Principal Legal Officer
Employment Type: Ongoing Full Time (Permanent)
Position Classification: Legal Officer Grade 6
Remuneration: $170,841 - $174,440, plus Superannuation
Location: 1 Reserve Road, St Leonards NSW
Hours Per Week: 35 hours
Requisition ID: REQ694388
Closing Date: Sunday 1 November 2026
Join the Legal and Regulatory team at Ministry of Health for an exciting ongoing opportunity and be part of the team enriching health in millions of ways every day.
About us
- Our core values of collaboration, openness, respect, and empowerment are more than just words – they are the guiding principles that shape every aspect of our work.
- While regular office presence is essential, we offer flexible work arrangements to support your needs.
- Explore boundless potential in a dynamic environment.
To learn more about the Ministry and what benefits we offer, access our Employee Benefits Handbook.
About the role
With your skills and experience, you can contribute to the millions of ways we are enhancing health and wellness while developing your career as part of the largest health organisation in Australia.
The role provides professional legal services and advice within the Ministry of Health and the broader public health system. The role works across diverse areas of the law including advising on a diverse variety of legal and commercial issues, regulatory questions and health and medico-legal issues
The Legal Unit is a small, specialist legal team who work as corporate counsel to the Ministry, as well as advising health service providers and hospitals across the broader NSW public health system. The unit’s structure comprises of 3 teams reporting through to the General Counsel for NSW Health.
For more information, please read the full Role Description.
What you will be doing
You will be working in a fast-paced environment dealing with a diverse range of legal issues.
The role provides quality, robust, and expert professional legal advice on complex or significant issues as required to ensure the Minister and Ministry officers are in a position to make sound and proper decisions.
There are a number of practice streams within the Legal Unit, including legislation, medical litigation and inquiries, contracts and commercial law. The Principal Legal Officers will generally be a subject matter expert and professional practice advisor within one or more practice streams.
Senior lawyers in the team need excellent written and verbal communication, good time management skills, as well as a demonstrated capacity to proactively manage emerging issues, provide strategic legal advice on solutions and provide support to junior legal officers in the team.
About you
We are seeking motivated and committed individuals who can support the work of NSW Health with:
- Legal qualifications, admission as a legal practitioner to the Supreme Court of NSW and a current practising certificate from the NSW Law Society.
- Subject matter expertise in one or more of the practice streams within Legal Unit (such as medical litigation and inquiries, contracts and commercial law, legislation), and capability to act as a primary professional escalation point for complex and/or highly sensitive matters.
- Extensive relevant legal experience within one or more practice streams, which may include conduct of litigation, advocacy, transactional and advisory work, as appropriate.
- The ability to work in a small dynamic team environment.
How to apply
At The Ministry of Health, we want you to make the most of the opportunities you will get to grow your skills and your career, surrounded by authentic, smart people and leaders.
Please review the role description and submit your up-to-date resume (up to 5 pages) and cover letter and provide a response to the two target questions below
Target Questions (1-2 pages)
- Provide an example of a situation when you lead a project which required negotiating with others in your organisation to solve a problem. How did you add “weight” to your solution? Who did you consult to inform your approach?
- Describe a situation in your experience where you needed to decide on a course of action when there was a degree of uncertainty in the options available? What approach did you take to bring the matter to a resolution? What were the challenges?
Use the link below to access our Capability Application tool, designed to help you excel in the recruitment process. Practice your responses with the example questions provided to effectively highlight your achievements and the strategies you used to accomplish them.
Capability application tool | NSW Public Service Commission
For role related queries or questions contact Deanne Tadros on Deanne.Tadros@health.nsw.gov.au and quote REQ694388.
As an organisation we are committed to creating an accessible and inclusive workplace. If you require any adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact frankie.deluca@health.nsw.gov.au
For more information about adjustments for individual needs, please visit the Adjustments for individual needs | I Work For NSW and Inclusive recruitment of people with disability | NSW Government
Closing Date: Sunday 1 November 2026
Our commitment to diversity and inclusion
At the Ministry of Health, we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and flexible environment which reflects the community and customers we serve. We actively promote the employment of women, people with a disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTIQ+ community and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. For more information, please visit Diversity Inclusion Belonging.
If you identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and would like assistance with your application or to obtain more information on how to apply, please visit The Stepping Up Initiative.
To be eligible for employment in these roles you must be an Australian citizen, or a permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen, or hold a valid visa with permission to work in Australia.
Additional information
- This recruitment may be used to create a Talent Pool for similar future roles (ongoing or temporary) that may arise over the next 18 months.
- For more information on applying visit the our career portal
- Please note that the selection process will include a range of comparative assessment techniques to assist in determining your suitability for the role.
Do not miss your chance to embark on this fulfilling journey! Apply now!
Applications Close: 11:59pm, Sunday 1 November 2026
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