Key Responsibilities & Operational Scope

The core responsibilities and primary duties for this position within Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry include:

• A job with Legal Division is a chance to meaningfully apply your skills to practical outcomes in an environment focused on your learning and development. The Legal Division’s large and diverse practice is responsible for:
• Advice on regulatory systems, operations and cost recovery to assist staff on the front lines with Australia’s quarantine, trade, food safety and exports across diverse supply chains, at airports and in the community.
• Practical legal advice to assist investigation and enforcement of biosecurity and export laws to ensure Australia’s trade and health are safeguarded.
• Developing and progressing legislation and working closely with policymakers to put effective laws in place.
• Managing the department’s litigation caseload and dispute resolution, including working with external law firms and counsel to provide strategic advice to support the department’s policy and operational activities.
• Employment law advice, including on investigations, work health and safety and external review proceedings.
• Advice about the department’s extensive range of commercial matters, including advising on procurements and grants, ICT contracting, the Commonwealth resource management framework, intellectual property and property matters.
• Advising on issues arising from data management and information collection and management, including privacy advice and freedom of information requests.
• We pride ourselves on providing a supportive and flexible working environment. We’ll work with you to provide you with the right tools to achieve your career aspirations.
• In addition, these non-ongoing roles will provide you with the opportunity to develop experience and skills needed to be competitive in permanent paralegal recruitment processes run periodically by the Division. A permanent paralegal role with us provides you with a pathway into your government law career. Duties for the roles may include but are not limited to:

Mandatory Eligibility & Security Clearance

Applicants must satisfy the following statutory and organizational requirements:

• Citizenship: Under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, candidates must generally be Australian citizens to be eligible for engagement.
• Security Clearance: The successful candidate must be able to obtain and maintain an Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) security clearance (Baseline, Negative Vetting 1, or Negative Vetting 2 as required by the agency).
• Probationary Period: Employment may be subject to a probationary period, character checks, and pre-engagement screening.
• RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy. Under the RecruitAbility scheme you will be invited to participate in further assessment activity for the vacancy if you choose to apply under the scheme; declare you have a disability; and meet the minimum requirements for the job. For more information visit: https://www.apsc.gov.au/recruitability. This initiative/program is only applicable where the successful applicant will be employed under the Public Service Act 1999. Similar conditions may apply when employed under other Acts. For clarification please contact the advertising agency.

Working Arrangements & Public Sector Benefits

Work Model: Flexible. Details: Up to negotiation.

Australian Public Service positions provide comprehensive Commonwealth benefits including a standard 15.4% employer superannuation contribution, attractive leave provisions, and structured career progression pathways across the Australian Public Service.