Senior Legal Counsel

Join one of the world’s most progressive NGOs and help change the lives of children in Australia and beyond.

Save the Children Australia is seeking a passionate and experienced legal professional to join our high-performing Legal and Governance Team. This full-time, permanent role is based in our Melbourne CBD office, with flexible working arrangements available.

About Save the Children Australia

We’re ambitious, creative, and outspoken. We stand up fearlessly for children’s rights. We want all children to be educated, healthy, and live free from violence. We run programs in Australia and overseas, and when conflict or disaster strikes, we’re there on the ground.

About the Role

As Senior Legal Counsel, you will provide high-quality legal advice and company secretarial support to Save the Children Australia and its subsidiaries. You’ll work closely with the executive team and boards, contributing to strategic decision-making and ensuring legal and regulatory compliance.

You’ll be part of a small, dynamic team within the Office of the CEO, reporting to the Group General Counsel.

Key Responsibilities 

• Deliver pragmatic legal advice across a broad range of areas including privacy, data protection, insurance, IP, employment law, human rights, and property law.
• Negotiate complex commercial contracts and grant agreements.
• Act as Company Secretary for at least one subsidiary board.
• Support special and sensitive projects with sound legal guidance.
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments to ensure ongoing compliance.
• Implement effective and compliant policies.
• Think big and act with a child rights lens in all decision-making.

About You

You’re a values-driven legal professional with strong commercial acumen and excellent technical skills. You’re confident managing your own matters, making sound judgments, and building trusted relationships across the organisation.

You thrive in a fast-paced, high-risk environment and are motivated by work that makes a real difference.

You will bring: 

• Minimum 5 years’ post-admission experience in private practice or in-house.
• Current Australian legal practising certificate.
• Experience in governance and company secretarial duties (preferred but not essential).
• Proven ability to deliver legally sound outcomes in dynamic settings.
• Confidence to work autonomously and collaboratively.

Why Join Us?

Working at Save the Children is more than just a job—it’s a chance to contribute to a better world for children.

We offer: 

• Competitive salary + super
• Full salary packaging benefits (calculator)
• Additional annual leave options
• Flexible, child- and pet-friendly work environment
• Access to Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Opportunities to work on special projects
• Professional development support
• More about our employee benefits

How to Apply

Submit your cover letter and resume via the ‘Apply’ section.

Applications close: COB Friday 29th August 2025

Position Description – Senior Legal Counsel

For more information, contact Lindsay Evans, Group General Counsel: lindsay.evans@savethechildren.org.au

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

We’re committed to creating a workplace that reflects the diversity of our community. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and can adjust our recruitment process to suit your needs—whether related to race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexuality, neurodiversity, culture, or beliefs.

Child Safeguarding

Save the Children Australia is a child-safe organisation. All employees must undergo compliance checks including a National Police Check and Working with Children Check.