Head of Legislation

The Head of Legislation leads complex projects across the NTC's legislative work program, including work relating to heavy vehicles, rail safety, dangerous goods, the Australian Road Rules and vehicle standards. Working closely with policy teams, jurisdictions, national regulators and industry, the role leads the process of translating agreed policy into clear, legally sound model legislation, laws and statutory instruments by preparing drafting instructions, instructing Parliamentary Counsel and coordinating the review of drafts.

This leadership role requires sound legal judgement, strategic thinking and the ability to resolve complex drafting, interpretation and policy issues collaboratively. You will be an experienced lawyer who builds strong relationships, brings out the best in a capable team and maintains high professional standards. You may also lead policy projects and contribute to corporate legal matters as required.

The key duties of the position include:

- Admission as an Australian lawyer and holding, or being eligible and willing to obtain, a current unrestricted Victorian practising certificate.
- Extensive experience leading complex legislative and regulatory reform projects, with advanced expertise in translating agreed policy into effective and workable legislation. This includes preparing drafting instructions, instructing Parliamentary Counsel, analysing legislative drafts and guiding legislation through relevant intergovernmental, approval and parliamentary processes.
- Demonstrated experience leading and advising on complex policy projects across the policy-development lifecycle, including problem definition, research and analysis, options development, consultation, impact assessment and implementation.
- Proven leadership and people-management capability, including managing and developing legal professionals, leading multidisciplinary teams, setting priorities, delivering through others and overseeing a program of concurrent work.
- Highly developed judgement, analytical and problem-solving skills, with demonstrated ability to provide clear and authoritative legal, legislative and policy advice on complex or sensitive matters.




- Highly developed communication, influencing and stakeholder-management skills, including the ability to represent an organisation credibly, negotiate complex issues and work effectively with governments, Parliamentary Counsel, regulators and industry within Australia's federal system.

Applicants must have unrestricted working rights in Australia.

Desirable attributes

- Experience providing professional legal supervision to lawyers undertaking supervised legal practice.
- Experience providing corporate legal services, including in relation to freedom of information (FOI), privacy and contracts.
- Knowledge of Australian land transport regulation and the institutional and intergovernmental environment in which the NTC operates.

Key duties of the position

- The successful candidate for the position of Head of Legislation will demonstrate the capability to:
- Lead delivery of the NTC’s legislative work program, setting priorities and overseeing major reforms and routine legislative maintenance through approval and implementation.
- Manage, mentor and develop staff allocated to the legislation function. This includes allocating and overseeing work and, where authorised, providing professional legal supervision to lawyers undertaking supervised legal practice.
- Oversee the preparation and quality assurance of drafting instructions. Instruct Parliamentary Counsel and coordinate the NTC’s consideration of draft legislation, explanatory material and other supporting documents.
- Provide authoritative legal and policy advice on legislation, statutory interpretation and regulatory reform across the NTC’s work program.
- Lead complex policy projects as required or oversee their delivery by staff leading multidisciplinary project teams,



from policy development and consultation through to implementation.
- Provide corporate legal advice and services as required, including on freedom of information, privacy, contracts and other operational matters.
- Represent the NTC in senior intergovernmental, legal, regulatory and stakeholder forums.
- Support the Chief Legal Officer in the strategic leadership of Legal and Legislative Services, management of legal and legislative risk, and development of legal, legislative and policy capability across the NTC.
- Contribute as a member of the Extended Leadership Group to corporate planning and prioritisation, organisational development and strategic improvement initiatives.
- Comply with applicable legislation, including the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), and with NTC policies and procedures.
- Undertake continuing career development (CPD) as required to maintain currency of job skills, including any CPD required to maintain a current Victorian practising certificate.

About NTC

The NTC is a corporate Commonwealth entity established under Commonwealth legislation and an intergovernmental agreement. We are funded by the Commonwealth, states, and territories.

We lead national land transport reform in support of Australian governments to improve safety, productivity, environmental outcomes and regulatory efficiency.

As a key contributor to the national reform agenda, the NTC is accountable to Commonwealth, state and territory ministers responsible for transport and infrastructure who comprise the Infrastructure and Transport Ministers’ Meeting (ITMM). We work closely with ITMM’s advisory body, the Infrastructure and Transport Senior Officials’ Committee (ITSOC), which includes the heads of Commonwealth, state, and territory agencies.

The NTC welcomes applications from across Australia, and flexible working arrangements, including remote working, may be negotiated.

Getting to know the National Transport Commission

We lead national land transport reform in support of all Australian governments to improve safety, productivity, environmental outcomes and regulatory efficiency.

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📌 Head of Legislation (Sydney)
🏢 National Transport Commission
📍 Sydney