Jobs
Principal Lawyer (Litigation/Advice) – Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
📌 Vacancy Fact Sheet
- Reference Number: VN-0770491
- Agency: Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
- Job Title: Principal Lawyer (Litigation/Advice)
- Position Number: OAIC-2026-012
- Classification: Executive Level 2
- Closing Date: Monday 13 July 2026
- Job Type: Full-Time;Part-Time, Ongoing;Non-Ongoing
- Location: Sydney NSW, Melbourne VIC, Brisbane QLD,
- Future Merit Locations: Various locations – ACT, Various locations – NSW,
- Salary: $146,700 – $167,421
- Office Arrangement: Hybrid (The OAIC operates a hybrid work model with a)
About Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) is an independent agency within the Attorney-General’s portfolio.
Our primary functions are privacy, freedom of information and government information policy. Our responsibilities include
conducting investigations, reviewing decisions, handling complaints, and providing guidance and advice.
Duties
- Working collaboratively between Principal Lawyers to lead, guide and mentor the Corporate
- Legal Services team with a focus on high performance and continuous improvement, and
- fostering ongoing professional development
- Managing complex litigation brought against the Commissioner both strategically and
- efficiently, mitigating risks, and striving to achieve desired outcomes for the OAIC and the
- Australian public
- Providing efficient and proportionate expert legal advice (oral and written) on matters of
- information law, administrative law, statutory interpretation and corporate fields, and across a
- range of legislative instruments
- Providing expert advice and guidance on regulatory and operational matters to the
- Commissioners, outlining risks and opportunities
- Preparing and reviewing materials for consideration by the Commissioners, ensuring
- accuracy and timeliness
- Exercising delegation and sound judgement on the principles of good administrative decision
- making
- Positioning the OAIC and its regulatory posture to be responsive to emerging risks and
- aligned with community and government expectations
- Preparing and providing legal input into briefs and submissions on law reform and where
- required, representing the OAIC in complex matters before parliamentary committees and
- other public and government forums
- Contributing to corporate functions including legal reporting, education and resource
- development
- Developing and maintaining effective and productive networks within the OAIC and across
- portfolio agencies, government, academia, private sector and the Minister’s Office,
- positioning the OAIC as a trusted regulator
- Other duties as required.
- We are seeking applications from candidates who have:
- Legal qualifications including the ability to obtain and maintain an unrestricted practicing
- certificate
- Experience in leading and managing people to achieve organisational priorities
- The ability to provide impartial and forthright advice to Commissioners’ and stakeholders
- Broad legal experience working with/in government
- Experience advising upon and running litigation ( experience in the conduct Highly regarded:
- of merits review and judicial review proceedings)
- Experience operating in, and advising upon, regulatory environments
- Broad experience in providing expert advice across various areas of law ( Highly regarded:
- experience in administrative and information law)
- Excellent negotiation skills combined with highly developed communication and people skills
- In depth knowledge of the , the and Public Service Act 1999 Freedom of Information Act 1982
- the or an ability to quickly gain that knowledge Privacy Act 1988
Eligibility / Notes
- You must be able to obtain and maintain a Negative Vetting Level 1 security clearance.
- Section 22 of the requires that APS employees must be Australian Public Service Act 1999
- citizens.
- There are restrictions on employment of people who have, within the previous 12 months,
- accepted a redundancy benefit from an APS agency or a non-APS Commonwealth employer.
- For the duration of your employment with the OAIC you will be required to obtain and maintain an
- Australian Government security clearance as outlined above and meet required background,
- identification and character checks.
- All duties are to be performed in accordance with the APS Code of Conduct and APS Values and
- OAIC policies, including Workplace Diversity and Work Health and Safety. Under section 25 of the
- the OAIC may re-assign the duties of an employee from time to time. Public Service Act 1999
How to Apply
Position Contact Ms Joanne Masters, 02 9432 7069
Agency Recruitment Site https://www.oaic.gov.au/about-the-OAIC/join-our-team
Applicants to vacancies notified in all formats of the electronic Public Service Gazette should be aware:
that the names of successful applicants will also be notified in all formats of the electronic Public Service Gazette
applicants found suitable may be offered similar employment opportunities by other Australian Public Service agencies
Attorney-General’s Vacancy