"Senior Lawyer, Complaints Lead"

Full time, 2 year fixed term opportunity for an experienced Senior Lawyer, Complaints Lead to join the University's Office of General Counsel

Hybrid work from home and from campus

Offering a competitive remuneration package including 17% superannuation

About the opportunity

The Office of General Counsel (OGC) enjoys a highly trusted and collaborative culture, based out of a modern office on our heritage Camperdown campus, and welcomes a hybrid working model (minimum 3 days per week in the office). We are a trusted and strategic business unit that embraces innovation and continuous learning, including through a dedicated learning and development program with a focus on business, technology, and career skills.

The OGC is seeking an experienced Senior Lawyer, Complaints Lead to deploy subject matter expertise in relation to complaints management and student misconduct processes. In this position, you will play a key role in providing timely and practical legal advice to the University's Complaints Management Project, as well as other faculties and schools staff across the University. In this role, you will have the unique opportunity to influence the Complaints Management Project to deliver a University-wide complaints function that reflects best-practice in the sector and appropriately manages overall risk to the University.

Your key responsibilities will be:

• act as principal legal advisor and OGC representative to the University's Complaints Management Project
• advise senior executive officers and other University personnel in relation to all aspects of the Complaints Management Project
• draft advice, discussion papers, and other documents for varied audiences
• review and analyse steering committee papers and project documentation
• demonstrate a client-oriented approach and implement effective complaints management strategies
• provide advice to faculties, schools and Education Portfolio staff in relation to student discipline and progression issues, appeals and student welfare and complaints, as required
• support and supervise student misconduct investigators to ensure they comply with best-practice requirements
• conduct investigations into allegations of student misconduct on behalf of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) or brief specialist investigators, when required
• co-design and contribute to technology and automation solutions to drive operational efficiency, business sustainability, data collection and effectiveness.

About you

• qualifications in law and admission to practice in Australia and hold a current practicing certificate
• approximately 10 years post admission legal experience
• experience in leading a complaints management function within a large and complex organisation (higher education sector is advantageous)
• experience providing legal advice to the complaints management function/student misconduct function of a tertiary education institution (favourable)
• demonstrated understanding of administrative law principles, the GIPA Act, and Federal and NSW privacy legislation so far as they apply to the best-practice management of complaints and student misconduct matters
• proven ability to advise and/or manage the full lifecycle of staff and student complaints to bring about early, cost-effective, and mutually-agreeable resolution
• excellent analytical, drafting and legal research skills with extensive experience in preparing and reviewing briefs and submissions
• ability to build trusted relationships and operate with tact and professionalism across complex internal and external environments
• a growth mindset and willingness to tackle new challenges and ways of working is essential.

Sponsorship / work rights for Australia

You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.

Pre-employment checks

Your employment is conditional upon the completion of all role required pre-employment or background checks in terms satisfactory to the University. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment.