Director, Legal and Complaints

• Corporate Counsel role offering diversity of practice
• Role offers scope to innovate and grow an internal practice
• Generous salary packaging benefits

What we do

The St Vincent de Paul Society is a leading provider of community support services and has been assisting people experiencing disadvantage in NSW for more than 130 years. Our people reach out to the most vulnerable in our community through our Conferences, Special Works and Vinnies shops. The Society’s mission is to shape a more just and compassionate society by offering a ‘hands up’ approach to people in need respecting their dignity, sharing our hope and encouraging them to take control of their own destiny.

The Role

In this role you will be managing a diverse internal legal practice, You will manage a small and highly engaged team and the variety of work will incorporate general advice, commercial and contracts work, social service, fundraising and bequest to ensure compliance to leg al and regulatory frameworks. In developing your in-house legal practice you will be given scope to innovate as you grow internal capability. Ideally you will already be working as an in house counsel and are looking for a role with variety within a purpose led organisation. A background in NGO’s or public sector would be advantageous but not essential.

You will be accountable for:

• Providing legal services including contract management and legal advice to all areas of the business as well as manage referral of requests for legal advice to external providers as required.
• Ensuring compliance with the Society’s privacy obligations and fulfill the role of Privacy Officer.
• Developing, maintaining and overseeing the Society’s complaints function, including resolution of complaints to external bodies.
• Act as the Society’s Whistleblower Officer.

To be successful in this role, you will need:

• Relevant tertiary qualification/s in law.
• Extensive experience in provision of in-house counsel services including in the management of solicitors and other staff.
• A high level understanding of the governance context in which the Society operates, including the compliance obligations of a company limited by guarantee.
• Demonstrated capacity to provide legal advice to a Board of Directors or similar body.
• A high level understanding of the legal and compliance responsibilities of an organisation providing services to children, including the rights of children and the requirements of child protection legislation.
• Demonstrated capacity to effectively manage complaint handling processes and to resolve complex complaints effectively, within agreed timeframes, fairly and with sensitivity to the rights, responsibilities, needs and capacity of all parties.
• Demonstrated experience in the development and review of organisational policy.
• Unrestricted practicing certificate.

Come and join our team!

We believe our employees are key to our success and in return we offer:

• Job satisfaction working as part of a team making a difference to people’s lives in an organisation that cares about people.
• Generous salary packaging benefits to employees where a portion of take-home pay is tax-free.
• In addition to excellent learning and development programs, as a large purpose driven organisation we provide opportunities to grow your career across a range of teams and services.
• Supportive, friendly and values driven team environment and culture.

Prior to an offer of employment, preferred candidates will be required to complete the pre-employment checks including reference checks, a Police check, Working with Children check, Health Declaration and/or a medical check, Right to work in Australia check. The Society is committed to being a Child Safe organisation, further information can be found in the Society’s commitment to Safeguarding Children & Young People.