Principal Solicitor

Blacktown City is a growing and thriving city, located halfway between Sydney City and the Blue Mountains. With 435,000 residents, we are the largest and most diverse city in NSW, spread across 54 suburbs. Blacktown City is vibrant, dynamic and multicultural, home to a large First Nations community, and more than 180 different birthplaces and languages.

With $24.8 billion regional economy, Blacktown City is also home to 30,000 businesses. Working at Blacktown City Council provides widespread, exciting professional opportunities. Our Council is leading the transformation of Blacktown City and Western Sydney. We are implementing a vision for a modern city, full of opportunity for our residents and businesses.

Our Council is led by highly skilled and experienced professionals, working with talented and passionate teams across a diverse range of business units. We are delivering high quality, customer-focused services, experiences, and facilities, and leading a program of strategic planning, activity and investment.

Blacktown City Council strives to be an inclusive workplace for all people. We welcome applications from all ages and genders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally diverse backgrounds, the LGBTIQ+ community, veterans and people with disabilities.

About the opportunity

Blacktown City Council is seeking a permanent, full-time premier legal professional  to be a part of the catalytic growth of Blacktown City!

As the Principal Solicitor you will work closely with and support the Executive Corporate Counsel with steering a high calibre team of professionals, both internal and external to Council. You will deliver precision at pace, as you work across an array of matters spanning leases and land use planning, to environmental, contract litigation and everything in between, whilst juggling the demands of the Corporate Counsel team and peers.

This is a newly created and senior position within the Corporate Counsel team who are an integral part of the structure sustaining operations and underpinning the City's transformation. The Corporate Counsel section is known and responsible for delivering high quality, local government specific services and advice, and the service level expectation is high. They work with; all Council staff, Councillors, external solicitors, law enforcement and specialist consultants, government agencies, Ministers and more, and most importantly, with the residents, investors and business owners across Blacktown City.

The team is presently undergoing change and expansion, as they shift ways of working. All of this requires the individual in this role to bring strong leadership skills, fast intellect, energy, empathy and respect for community; and be foremost in their legal field of practice. The type of work and level of daily interaction also requires that the team works predominantly onsite at our offices in the Blacktown CBD, with some work from home. You will have the support of a great group of people in the Corporate Counsel team and across Council, and the guidance of a highly experienced Executive. The Executive Corporate Counsel is a respected pioneer and leader in the Government sector you can learn from and share with, as you work in the Corporate Counsel team.

During the first six weeks of your onboarding, a project manager will be available to make introductions, help you with process improvement and change, offer insight and ensure a smooth transition. If this resonates with you, please call us for a confidential discussion. The remuneration reflects the expectation of this role and will be discussed with serious applicants who are short listed for interview. 

Qualifications and experience

Essential:

• Degree qualification in Law or relevant field
• Extensive relevant experience
• Previous team leadership/ management experience in a legal or related field
• Admission to practice as a Solicitor in the State of New South Wales
• Current NSW Practicing Certificate or eligibility for NSW Practicing Certificate
• High level of experience in Court attendance and knowledge of appropriate Court protocol and legal proceedings
• Demonstrated knowledge of applicable legislation and regulations in the following areas:
  • Environmental Planning and Development Law and/or
  • Property Law and/or
  • Contract Law and/or
  • Environmental Law and/or
  • Local Government Law.
• Demonstrated commitment to and excellent service delivery to stakeholders and customers
• Ability and willingness to train and mentor senior and junior level staff
• Exceptional negotiation and communication skills
• Exceptional inter-personal, leadership and management skills
• Demonstrated ability to achieve successful outcomes within agreed timelines, while balancing competing priorities and stakeholder needs
• Demonstrated ability to triage, assign, and manage caseloads for the section
• Demonstrated ability to manage matters independently
• Ability to work within a team environment, and to take and provide direction
• Sound business acumen
• Current driver's licence
• Police Check.

Desirable:

• Good understanding of local government accountability and legislation
• Current membership of a legal or related industry body that helps you maintain your knowledge of latest trends, data, laws and practices
• Working knowledge of legal management and information systems.

Remuneration and benefits

The salary and conditions of employment are in accordance with Blacktown City Council’s Enterprise Agreement.

• A competitive salary will be negotiated with the successful applicant
• 35-hour working week
• Car allowance
• Opportunity to participate in Council's flextime arrangement
• Employee benefits such as leave entitlements (where applicable), 11.5% employer contribution payable to your nominated superannuation fund, Fitness Passport, gym membership discounts, and social clubs.

Our commitment to safety

Blacktown City Council is committed to safety. We have introduced alcohol and other drug testing at the pre-employment phase, and via a series of random and cause testing.

We are a child safe organisation that supports and promotes the safety, wellbeing and empowerment of children.

Position description 

Click here to view or download the position description.

Apply now using our fast and easy-to-use online application process:

1. Have your resume and any other relevant documentation ready to attach.
2. Have a personal email address ready to use and complete your application without 'logging out' of the system.
3. Review the questions and decide on your responses before commencing your application.

Closing date:           Friday 4 July 2025, 11.59 pm    

Contact officer:       Mary Macken on 5300 6000

Internal ref:              BCC2029