Job Description:

• Strategic senior legal opportunity in one of Australia’s leading not-for-profit health organisations
• Advise executives, shape legal frameworks, and contribute to meaningful healthcare outcomes
• Join a values-led team committed to justice, compassion, integrity, and excellence
• Better and fairer care. Always.

For over 165 years, St Vincent’s has delivered compassionate, innovative healthcare to Victorian communities. As part of St Vincent’s Health Australia, the nation’s largest not-for-profit Catholic health and aged care network, we are proud to continue this legacy of care and advocacy.

An exciting opportunity is now available for a highly experienced legal professional to join our high-performing Legal and Risk team in the role of Senior Corporate Counsel at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne.

The Opportunity

Senior Corporate Counsel
St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne – Legal Department
Full-time | Fixed-Term | Classification: HS5 (Grade 5 Year 1)
Location: Fitzroy, VIC

We are seeking a proactive and expert Senior Corporate Counsel to provide legal advice and manage a broad range of legal matters across the organisation. This is a strategic and hands-on advisory role, supporting the CEO, Executive Team, and operational leaders to ensure legal compliance, mitigate risk, and achieve sound commercial outcomes across the hospital.

As part of a small, agile team, you will also provide guidance on sensitive legal issues, manage a range of medico-legal and Coroner’s Court matters, act as Privacy Officer, and contribute to continuous legal education across the organisation.  This role also includes supervision and mentoring of team members in the FOI and medico-legal space and the training and supervision of paralegals.

About the Organisation

St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne (SVHM) is a major tertiary teaching and research hospital with over 7,000 staff across 18 sites. We provide acute medical and surgical services, sub-acute care, diagnostics, mental health services, rehabilitation, palliative care, correctional health, and aged care. We are driven by our mission to deliver high-quality, person-centred care, particularly to those experiencing disadvantage or marginalisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide independent, solution-focused legal advice to the CEO, Executive Team, Committees, and senior managers
• Advise on and support the management of medico-legal matters, Coroner’s Court matters, and related insurance issues
• Provide advice and action matters involving workplace health and safety, privacy law, freedom of information, health complaints management, employment, confidentiality and correctional health
• Draft, review, and negotiate complex legal documents, including:
• Government and commercial contracts
• Research and clinical trial agreements
• Oversee and advise on privacy legislation
• Collaborate with the Research Office to review clinical and ethics documentation and support the Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC)
• Commission and manage external legal counsel where appropriate
• Provide legal training and mentoring to staff, legal team members, and other stakeholders
• Ensure timely reporting of legal matters to the Executive Director, Corporate Services for Board briefings
• Promote legal risk awareness and a culture of proactive compliance across all departments

About You

You are admitted to practice as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria and eligible to hold a practising certificate from the Victorian Legal Service Board.

You are an experienced, collaborative legal professional who thrives in a dynamic, values-led environment. You demonstrate:

• 6+ years’ post-qualification experience, ideally in a large organisation, law firm, or health-related setting
• Strong expertise in medico-legal and Coroner’s Court litigation matters health law, privacy, FOI, and risk management
• Practical experience advising senior leaders and working within complex, regulated environments
• Excellent legal drafting and negotiation skills, with an ability to simplify complex issues for non-legal audiences
• High emotional intelligence and excellent communication, stakeholder management, and interpersonal skills
• An understanding of the legal issues facing the healthcare sector, and a passion for mission-driven work
• Proven ability to manage competing deadlines and operate autonomously and strategically
• A strong commitment to SVHM’s values: compassion, integrity, justice, and excellence

Why Join St Vincent’s

When you work at SVHM, you are part of something greater than just a job. You will:

• Make a difference in a mission-based organisation that prioritises inclusion, access, and advocacy
• Work in a collaborative and forward-thinking legal team that supports your development
• Enjoy a role with meaningful variety and influence, engaging with all levels of the organisation
• Receive access to:
  • Flexible working arrangements
  • Generous salary packaging (up to $15,900 tax-free income)
  • Professional development and internal career pathways
  • A diverse and supportive team environment

Pre-Employment Requirements

Employment is subject to:

• Satisfactory National Police Check
• Compliance with SVHM’s Employee Health Screening and Immunisation Policy, including vaccinations for:
  • COVID-19
  • Influenza
  • Hepatitis B, Varicella, Pertussis, Measles, Mumps, Rubella (as applicable for Risk Category B staff)

You will also be required to disclose any pre-existing injuries or conditions that could be impacted by your work duties.

