Legal Counsel (FOI/Privacy)

Acknowledgement of Country 

CSIRO acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, sea and waters, of the area that we live and work on across Australia. We acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. View our vision towards reconciliation. 

Role highlights

• Provide expert legal support, with a key focus on FOI and privacy
• Leverage your legal expertise to be a trusted advisor at CSIRO
• Opportunity to contribute to meaningful work in a flexible work environment
  
  

About CSIRO

As Australia's national science agency, CSIRO is solving the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. Many of our iconic innovations were once considered impossible until someone, just like you, joined us and took on the challenge.

Visit CSIRO.au for more information.

The opportunity 

We are seeking a Legal Counsel to join CSIRO’s Enterprise Legal team. The team, led by the General Counsel (Enterprise) and part of the Legal Unit, provides strategic legal advice and assistance to the CSIRO Board, Executive, Research Units and Enterprise Support Services.

As the Legal Counsel, you’ll provide high-quality legal advice in the focus area of FOI, privacy and information law. You’ll support the requirements of internal clients, considering CSIRO’s regulatory compliance obligations and strategic objectives, and use your technical knowledge and experience to deliver accurate and solutions-focused legal services.

If you are an experienced legal professional with strong expertise in FOI, privacy, or information law, we’d love to hear from you. 

Your high-level duties will include: 

• Providing high-quality, pragmatic legal advice, documentation and decision-making support, in relation to FOI, privacy and information law:
  - that is accurate, clear, timely, risk-adjusted and solutions-focused; and
  - which takes into account strategic priorities, applicable law and CSIRO and Commonwealth policy considerations.
• Developing an understanding of the business, strategic objectives, external regulators, stakeholders, political context and relevant industry partners.
• Demonstrating FOI, privacy and information law leadership through, amongst other things, handling requests, providing practical advice and supporting and participating in relevant internal education, compliance programs and working groups. 
• Exercising initiative and influence to build relationships with key internal clients and positioning the Enterprise Legal Team as a “trusted advisor” in CSIRO.
• Contribute to the on-going legal education and training of internal clients and CSIRO staff.
  
  

Role particulars

Location: Canberra and Melbourne preferred – hybrid/flexible work arrangements available

Salary: AU$135k – AU158k per annum (pro rata for part-time), plus 15.4% superannuation

Tenure: Indefinite, Full-time

Reference: 101904

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

• A degree in law from an Australian tertiary institution, or a comparable overseas qualification appropriate to the Legal Counsel role.
• A current Australian practising certificate or entitlement to hold one.
• Minimum three (3) years post-admission experience in private, in-house and/or government legal practice, including at least one (1) year in FOI or privacy law.
• Demonstrated technical knowledge and applied experience in public information law, including:
  - FOI law: Providing advice and support under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth), managing requests, internal processes, reviews, and appeals to the Office of the Information Commissioner.
  - Privacy law: Advising under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and Australian Government Agencies Privacy Code, conducting privacy impact assessments, developing privacy management plans, handling complaints, and ensuring compliance with mandatory data breach reporting.
  - General information law: Advising on Ministerial requests, Senate Orders to Produce, Parliamentary questions on notice, subpoenas, and litigation discovery orders.

 
For full details about this role, and other criteria, please review the Position Description. 

Not sure if you meet all the criteria?

While it is CSIRO policy that the successful candidate must meet all the essential criteria, there are many ways to demonstrate this. Don’t let the list discourage you. If you are unsure about applying, please reach out to the contact person in the Position Description.

Setting you up for success

We are committed to providing a recruitment process that is fair, equitable and accessible to everyone. We recognise that it may be helpful for us to adjust our process to make it equitable for your individual situation. Please contact Sheridan Gerrard via email at Sheridan.gerrard@csiro.au to let us know how we can support you.  

Life at CSIRO and flexible work arrangements

We work flexibly at CSIRO, offering a range of options for how, when and where you work. We can discuss flexible work arrangements with you during the recruitment process. CSIRO also offers a range of leave entitlements, benefits and career development opportunities. To find out more, visit Careers at CSIRO.

Inclusion and belonging

Solving Australia's greatest challenges takes a diversity of minds and lived experiences. We know diverse teams are more effective and deliver more innovative outcomes. As an equal employment opportunity organisation, we are committed to creating diverse and inclusive teams where people feel they belong. We recognise true diversity encompasses all ages, abilities, cultures, faiths, levels of education, genders, sexualities, diversity of thought and much more. We focus on hiring people who share our values of People First, Further Together, Making it Real and Trusted.

CSIRO holds Gold Status for the Australian Workplace Equality Index for LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and a Science in Australia Gender Equity Bronze Award.

Eligibility 

Applications for this position are open to Australian Citizens, New Zealand Citizens and Australian Permanent Residents. Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.   

Child safety 

CSIRO is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people involved in our activities and programs. View our Child Safe Policy. 

How to apply 

Please apply online and submit a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) and CV that demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the essential requirements of this role.

Applications close 

1st December 2025, 11pm AEDT.