Executive Director, Legal and Regulatory Services and General Counsel - NSW Ministry of Health

Executive Director, Legal and Regulatory Services and General Counsel

Executive Band 2

NSW Ministry of Health

• NSW Health’s Most Senior Legal Adviser.
• Exciting career opportunity for a highly experienced legal executive and General Counsel to lead a comprehensive in-house legal service for a large, influential public sector organisation which has a significant impact on the NSW community.
• Accountability for the provision of specialist legal expertise to NSW Health Entities, including complex, high risk matters or issues of statewide significant or strategic important to the Health system.

This role will be located in St Leonards.


About NSW Ministry of Health
The NSW Ministry of Health supports the executive and statutory roles of the Minister for Health and Minister for Regional Health, Minister for Mental Health and Minister for Medical Research. The NSW Ministry of Health also has the role of ‘system manager’ in relation to the NSW public health system, which operates more than 220 public hospitals, as well as providing community health and other public health services, for the NSW community through a network of local health districts, specialty networks and non-government affiliated health organisations, known collectively as NSW Health.

The Ministry of Health guides the development of services and investments in the NSW public health system to ensure that the health priorities of the NSW Government are achieved for the community of NSW.

Role Outline
The Executive Director, Legal and Regulatory Services and General Counsel leads and directs the Ministry of Health’s legal portfolio including the operations of the Health Professional Councils Authority and manages key regulatory and governance functions of NSW Health and directs the development of appropriate legal, policy, regulatory and compliance frameworks and systems across NSW Health to ensure that NSW Health’s statutory accountabilities are achieved and risks are effectively managed.

Key Accountabilities
As Executive Director, you will be accountable for effectively managing a comprehensive, in-house legal service for the NSW Ministry of Health and the provision of specialist legal expertise to NSW Health entities, including legal advice on complex, high risk matters or issues involving matters of statewide significance or strategic importance to the Health system, including decisions on engagement of in house or external legal service providers, either directly or via panel arrangements, to ensure the highest quality legal advice to optimise decision making. 

The role has 10 direct reports within the Legal and Regulatory Branch and one within Health Professional Councils Authority.

Required Experience, Skills and Personal Attributes
The role requires a highly experienced General Counsel who has operated at executive level and has demonstrated capability to effectively lead a varied and challenging portfolio working in a large-scale and complex public sector organisation.

Candidates will need:

• Legal qualifications and admission as a legal practitioner to the Supreme Court of NSW with eligibility for a current practising certificate;
• Substantial and proven senior level experience which demonstrates suitability for the role of General Counsel within a large, complex and highly decentralised government agency and an extensive practical understanding of government accountability mechanisms;
• Demonstrated detailed knowledge and strong understanding of health legislation and the health industry, both public and private; 
• Extensive experience in policy development and legislative review, reform and development;
• Sound understanding of regulatory and compliance processes in a similar large and complex portfolio; and
• To be a collaborative, proactive and motivated leader, with highly developed stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to navigate complexity, influence and manage within intricate relationships, and apply sound judgement.

If you do not meet all the role requirements, but are an experienced General Counsel who has operated at executive level and been accountable for a broad portfolio of responsibility working within a large-scale, complex organisation you are encouraged to apply. 

This is an ongoing, full time, Band 2, Public Service senior executive (PSSE) role. An attractive remuneration package within the range of $325,146 to $361,300 per annum (SOORT 2023), will be negotiated with the successful applicant.

For a confidential discussion, please contact Angela Clelland at Omera Partners on 0429 703 611 or via email nswministryofhealth@omerapartners.com.

For further information, download the role description.

Applying for this Role
You are required to submit an up to date CV and a one page covering letter, including a short statement in response to the two targeted questions below:

1. Describe your experience as a General Counsel in a large and complex environment.
2. How have you effectively managed regulatory compliance services and the provision of governance advice.

Please click here to apply for the advert through the Health Career Portal (search by job reference number REQ481861). 

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.

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 our 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.

The Ministry of Health expects all workers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and you will be required to show proof of your COVID-19 vaccination status prior to securing this role.