Ready to make a splash in your career? WaterNSW is seeking an experienced Senior Legal Counsel – Regulatory, Water and Environment & Planning Law to join our team.

This is an opportunity to work with an essential organisation creating a more sustainable future for the state.

This role offers the flexibility to work around life, your contribution will be valued, and you’ll be supported to build a rewarding career.

We have an opportunity to provide this role on a part-time basis as a 3-day (0.6 FTE) or 4-day (0.8 FTE) work week.

Our perks and Benefits:

At WaterNSW, we believe that our employees should be as well taken care of as our rivers, dams, and pipelines, that’s why we offer a load of benefits.

• Flexible working

• Up to 16 weeks paid parental leave

• Fertility leave

• Yearly corporate wear allowance

• Professional development and educational assistance

• Attractive remuneration

• And so much more!

What you’ll do:

• Provide strategic and technically sound legal advice to enable WaterNSW to assess legal risks and make sound decisions in performing its core business functions, which includes, river operations, asset delivery and maintenance, catchment protection, water licensing and trade, and environmental assessments.
• Provide strategic legal advice on complex administrative law and legislative amendments arising in the context of the Water NSW Act 2014, Water Management Act 2000 and other regulatory frameworks relevant to WaterNSW, including the State Owned Corporations Act 1989 (NSW) and WaterNSW’s Operating Licence.
• Provide strategic legal advice on questions of tort law, including assessing and minimising WaterNSW’s exposure to liability in the performance of its functions and activities.
• Provide advice on the law and policy relating to WaterNSW’s powers, rights and duties under statute and common law, including powers of entry for authorised officers and the preparation of relevant legal instruments.
• Provide strategic and technically sound environment and planning law and native title law advice to enable WaterNSW to assess legal risks and make sound decisions relating to major projects, minor capital works and maintenance works on existing assets.
• Maintain a detailed awareness of the functions, powers and enabling legislation relevant to WaterNSW (as well as other relevant regulators) and provide timely advice regarding their application and effect, including any emerging issues and material changes in legislation or policy that are relevant to WaterNSW.
• Partner with various internal stakeholders and foster effective working relationships in order to ensure the efficient management and oversight of relevant matters and to achieve cross-functional harmonisation of organisational initiatives.

What we are looking for:

• Tertiary qualifications in law
• Admission as a Legal Practitioner of the Supreme Court of an Australian State or Territory (currently holding, or eligible to hold a NSW practicing certificate).
• Knowledge and understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks and the commercial policy framework relevant to NSW State Owned Corporations.
• Knowledge of public and administrative law.
• Demonstrated post-qualification legal experience, gained in a top-tier law firm or in an in-house environment.
• Demonstrated experience in providing and managing the provision of quality legal advice across administrative, water management, environment and planning, and regulatory law.
• Demonstrated ability to identify risks and prioritise workload - handles matters independently and navigates ambiguity and complexity in a fast-paced environment.
• Superior communication, relationship and management skills including a demonstrated ability to work with people at all levels of an organisation and initiative in providing support to senior management.

Who is WaterNSW?

When people think of essential human services, water supply is one of the first things that come to mind - and that’s where WaterNSW comes in. We are NSW’s primary bulk water supplier, river operator and comprehensive provider for licensing, water trades and water information.

For more information, please reach out to: Talent Acquisition Partner Azmine Amer at azmine.amer@waternsw.com.au

Please note applications for this position will close on 20 August 2023