Principal Legal Officer (Public Law)

About the role

As the Principal Legal Officer (Public Law) you will be responsible for providing a full range of legal services to the NHVR’s operational, strategy and corporate areas and ensure the NHVR is appropriately represented in complex legal matters. Plan and coordinate, in conjunction with the Manager, Legal Services, in all matters relating to legal risk management and compliance.

Working with a family-friendly team, we offer a supportive hybrid work environment with flexible work from home arrangements. We encourage work-life balance and celebrate additional leave over the Christmas/New Year period and through other flexible leave entitlements.  

Key Responsibilities/Accountabilities

Some of the key responsibilities of this role are:

• Provide strategic advice in the development of strategies and policies for successful management of legal risk within the parameters of the NHVR’s regulatory and legal services program.


• Provide legal advice and support relating to statutory interpretation, advice about legislative functions and powers, statutory decision-making, delegations and authorisations, administrative and regulatory law matters, drafting and managing statutory instruments.


• Undertake and manage complex and sensitive negotiations and discussions with customers, contractors, government agencies and other relevant third parties.


• Provide specialist advice on complex regulatory and legal policy issues pertinent to the heavy vehicle transport system.


• Attend negotiations, hearings, arbitration, and appeals, when required.


• Write and/or review complex reports, briefing notes, submissions and prepare and deliver presentations.

 About You

As the ideal candidate, you will have 7+ years’ experience in public and administrative law and have a broad knowledge base that you can draw upon. You will have a passion for developing relationships and working on a variety of complex legal issues. You will have the experience of working with various internal and external stakeholders to ensure that expectations meet the appropriate deliverable outcomes. You will enjoy working with a team but able to work autonomously on your own portfolio of work.

You will have:

• Minimum of 7 years’ experience as a legal practitioner in administrative and public law in a commercial or government environment.


• A degree in law


• Admitted as a legal practitioner of the High Court or Supreme Court of State or Territory.


• Demonstrated ability to demonstrate initiative, innovation and self-motivation and the ability to work effectively and flexibly, think strategically, set priorities and manage variable workloads.

Application Process

If the above position sounds like an opportunity for you, please apply with your CV and cover letter addressing the essential requirements of the role.

Applications close, 5.00pm 29 November 2024

Further information and the position description can be found on the NHVR Careers site - https://careers.nhvr.gov.au/jobs/search. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the NHVR recruitment team on recruitment@nhvr.gov.au.

Successful applicants will be required to complete a national police and work rights check.

We are committed to being an inclusive, diverse and flexible workplace where differences are valued. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experience and abilities.

About us

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) commenced operations in 2013 as the national entity responsible for regulating all vehicles in Australia over 4.5 tonnes gross vehicle mass. The NHVR minimises the compliance burden on the heavy vehicle transport industry, reduces duplication and inconsistences across state and territory borders, and ultimately for the heavy vehicle business with government in Australia.

We are headquartered in Brisbane and employ more than 900 people across the ACT, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria.

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