Executive Director, Criminal Law

at  Victoria Legal Aid

The Position
The Executive Director, Criminal Law has responsibility for Victoria Legal Aid’s work in criminal law leading the delivery of high quality, targeted and innovative services in the publicly funded legal assistance sector.
Reporting to the CEO and as a member of the Executive Management Group, the role contributes to the collective leadership of VLA, leads organisation-wide change projects, and represents VLA at national and state-level legal aid forums and in various government and sector settings.
Leading six direct reports and a large team of over 130 professionals (covering criminal law, strategy, policy, projects and therapeutic justice), the role builds a supportive and values-driven culture that encourages people with great skills and capabilities to deliver high-quality and appropriately targeted legal assistance services to achieve safe and workable outcomes for our clients.
Success in this position requires an accomplished strategic leader who can drive long-term organisational and system change and influence a range of partners and stakeholders to advocate for systemic law reform, underpinned by managing effective and efficient operational and corporate requirements.
Demonstrated experience in influencing the strategic vision, culture and policy direction of an organisation is expected as is a track record in successfully leading a large and complex directorate/ organisation. While a law degree or other relevant tertiary qualification is required, your legal experience may have been gained in either criminal or civil areas. Experience collaborating across government departments, agencies and relevant non-government organisations is desirable.
The successful appointee will have a reputation for upholding the highest of ethics and integrity and living the values of Fairness, Care, Courage and Inclusion.
Senior Executive Service Level 2 (SES2) classification with a maximum term up to 5 years.
The Organisation
VLA is an independent statutory authority with a vision for a fair, just and inclusive society where people can get help with their legal problems and have a stronger voice in how laws and legal processes affect them.
The organisation helps people with legal problems involving family breakdown, child protection, family violence, criminal matters, social security, mental health, discrimination, guardianship and administration, fines, immigration, tenancy and debt.

Please refer the Job description for details