• Employment Type: Full Time, Continuing position.
• Remuneration: Level 9: From $148,012 plus 17% superannuation and leave loading
• Location: Kensington, NSW

About the Role

The Legal Counsel – Compliance & Privacy is part of the in-house Legal & Compliance team, supporting the University with advice on compliance, corporate governance, privacy, and right to information laws. The role delivers risk-based, high-quality legal advice with a focus on privacy and right to information, working closely with internal clients. It helps strengthen privacy governance and build public trust in the University's handling of personal information.

This position requires an experienced candidate with a strong background in privacy law. Ideally, you’ll have experience advising large, complex organisations on obligations under relevant privacy legislation, privacy and data governance risks involved in designing and implementing complex digital solutions and multi-party projects, drafting and negotiating privacy and data protection contract clauses and managing investigations into data breaches and responding to privacy complaints.  The position is also the main decision maker for formal right to information applications.

Responsibilities include:

• Providing technically sound legal advice to internal clients in a solution-focused, risk based, timely, practical and effective manner, consistent with applicable law and UNSW policies and procedures.
• Interpreting and distilling complex legislation into plain English obligations to support the implementation of effective compliance management processes across the University.
• Provide legal support to the Enterprise Data Office to ensure that operational privacy functions are implemented across the University in a manner that promotes and supports compliance with the University’s legal obligations.
• Conduct internal reviews of privacy complaints and investigations of data breaches in accordance with the requirements of the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW).
• Conduct investigations and prepare legal advice into privacy contraventions reported to the University under the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2022 (NSW) (PID Act).
• Decide formal right to information applications received by the University and advise on the open access information provisions under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW).

Skills and experience required include:

• Tertiary qualifications in law with a minimum of 5 years’ post qualification experience in a highly regarded law firm and/or in house legal team with demonstrated strong experience in privacy law (experience in right to information, corporate governance and administrative law highly regarded).
• Experience with highly regulated industries including a demonstrated ability to provide legal advice on complex and diverse legislative compliance obligations.
• Superior interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills, including a demonstrated ability to write for internal and external audiences with clarity, accuracy and precision, (including anticipation of legal risks and proactive solutions to eliminate or mitigate them).
• Ability to work autonomously and undertake their work in an independent manner with minimal supervision.
• Proven ability to engage with and influence senior management and stakeholders (including regulators) as appropriate to ensure successful outcomes, with demonstrated leadership and mentoring skills.

For further details on role responsibilities and skills & experience required, refer to the position description found under the position listing on Jobs@UNSW

How to Apply: Submit your CV & cover letter detailing your interest and suitability for the job (as per the skills & experience bullet points in the position description) before Sunday 20^th July by 11:55pm.

Please note: Sponsorship is not available for this role, valid Australian working rights are required on application.

UNSW Benefits and Culture: People are at the core of everything we do. We recognise it is the contributions of our staff who make UNSW one of the best universities in Australia and the world. Our benefits include: 

• Flexible Working Options (work from home, flexible hours etc) 
• Additional 3 days leave during December festive period.
• Career development opportunities 
• Up to 50% discount on UNSW courses
• Flexible 17% Superannuation contributions, additional leave-loading payments and salary sacrifice.
• Discounts and entitlements (retail, education, fitness passport)

Job queries contact: Tai James, Talent Acquisition Consultant

E: tai.james@unsw.edu.au  (applications to the address cannot be accepted, please apply online)

UNSW is committed to equity diversity and inclusion. Applications from women, people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those living with disabilities, members of the LGBTIQ+ community; and people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, are encouraged. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options for eligible staff.