- Ongoing (Permanent) and/or Non-Ongoing (Fixed Term)
- $120,448 - $174,038
- Canberra,Melbourne,Sydney,Brisbane

The Role
CASA Legislative Drafters are responsible for drafting legislative and other legal instruments and reviewing drafting instructions provided to the Office of Parliamentary Counsel. Legislative Drafters primarily work with aviation legislation such as the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 and the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 to draft the instruments necessary to ensure safe skies for all. Aviation legislation is complex and requires careful and intellectually engaging drafting to ensure it continues to support aviation safety. CASA drafting work primarily involves working closely with aviation subject matter experts and receiving drafting instructions to prepare current and amended Manuals of Standards, Civil Aviation Orders, Airworthiness Directives, Exemptions, Approvals, Determinations and Delegations.

Legislative Drafters enjoy a high degree of autonomy in managing their allocated drafting work and ensuring the timely delivery of CASA's legislative projects. Given the complexity of the role, it is ideally suited to lawyers with specialist legislative drafting expertise gained in a Commonwealth entity drafting team, the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, or a State or Territory parliamentary counsel or legislative drafting office.

The Drafting Section has seven drafters at the Principal Legislative Drafter and Senior Legislative Drafter level who work under the leadership of the Section Manager Drafting. Most Principal Legislative Drafters have no direct reports, but there are opportunities for those who are interested and capable to supervise Senior Legislative Drafters. About half of the drafters are Canberra-based, with other team members located in CASA's Sydney and Brisbane offices, and all staff may work from home for up to 50 per cent of their working time.
The Drafting Section sits within Legal Services Branch which also includes Advisory and Litigation Sections and drafters may also have opportunities to work in other areas of legal practice within Legal Services Branch.

There are currently two excellent opportunities to join a supportive drafting section with interesting and meaningful work. Applications will be sought at both the Principal Legislative Drafter and Senior Legislative Drafter levels. Depending on the field of applicants, CASA intends to fill two positions and may appoint candidates at either level.

Key Responsibilities of the Senior Legislative Drafter (CS4) include:

- Drafting CASA manuals of standards (MOS), civil aviation orders (CAOs), instruments of delegation and other legislative and legal instruments to ensure that they comply with legislative requirements and are valid, effective and legally enforceable.




- Contributing advice on legislative drafting matters and legal policy to ensure that technical policy takes account of legal risks and issues, and that drafting instructions for the drafting of regulations are appropriate.
- Developing collaborative partnerships within CASA to drive alignment, acting as a trusted advisor and building consensus around technical or other strategic directions without formal authority.
- Translating technical work into business outcomes, by connecting expertise to organisational strategy, and balancing short-term needs with long-term vision.
- Delivering agreed program of work in accordance with timeframes and budgets ensuring effective stakeholder engagement.
- Sharing knowledge and expertise with others to multiply others’ effectiveness.
- Maintaining a positive health and safety culture, including psychosocial wellbeing in the workplace and providing input, where appropriate, into decisions that may impact upon personal health, safety and wellbeing in the workplace.
- Demonstrating awareness of the diverse histories, cultures, and experiences of First Nations Peoples and other cultural groups. Communicating with respect and understanding of balancing work, family and community responsibilities.
- Initiating, positively engaging in and responding to change. Supporting others through change.
- Other duties as required.

Qualifications, licences and experience

Mandatory

- Tertiary qualifications in law and admission as a legal practitioner of the High Court or a Supreme Court of a State or Territory.

Desirable

- An understanding of Australia’s Civil Aviation Act 1988 (the Act), and relevant CASRs and CARs, guidance materials and other legislation, or similar aviation regulatory regime.
- Knowledge of the legislative processes for subordinate legislation, including the operation of the Legislation Act 2003.

Key Responsibilities of the Principal Legislative Drafter (CS5) include:

- Drafting CASA manuals of standards (MOS), civil aviation orders (CAOs), instruments of delegation and other legislative and legal instruments to ensure that they comply with legislative requirements and are valid, effective and legally enforceable.
- Providing advice on legislative drafting matters and legal policy to ensure that technical policy takes account of legal risks and issues, and that drafting instructions for the drafting of regulations are appropriate.
- Partnering across teams and with CASA senior leaders to drive alignment, acting as a trusted advisor and building consensus around technical or other strategic directions without formal authority.
- Translating technical work into business outcomes,



by connecting expertise to organisational strategy, and balancing short-term needs with long-term vision.
- Delivering agreed program of work in accordance with timeframes and budgets ensuring effective stakeholder engagement.
- Sharing knowledge and expertise with others to multiply others’ effectiveness.
- Supporting and promoting a positive workplace culture that provides a safe and healthy workplace aligned with CASA’s Values, creating a respectful workplace that is free from bullying, harassment and discrimination; and engaging respectfully with colleagues and their team.
- Demonstrating awareness of the diverse histories, cultures, and experiences of First Nations Peoples and other cultural groups. Communicating with respect and understanding of balancing work, family and community responsibilities. Initiating, leading, positively engaging in and supporting others through change.
- Other duties as required

Qualifications, licences and experience

Mandatory

- 7+ years of appropriate post qualification experience.
- Tertiary qualifications in law and admission as a legal practitioner of the High Court or a Supreme Court of a State or Territory.

Desirable

- An understanding of Australia’s Civil Aviation Act 1988 (the Act), and relevant CASRs and CARs, guidance materials and other legislation, or similar aviation regulatory regime.
- Knowledge of the legislative processes for subordinate legislation, including the operation of the Legislation Act 2003.

Eligibility requirements
Employment with CASA is subject to conditions prescribed within the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (the Act) and the CASA Enterprise Agreement. The following eligibility requirements apply to this position:

- At a minimum, prospective CASA employees must undergo pre-employment screening and must be willing to provide the required information to successfully undergo a police record check.
- The position’s occupant must be an Australian citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain the level of security clearance as required.

About our Division
The Legal, International, Regulatory Affairs (LIRA) Division reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer/Director of Aviation Safety. Under the leadership of the Executive Manager, LIRA has oversight of CASA’s legal affairs, and, in cooperation and coordination with other Groups and branches, International relations and the development of CASA’s international strategy and overarching regulatory policy.

Please note: Applicants must specify in their application which classification they are applying for CS4 or CS5. Only one position will be filled through this recruitment process. A merit pool may also be established for future vacancies at the relevant classification, should suitable candidates be identified.

Contact Officer for enquiries: Ben Callinan | ************@casa.gov.au | +61262171***

📌 Senior Legislative Drafter / Principal Legislative Drafter (Sydney)
🏢 Civil Aviation Safety Authority
📍 Sydney