Legal Counsel - 12 month Fixed-Term Contract

What YOU WILL ACHIEVE

Your role as Legal Counsel will sit within the Legal, Risk and Compliance team. You will play an integral role in partnering with a wide range of stakeholders to review contracts and provide advice in areas such as property law, supply chain, employment, intellectual property, consumer law, privacy and general commercial. We are looking for a commercially minded individual who understands the complex nature of a large-scale retailer and can manage their stakeholder group accordingly.

What YOUR DAY LOOKS LIKE

• Influence stakeholders in decision making process in order to achieve optimal outcome for David Jones
• Foster a team environment and positive culture of customer service, professionalism and best practice;
• Lead self to ensure empowered, capable and accountable to deliver priorities
• Promote a thriving team culture, with a focus on achievement, empowerment, inclusivity and innovation that values continuous learning and puts our customer at the heart of all that we do
• Lead, coach and develop a high performing team
• Partner cross functionally to ensure shared success and champion best practice, while indirectly building capability and confidence across the business.

Reporting to the Head of Legal and Internal Audit, this role will involve:

• Working across a broad range of legal matters, including areas such as property law, construction, supply chain, employment, intellectual property, consumer law, privacy and general commercial.
• Drafting, negotiating, and reviewing of contracts, leases, confidentiality agreements, and consultancy & service agreements.
• Working closely with stakeholders to provide commercially astute legal advice.
• Drafting and negotiating property related documents including Heads of Agreement, Agreements for Lease, Leases, Licences, Deeds of Surrender, Assignments, Renewals and Variations of Lease;
• Prepare recommendations for execution of documents to senior stakeholders, including the CEO and directors;
• Protecting the business’ commercial position through monitoring legal developments and changes in law and assisting in the development of the legal compliance, resources (including policies and procedures) in accordance with the strategy.
• Liaising with the Marketing and Merchandise teams across David Jones to ensure sales, trade promotional materials and other marketing media comply with relevant laws (eg. Consumer Law)/
• Collaborate within the Legal Risk & Compliance team to enhance delivery of legal services to the business.
• Providing ad hoc legal advisory to a range of departments across the David Jones business

What YOU’LL NEED TO THRIVE

• Bachelor of Laws
• Current Practicing Certificate (Victoria) or eligible to obtain a practicing certificate
• Minimum 2 years' post admission experience with previous experience in top tier private practice or an in-house corporate environment.
• Ability to manage multiple competing deadlines with proven time management skills enabling the delivery of efficient and effective strategic legal and governance advice;
• High level of attention to detail, flexibility and responsiveness in the provision of legal advice in a complex environment with changing and competing priorities
• Commercially focused and ability to provide strategic legal advice and pragmatic solutions;
• Ability to influence stakeholders;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to maintain strict levels of confidentiality (essential)
• Ability to advise and communicate on complex legal issues

Why work for us?

Our purpose at David Jones is to ‘inspire like no other’, and culturally we aspire to be THRIVING.  In our thriving culture, our people will be at their best as individuals and as teams.  Our thriving cultural foundations are defined by the behaviours each and every one of us display.  It’s our commitment and responsibility to ensure that as individuals and as a collective, that we are living our cultural foundations.

• Unique opportunity to be part of a highly engaged, successful team, focused on the transformation of an iconic Australian brand
• A competitive remuneration package
• Hybrid working arrangements in office and from home that provide appropriate work/life balance
• Generous employee discounts across David Jones and access to partner benefits
• An additional day of leave for your birthday along with time to support charitable work
• Opportunities to support community partnerships across our Corporate Social Responsibility program
• Be a member of a company committed to sustainable practices, driving change in the retail landscape
• Training and development to pursue individual ambitions

About Us

Since 1838, David Jones’ limitless quest for innovation and progress established the brand as Australia’s original influencer in fashion and lifestyle. Having revolutionised the way Australians shop, David Jones’ creation of a social centre inspired and created lasting memories for past, present and future generations. Today, our vision to inspire Like No Other drives us to continue this legacy in our ambitious purpose to be the destination that inspires, with experiences and services Like No Other.

Our Thriving cultural pillars inspire our people to deliver on our vision and purpose.  We are Customer Obsessed; curious to understand and dedicated to delighting them with seamless solutions as one team. We care for our people, customers, partners and community by creating Inclusive environments through belonging and respect. We Empower with implied trust to act with integrity, value our unique skills and be accountable for our decisions.  We constantly seek Innovative ways of improving, changing and exploring ways that we can inspire.

David Jones is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at time of application to assist you through the recruitment process.