Legal Counsel - Fixed Term Contract Geelong Port Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia
Legal Counsel – 18 Month Fixed Term Contract
GeelongPort is looking for a commercially minded and collaborative Legal Counsel to join our Legal team.
About GeelongPort
At GeelongPort our success depends on us taking shared ownership. We support each other by sharing resources and navigating challenges, taking responsibility to build a culture of teamwork where everyone can feel they belong.
With over 150 years of maritime history and experience behind us, GeelongPort is a critical enabler for the Victorian economy supporting more than 1,800 jobs and contributing to the economic and social fabric of the Geelong region.
As Victoria's second largest port, GeelongPort manages approximately 12 million tonnes of cargo and $10 billion of trade annually with over **** vessel visits per year. Shipping activity is linked to a range of critical trades supporting the agriculture, construction, energy, and tourism sectors in the region.
Based at Corio Quay in North Geelong, we value partnering with our customers and community to deliver a safe and sustainable port that drives growth and prosperity for Geelong and the regions we connect to.
The Opportunity
Reporting to the Chief Legal & Sustainability Officer, the Legal Counsel will play a key role in supporting GeelongPort's strategic objectives by providing high quality legal advice, supporting robust governance practices and helping ensure compliance with regulatory and board requirements.
This broad in house legal role will provide legal support across a diverse range of matters, including legislative interpretation, tendering, construction advice, leases and licences, contracts, dispute resolution, commercial transactions, intellectual property, occupational health and safety,



insurance and liability matters.
You will work closely with senior leaders and stakeholders across the business, providing practical, commercially focused legal advice that supports sound decision making and manages legal risk.
Key Responsibilities
In this role, you will:
Review, assess and, where required, assist with negotiating contracts, leasing documents and other legal instruments.
Provide legal advice and support for construction contracts and infrastructure project delivery.
Support legal proceedings, mediations and dispute resolution processes.
Assist with maintaining and improving legal templates, standard agreements, contract drafting, approval and execution processes.
Advise on policy development, legislative interpretation, commercial transactions, tendering, contract law and regulatory compliance.
Support major projects, business development and customer engagement on contractual matters.
Help manage legal risk initiatives and deliver in-house education to increase legal awareness across GeelongPort.
Support governance initiatives, including legal obligations registers, compliance forums and governance continuity during leave periods.
What You'll Bring
You are a practical and commercially astute lawyer who can provide clear, solutions-focused advice in a complex operating environment. You are confident working with a broad range of stakeholders, including non-lawyers, and can balance legal risk,



commercial priorities and valuable governance.
To be successful, you will bring:
A tertiary legal qualification and current practising certificate as an Australian lawyer, or eligibility to hold one.
At least 4–5 years' post-admission experience in private practice and/or in-house.
Experience in corporate/commercial law, particularly contract drafting.
Strong commercial acumen, sound judgement and the ability to formulate practical legal solutions.
Excellent stakeholder management, analytical and negotiation skills.
The ability to work autonomously, manage competing priorities and meet deadlines with strong attention to detail.
A commitment to integrity, ethical decision making and high professional standards.
Work in a high-impact, commercially focused organisation.
Supported development and mentoring from senior leaders.
Access to bespoke, professional development opportunities to grow your career.
Values led organisation with a focus on safety, sustainability and community.
Based in Geelong, with a collaborative and supportive team environment.
GeelongPort is proudly a WORK180 endorsed Employer for all women.
Diversity & Inclusion
We are committed to building a workforce that represents the diverse society in which we live and work. We recognise the increasing importance of flexible work arrangements and family friendly work practices to enable and maintain a diverse, adaptive, and high performing workforce.
GeelongPort is committed to achieving a diverse workforce and strongly encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people with disability, LGBTIQA+ and people from culturally diverse backgrounds.
Closing Date
Applications close on 15 July ****.
#J-*****-Ljbffr

📌 Legal Counsel - Fixed Term Contract (Warrnambool)
🏢 Geelong Port
📍 Warrnambool