills

• In depth knowledge of the Public Service Act 1999, the Freedom of Information Act 1982 and the Privacy Act 1988 or an ability to quickly gain that knowledge

Security requirements

You must be able to obtain and maintain a Negative Vetting Level 1 security clearance.

Position location

The OAIC operates a hybrid work model with a combination of remote working and office attendance. Whilst the OAIC office is located in the Sydney CBD (and preferred), we will consider candidate applications from all other locations within Australia.

The OAIC values face-to-face interaction and fostering connection between our people and with our stakeholders. The OAIC’s hybrid work model expects in office attendance when the type of work or task is better suited to being completed from an office, for example, staff inductions and onboarding, planning days, relationship building activities and project or collaborative work.

Remuneration and benefits

EL2 - $146,700 - $167,421 per annum plus 15.4% superannuation

Note: An employee will generally commence on the base increment point of their relevant classification salary range, unless otherwise agreed by a delegate in consideration of salary matching (existing APS staff) or in recognition of exceptional skills, experience, qualifications or expertise.

Terms and conditions of employment are set out in the OAIC’s Enterprise Agreement 2024-2027.

The OAIC is committed to enabling its people to perform at their best and offers the following benefits:

• Opportunity to work at the cutting edge of privacy and data protection, paving the way for future career opportunities
• Access to ongoing professional development, with a capability framework to guide skill enhancement
• Genuine flexibility to help achieve a balance between work and home life
• Additional paid leave over the Christmas to New Year period as well as access to other leave (e.g. for study or moving)
• Contribution to your wellbeing through subsidies for eye health, flu vaccinations and a wellbeing allowance.

The OAIC is committed to diversity and inclusion. We encourage and welcome applications from people living with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTIQ+ people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and mature age people.

Eligibility

• Section 22 of the Public Service Act 1999 requires that APS employees must be Australian citizens.
• There are restrictions on employment of people who have, within the previous 12 months, accepted a redundancy benefit from an APS agency or a non-APS Commonwealth employer.
• For the duration of your employment with the OAIC you will be required to obtain and maintain an Australian Government security clearance as outlined above and meet required background, identification and character checks.
• All duties are to be performed in accordance with the APS Code of Conduct and APS Values and OAIC policies, including Workplace Diversity and Work Health and Safety. Under section 25 of the Public Service Act 1999 the OAIC may re-assign the duties of an employee from time to time.

How to Apply

1. Please complete the application form found at the end of this job pack as part of your submission.
2. Please provide a single page application response (one A4 page-pitch) addressing your interest, motivation and fit for the role. Your pitch should include the use of practical and professional examples as relevant to the role and the job specific capabilities, skills and experience outlined above.
3. Please email your application form, CV (maximum 3 pages) and one-page-pitch to: jobs@oaic.gov.au.
   Please format your email subject line and name your application document(s) as follows:
   First name Last Name - OAIC-2026-012 – EL2 Principal Lawyer (Litigation/Advice)