Senior Legal Counsel

North Sydney Location | Permanent Role | Infrastructure, Construction & Projects

CIMIC Group are seeking an experienced Senior Legal Counsel to:

• Establish and protect CIMIC Group’s legal and commercial position in contracts;

• Provide strategic legal advice and representation; and

• Ensure CIMIC Group’s operations are conducted in compliance with applicable laws, delegations of authority and corporate policies, while safeguarding its rights and interests.

Join a collaborative and supportive legal team that combines challenging and rewarding work across the diverse operating companies, businesses and sectors within the CIMIC Group with a genuinely positive culture.

About CIMIC

We deliver major projects that shape communities, support economic growth and create long-term value.

CIMIC Group is an engineering led services, construction and natural resources leader with a proud history dating back to 1899. Powered by approximately 30,000 people, we deliver high value, sustainable solutions across the lifecycle of assets, infrastructure and resources projects in around 20 countries.

Our mission is to generate sustainable returns for our shareholders while delivering outstanding results for our clients and providing safe, rewarding and fulfilling careers for our people. We live by CIMIC’s core principles—integrity, accountability, innovation and delivery—all underpinned by safety and sustainability.

About the Role

This position provides an opportunity to work on some of Australia's largest and most significant infrastructure, engineering, renewable energy, data centre and construction and services projects, including PPPs. The role involves partnering closely with bid, commercial and project teams to provide practical, commercially focused legal advice across the full project lifecycle. 

Core Responsibilities include:

• Lead and participate in tender and contract discussions and negotiations involving CIMIC Group and its operating companies, joint venture partners, clients, subcontractors and suppliers.

• Identify, assess and report on legal and commercial risks associated with tenders and projects. Prepare contract risk assessment papers with bid teams.

• Support project and contract managers involved in major projects, including establishing and monitoring contract administration procedures.

• Advise project teams throughout the lifecycle of projects on procurement, contract interpretation, administration and strategy, including issues relating to variations, delays, cost overruns and unforeseen events. 

• Opportunity to manage disputes and provide strategic dispute resolution advice. 

• Manage external legal providers to ensure value for money and the delivery of targeted, practical advice.

• Deliver training and legal awareness programs to operational and commercial teams.

• Advise on new and proposed legislation, government policies and regulatory developments that may affect CIMIC Group's activities, including State and Territory security of payment regimes.

• Identify solutions, make decisions and take ownership of outcomes, working collaboratively with internal stakeholders.

• Drive continuous improvement, innovation and efficiency in the delivery of legal services to the business.

• Provide guidance, support and mentoring to Legal Counsel within the team.

• Foster a culture of collaboration, consistency, accountability and excellence across all aspects of the role.

About You – Qualifications & Experience

Core Requirements

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or equivalent qualification. 

• 10+ years' post qualification experience advising on engineering, infrastructure, construction and operation and maintenance contracts. PPP experience will be highly regarded.

• Excellent contract drafting, interpretation and negotiation skills.

• Strong commercial judgement and business acumen.

• Strong risk identification, assessment and mitigation capabilities, with the ability to provide practical and commercially focused solutions.

• Experience across both front-end and back-end construction and infrastructure matters is desirable, but not essential.

• Admitted to practise as a solicitor in an Australian jurisdiction and holding (or entitled to hold) a current practising certificate.

• Experience gained within a leading law firm, a high performing in-house legal team or a combination of both.

• Ability to independently manage multiple competing priorities and matters.

• Personal resilience, initiative and drive.

• Ability to work autonomously while contributing positively as part of a team.

• Integrity and the highest ethical standards.