Equal Opportunity Employer

SVHM is committed to building an inclusive, respectful, and equitable workplace. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, including First Nations peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, LGBTIQ+ people, and people with disabilities.

How to Apply

Click APPLY now if this opportunity aligns with your values and experience.
Your application must include:

• A Cover Letter outlining your suitability for the role
• A Current Resume detailing your experience

Have a Question or Want to Know More?

Please contact Denise Men, Talent Partner, at [email protected] for a confidential discussion.

Respectfully, no recruitment agencies.

St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne (SVHM) is a leading teaching, research and tertiary health service, which employs more than 7000 staff across 18 sites throughout Melbourne.

Part of Australia's largest not-for-profit Catholic health and aged care network, St Vincent's Health Australia, SVHM provides a diverse range of adult clinical services including acute medical and surgical services, sub-acute care, medical diagnostics, rehabilitation, allied health, mental health, palliative care, correctional health and community residential care.

SVHM's mission is to provide high quality and efficient health services to the people of Victoria in accordance with the philosophy of St Vincent’s Health Australia.  This mission is based on the values of compassion, justice, integrity and excellence. 

Job Title:

Senior Corporate Counsel

Reports to:

Executive Director of Corporate Services

Program:

Legal

Department:

Legal and Risk

HS5 (Grade 5 Year 1)

The Senior Corporate Counsel works as part of a small high performing Legal team responsible for the provision of expert legal advice including the delivery of a full range of legal services to all areas of SVHM. The Legal Team assist SVHM by identifying legal issues, managing risk and providing practical assistance and advice in a timely manner.  The Legal Team is also responsible for managing the SVHM Property Portfolio.

This role reports to the Executive Director of Corporate Services.

The Senior Corporate Counsel is responsible for the provision of expert legal advice and delivery of a full range of legal services to all SVHM areas, including the Chief Executive Officer, Executive team and Committees.

The Senior Corporate Counsel works to achieve SVHM’s objectives in the provision of legal services, with a focus on effectively managing risk and assisting in achieving desired commercial outcomes.

Provide professional legal services and advice to the Chief Executive Officer, Executive team, senior management and staff in relation to the legal aspects of hospital activities including (without limitation):

• Provide independent legal advice as required by the organisation including under various legislation in respect of key risk exposures including insurances, workplace health and safety, competition law, privacy law, freedom of information and complaints management;
• Provide advice and action matters involving intellectual property, insurance, acquisitions, employment, IT, confidentiality and correctional health;
• Co-ordinate the preparation of statements and assist with the management of medico legal claims and Coroner’s Court matters;
• Work with the research office to review a range of research contracts including clinical trial agreements, material transfer agreements, IP assignments and confidentiality deeds, and support the SVHM Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) if needed;
• Draft, negotiate and settle contracts including Government service contracts, commercial third party agreements, property leases and licenses, loan agreements, Private Practice agreements for medical staff and fundraising agreements;
• Represent the Legal team through participation in regular meetings and forums, and steering committees and providing advice to meetings and committees as required.
• Commission, receive and apply external legal advice on complex or highly specialised matters;
• Oversee privacy related issues and act as SVHM Privacy Officer to ensure requirements of relevant privacy legislation are met.
• Provide and initiate the provision of training and education to St Vincent’s employees in relation to medico legal issues, privacy issues and legal risk management;
• Provide timely reporting of all legal matters to the Executive Director of Corporate Services  to allow for briefing to the Chief Executive Officer; and
• Mentor junior team members and delegate work to and supervise paralegals.

