"Legal Counsel (Commercial and Innovation)"

Swinburne University is seeking a talented Legal Counsel (Commercial & Innovation) to deliver high quality commercial legal services that support some of the University’s most exciting and strategically important work. With a strong focus on the Innovation & Enterprise (I&E) portfolio, you will play a key role in advising on commercially significant initiatives, as well as broader commercial matters across the University.

In this role, you’ll report to the Director, Corporate and Commercial Legal Services, and be part of a collaborative and highly skilled Legal Risk and Compliance team led by the General Counsel. You’ll work closely with I&E and interest holders across the University, providing expert legal advice that helps drive Swinburne’s Ad Astra strategy to 2030 and beyond.

Your work will include advising on complex commercial deals, partnership structures, and corporate arrangements that protect and advance the University’s interests. You’ll also help shape and enhance the University’s legal systems and processes—streamlining approaches to legal risk, improving standard agreements, and ensuring all practices remain contemporary and aligned with the University’s values and objectives.

Success in this role will rely on your ability to collaborate effectively across diverse business areas, engage confidently with internal and external interest holders, and deliver high-level, solutions-focused legal advice. You’ll embrace technology to enhance service delivery and will be a trusted legal adviser to leaders and teams involved in Innovation & Enterprise and interest holders across the University.

This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially minded legal professional who enjoys impactful work, values innovation, and wants to contribute to meaningful strategic outcomes at a leading Australian university.

About You

To be suitable for this role you will need to have experience in the below key accountabilities:

• Previous experience gained in reputable private legal practice, public sector or in-house focused on commercial work.
• Experience in providing legal advice in a complex regulatory environment
• Ability to work autonomously and in a team-environment, and to follow through on tasks to completion with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated superior oral and written communication skills with the capacity to understand the audience, tailoring all forms of correspondence, documentation, and client service delivery to meet organisational needs and standards.
• Demonstrated experience in working collaboratively with multiple interest holders from a range of experience levels.

Qualifications

• Australian legal practitioner within the meaning of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (Victoria).
• Minimum of 5 years’ post qualified experience

About Swinburne University of Technology

Swinburne’s strategy draws upon our understanding of future challenges. We choose to build Swinburne as the prototype of a new and different university – one that is truly of Technology, of Innovation and of Entrepreneurship. We are committed to a differentiated university proposition in education and research.

Our Ad Astra strategy is the cornerstone of Swinburne’s bold ambition to lead globally in technology-driven education and research. This strategy positions us to create transformative solutions, empower learners, and partner with industry to thrive in an ever-changing world.

What We Offer You!

• Work your way with hybrid options and generous parental leave to support a balanced lifestyle.
• Exclusive staff discounts, including discounted Medibank health insurance, 50% off Swinburne courses and other partner offers.
• Swinburne offers 17% super and salary packaging options, including car leasing and extra super contributions.

Want to learn more? Head over to our benefits page!

To Apply

Please submit your CV and cover letter addressing the Key Selection Criteria and your suitability for this position.

To review the Position Description and to apply, please scroll down to the bottom of the page.

If you are viewing this advert from an external site, please click ‘apply’ and you will be redirected to Swinburne’s Jobs website to access the Position Description at the bottom of the page.

Please Note: Appointment to this position is subject to passing a Working with Children Check.

If you are experiencing technical difficulties with your application, please contact the Swinburne Talent Acquisition Team on talentacquisition@swin.edu.au.

Applications Close: Tuesday 17th February 2026 at 5pm.

Swinburne offers flexible working options contained in our leave and parenting/carer policies to support work-life balance.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Swinburne has become a world-class university, driving social and economic impacts through science, technology, and innovation. As a dual-sector university, our vision is for people and technology working together to build a better world.

Central to our vision is our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We pride ourselves on being an equal opportunity employer focused on attracting, retaining, and developing great talent. We work to remove barriers related to gender identity, culture, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, and age.

We strongly encourage applicants from diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Our Moondani Toombadool Centre leads our Indigenous education and culture at Swinburne, guided by community wisdom and leadership.

We support applicants with disabilities. Adjustments can be requested at any time during the recruitment process. For Reasonable Adjustment requests, including accessible formats for the PD, application form or any other document, please contact DCR@swin.edu.au or call +61 3 9214 3550.

Please note the above number and DCR email address are for disability or reasonable adjustments queries only. General enquiries about the role can be sent to talentacquisition@swin.edu.au (general enquiries will not be answered by phone).

Victoria’s Commitment to Action: Improving international student employment outcomes

As a signatory to Victoria’s Commitment to Action, Swinburne seeks to remove barriers to international graduate employment. We welcome and encourage applications from international graduates.

As a Circle Back Initiative Employer, we commit to responding to every applicant.

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