The Legal Counsel supports the VMIA Head of Legal & Compliance to deliver strategic, high quality internal legal advice & services. This role is responsible for supporting the Head of Legal & Compliance to provide legal services and practical integrated in-house legal services. This includes providing legal support to the Procurement Specialist and commercial issues to VMIA set within appropriate commercial, government, and organisational contexts.

Legal Counsel

Full-Time, Ongoing opportunity  

About VMIA

Victorian Managed Insurance Authority (VMIA) is the Victorian Government's insurer and risk adviser, covering the people and projects that help Victorians thrive. We're an agency in the Department of Treasury and Finance portfolio, established under the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority Act, and report to the Assistant Treasurer.

We provide insurance and risk advice to government departments and agencies, with more than 4,600 clients, ranging from small community service organisations to public hospitals, schools, and core service providers. We also provide domestic building insurance to builders, giving Victorian homeowners peace of mind for building projects valued over $16,000.

We help our clients prepare for, prevent, or reduce the impact of harm. When things don't go to plan, we help clients restore services and recover quickly.

Our unique perspective across Victorian Government clients is an opportunity for learning and development in the risk and insurance industry as well as the broader public sector, creating deep connections with our clients, and a shared understanding of best practice in our fields of expertise.

People are at the heart of everything we do. At VMIA, you'll be encouraged to achieve your career goals in a progressive and flexible workplace that most importantly lets you be yourself.

Your role

VMIA's Legal Counsel supports the VMIA Head of Legal & Compliance to deliver strategic, high quality internal legal advice services focussing on procurement and commercial issues.

You report to the Head of Legal & Compliance and are part of the Business Operations Division.

You are responsible for supporting the Head of Legal & Compliance to provide legal services and practical integrated in-house legal services. This includes providing legal support to the Procurement Specialist and commercial issues to VMIA set within appropriate commercial, government, and organisational contexts.

The key areas of focus include:

Legal affairs

• Providing legal advice and support on procurements across the organisation to ensure compliance with internal policies and Victorian Government Purchasing Board requirements.
• In partnership with the business leads, planning procurements and developing the required procurement documentation, including tender documentation and proposed contract terms and variables.
• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a wide range of commercial agreements including IT agreements and licences.
• Drafting and reviewing various agreements including Memoranda of Understanding with suppliers and VMIA clients.
• Advising on non-claims legal risk exposures on a range of issues including statutory interpretation, administrative decision making including those associated with the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) 1982 (Vic), Privacy & Data Protection, Contract, Intellectual Property, Property, and general corporate and commercial matters.
• Actively monitoring and reporting changes in legalisation and case law in areas of relevance for VMIA and its clients.
• Assisting the Head of Legal & Compliance to provide legal and procurement training to the organisation from time to time on various legal issues including on FOI and privacy matters.
• Providing any additional legal services which the Head of Legal & Compliance may require.
• Performing other duties and tasks as directed, including undertaking work from other areas of the organisation.

Who you work with

• Head of Legal & Compliance
• Assistant Legal Counsel (Procurement)
• Compliance Specialist
• Contracts Manager
• Government and Stakeholder Relations team
• Procurement Specialist
• VMIA staff across the organisation

About you

• Strong experience as a lawyer in commercial practice or in-house legal counsel in a business or government environment, ideally in insurance or financial services.
• You have experience in core areas including procurement, commercial issues, statutory interpretation, statutory delegations and authorisations, contract law, intellectual property, information technology/software, Freedom of Information, Privacy & Data Protection, drafting contracts and other legal instruments, negotiation, dispute resolution, and governance and risk management.
• A record of adherence to professional ethics and standards, with the ability to adapt to a changing environment.
• Demonstrated success working in a team environment with the ability to work independently under minimal supervision.
• Problem solving, analytical and research skills.
• Business writing skills in preparing reports, Committee papers, policies, and procedures.
• Strong interpersonal, negotiation, and communication experience.
• An appreciation and understanding of public sector management, with the capacity to operate successfully in such an environment.
• Experience in public sector procurement and compliance will be highly regarded.

We encourage people from all gender identities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, with disabilities, and from culturally diverse backgrounds to apply.

Please let us know of any accessibility needs to be considered during the recruitment process.

Why work with us?

• We're known for our incredible culture and sense of community – and an employee value proposition that makes our people proud.
• We reward innovation, best practice thinking and collaboration. We're industry leaders in diversity and inclusion, are passionate about gender equality, and encourage and enable our people to bring their whole selves to work.
• We were leaders in working flexibly before COVID-19. Now, we operate in a hybrid environment, with a suite of events and activities to connect us even when we're apart. We'll continue to work from where it makes sense to, with flexible arrangements that deliver for our clients and work for our people.
• We are a learning organisation, and you can expect to grow, develop, and evolve your professional career at VMIA.
• We offer programs, subsidies and leave options to support the wellbeing of our people and invest in their development and growth.

How to apply

If we've sparked your interest, apply now by submitting your CV and cover letter to introduce yourself, demonstrate your suitability for the role and tell us why working at VMIA appeals to you.

If you're successful in the first round of screening and shortlist, you'll be contacted by a member of the Talent Acquisition team who'll guide you through the next steps of our recruitment process.

For further information about VMIA, navigate to our careers page https://www.vmia.vic.gov.au/careers.

If you have an enquiry or would like to find out more about the role, email Hanita Singh, Talent Acquisition Lead at talentacquisition@vmia.vic.gov.au

Other relevant information

Preferred candidates will be required to undertake pre-employment screening including a national police check, probity, and misconduct screening.

Additional Information

VMIA is supportive of hybrid working arrangements.

Applications close midnight 29 March 2023.