General

• Perform the duties of the position to  the best of their ability and to a standard acceptable to St Vincent’s.
• Comply with all St Vincent’s policies, procedures, by-laws and directions and operate within delegated responsibilities and authorities.
• Only access confidential information held by St Vincent’s when this is necessary for business purposes, maintaining the confidentiality of that information once accessed.
• Comply with applicable Enterprise Bargaining Agreement provisions.
• Display adaptability and flexibility to meet the changing operational needs of the business and a willingness to develop self and seek to improve performance.
• Ensure relevant personal qualification, registrations and skills and knowledge necessary to safely and skilfully undertake duties are maintained.
• Take personal responsibility for the quality and safety of work performed.
• Recognise the relationship between clinical and non-clinical functions in the achievement of optimal safety and quality care.
• Participate in risk management and continuous quality improvement activities as part of day-to- day work.

Health and Safety

• Attend general hospital orientation within 3 months of commencement.
• Ensure all health and safety related policies, procedures and directions are complied with.
• Undertake annual Fire and Emergency Training and comply with fire and emergency procedures.
• Report incidents and accidents and collaborate with management to resolve safety issues.
• Treat others with respect, behaving professionally and in accordance with the SVHM Code of Conduct and undertaking annual Workplace Culture and Equity Training.
• Maintain mandatory vaccinations.

Admitted to practice as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria and eligible to hold a practising certificate from the Victorian Legal Service Board.

• 6 years + PQE.
• A commitment to SVHM values, and an understanding of social/ethical issues associated with the delivery of health services.
• Demonstrated substantial commercial experience in legal practice, either in private practice or with a major corporation or organisation.
• Demonstrated ability to provide timely and practical legal advice on a broad range of legal issues at both strategic and operational levels and exercise sound judgement within a complex regulatory environment.
• Demonstrated ability to draft contract documentation and to negotiate complex commercial relationships, including the ability to advise on complex issues in plain English.
• Ability to build relationships with key executive and staff across SVHM and with external stakeholders.
• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills and well-developed interpersonal and negotiation skills.
• Well-developed planning and organisational skills and proven ability to work under pressure, prioritise workload and meet deadlines.
• Strong presentation skills.
• Ability to be self-directed, motivated and work effectively in a fast-paced team environment.
• Proven working style that is flexible, positive and collaborative.
• High level computer literacy.

SVHM Employee Health Screening and Immunisation Policy outlines the requirements for staff working in SVHM facilities.

Table 1: Vaccine Preventable Diseases for which vaccination and/or assessment is required within SVHM

Chicken pox (varicella)

Hepatitis B

Measles

Mumps

Rubella

Whooping cough (pertussis)

Diphtheria

Tetanus

Influenza

Tuberculosis

COVID-19  

NOTE: Vaccination requirements may differ according to individual jurisdictional requirements and policy directives and where there is a conflict the higher directive will apply. 

SVHM has grouped individuals according to their risk of transmitting vaccine preventable diseases and their risk of exposure to blood or body substances (Table 2).

Table 2: Health Care Worker Risk Categorisation

Risk Category

Description

Vaccination requirement

Category A

Vaccination is required for this category of health care worker. Healthcare workers within this category have the potential to transmit Vaccine Preventable Diseases to vulnerable patients most at risk of mortality and morbidity from these diseases within SVHM.

This includes employees with direct physical contact with patients/clients, deceased persons, blood, body substances or infectious material or surfaces/equipment that might contain these or contact that would allow acquisition and/or transmission of a specific infectious disease by respiratory means.

This includes laboratory workers.

Category B

Vaccination is recommended for this category of HCW. This includes individuals who do not work with the risk of exposure to blood or body substances, their normal work location is not in a clinical area (e.g. chef, administrative staff) and only attends the clinical area for short periods of time. Essentially, these individuals have no greater level of risk than that of the general community.

Prior to any person being appointed to this position it will be required that they disclose full details of any pre-existing injuries or disease that might be affected by employment in this position.

Closing Date:

4 September 2025 11:59pm

Reconciliation Action Plan:

At St Vincent's we acknowledge the importance of creating a work environment that is welcoming, safe, equitable and inclusive for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Employees. As part of our Commitment to Reconciliation and Closing the Gap in employment related outcomes, we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

For further information, visit https://www.svha.org.au/about-us/reconciliation or get in contact at [email protected]

View Reconciliation Action Plan

Code of Conduct:

View Code of Conduct