SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• 10+ years’ post-qualification experience and be qualified to practice Law in Australia.
• Demonstrate the ability to lead and mentor a legal team effectively.
• Capacity to encourage collaboration, and dedication to recognising and addressing emerging challenges and risks.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to balance legal considerations with short-term and long-term strategic business objectives.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships across all levels of the organisation.
• High ethical standards and a commitment to integrity and confidentiality.

ABOUT US

VMCH is a Catholic not-for-profit organisation, providing services including affordable housing, residential aged care, retirement living, community and disability services and specialist education to 7,600 people across Victoria. We operate in over 50 locations, have 3,500+ employees and over 600 volunteers maintaining our 24/7 service to vulnerable people across Victoria.
Here at VMCH our services are as diverse as the people we support. As a for-purpose organisation, love, joy, hospitality, and courage aren’t just words to us, they guide us in everything we do. While we’ve been around for over a century, we’re always moving forward. We stay true to who we are by supporting people and families to live their best lives, providing a place to call home and spaces to learn and grow.
VMCH promotes and fosters a culture of inclusion and Equal Opportunity Employment. We treat our everyone with fairness, dignity, and respect.

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer the position plays a pivotal role in shaping the legal strategy for VMCH. As a qualified savvy lawyer with exceptional business acumen, you will be the trusted advisor to the Board and wider executive team. You will provide sound legal counsel on a range of issues, including corporate governance, acquisitions regulatory compliance, litigation, intellectual property, and commercial contracts.

The General Counsel plays a critical leadership role and will:

• Oversee commercial legal matters impacting VMCH with a focus on leases, retirement living, procurement and service agreements.
• Effectively manage a team of professionals that service the needs of the business.
• Be influential in discussions at the boardroom table that highlight your unique skills as General Counsel that supports director responsibilities.
• Provide practical, contemporary, innovative legal solutions to complex issues.
• Advise on commercial legal matters, relevant laws, and regulatory compliance.
• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts, agreements, and other legal documents to protect the interests of VMCH.
• Be able to decipher complex information, interpret financial statements, understand key performance indicators to contribute to strategic discussions.
• Exhibit a strong attention to detail in a timely manner of all legal matters.
• Provide insightful, persuasive, and trusted advice to a diverse range of senior stakeholders, across all business units.
• Brief/support the Executive and Board on all matters that could impact the organisation achieve its strategy.
• Be vigilant in keeping VMCH abreast of any legal changes that could impact the organisation, staff, consumers and provide appropriate solutions to manage changes that put VMCH first.