Senior Lawyer (Employment) - Specialist Services

The University of Melbourne

  • Parkville, VIC
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • 15 days ago
Position Number: 003937
Location: Parkville
Role Type: Full-time, Continuing
Department: Legal and Risk, COO Portfolio
Salary: Senior Manager 1 (SM1) salary package including 17% superProvide high-quality legal advice on disputes, litigation and regulatory matters across one of Australia’s leading universities.Elevate your employment law expertise while influencing university-wide policies.Investing in you – enjoy salary packaging, health and wellbeing programs, discounted services, and professional development opportunitiesThe University of MelbourneWe take pride in our people, who contribute to our mission of benefiting society through the transformative impact of education and research. Discover more via our website and stay connected with our stories and people on .Your next career opportunityAs a Senior Lawyer in our legal team, you'll engage with a diverse range of legal matters spanning the full scope of the University’s operations. In particular, a core aspect of your responsibilities will involve providing legal counsel and strategic input into the University’s employment law policies and practices. You’ll have the opportunity to engage in both dispute resolution and general advisory work, offering a varied and intellectually engaging legal practice. Collaboration with stakeholders across the University will be essential, with a particular emphasis on partnering closely with the Workplace Relations and Human Resources teams to ensure legally sound and strategically aligned outcome.Your responsibilities will include:Delivering comprehensive legal advice on a wide range of employment law matters, including unfair dismissals, workplace discrimination, and industrial relations issues.Managing pre-court, ADR, and formal proceedings across student, staff, third-party, regulatory and commercial disputes.Developing and implementing industrial relations strategies, including enterprise agreement negotiations and interpretation.Leading pre-litigation strategies, alternative dispute resolution processes, and manage formal proceedings for complex employment-related disputes.Ensuring University-wide adherence to employment legislation, enterprise agreements, and internal policies, while proactively identifying and mitigating legal risks.Fostering strong relationships with key stakeholders, including unions, workplace relations teams, and senior management to drive positive employment outcomes.You will be a great fit if:You are an experienced lawyer in the area of employment law and/or industrial relations with a demonstrated ability to navigate and resolve complex workplace disputes. You may be experienced in providing strategic legal advice in a large, diverse organisation, or you may have acquired experience working as an adviser to those organisations.You have a strong team-oriented approach, excelling in collaborative environments and can effectively partner with diverse stakeholders.You may also have:
  • Demonstrated experience in litigation, dispute resolution and administrative law.
  • Demonstrated excellent negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
  • A team mindset where you thrive in a collaborative environment and
Your new team – Legal and RiskThe Legal and Risk team delivers high-quality, expertise-based services and advice that support agile decision-making and regulatory compliance across the University. As part of the Chief Operating Officer Portfolio, the team works collaboratively to manage risk and reputation and help advance the University's mission. We value teamwork, service excellence, and continuous development. We don’t just talk about having a collaborative team environment — we genuinely work toward achieving it.What we offer you!In addition to being part of a vibrant and purpose-driven community, you will enjoy a range of benefits, including:Generous leave provisionsSalary packagingHealth and well-being servicesDiscounts on graduate coursesFlexible and hybrid working optionsLearn more on our Staff Benefits page.Be yourselfThe University of Melbourne values the unique backgrounds and experiences of each individual. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people of all ages, abilities, ethnicities, genders, sexualities and faiths. Learn more about our Diversity and Inclusion efforts.We are committed to inclusive recruitment practices. If you require any reasonable adjustments, please reach out to the contact listed below.Join Us!If this role sounds like the right fit for you, please apply with the following documents:ResumeCover Letter outlining your interest and relevant experienceYou are not required to respond to the selection criteria in the Position Description.Apply via the Apply Now button below. For enquiries about the recruitment process, contact Fahim Farzad at hr-careers@unimelb.edu.au, referencing the Position Number and Job Title.Position Description :Applications close: Sunday, 14 September 2025 at 11:55 PM AEST (Melbourne time)

The University of Melbourne