Head of Legal - Property and Projects

Job Description:

Lead the legal strategy behind the projects, infrastructure and partnerships that help deliver better healthcare.

• Drive legal leadership across nationally significant property and infrastructure projects: Lead legal oversight of complex property transactions, developments, construction projects and strategic initiatives across one of Australia's largest health and aged care organisations.
• Influence major decisions at the highest levels of the organisation: Partner with executive leaders, Boards, senior operational stakeholders and external advisers to manage legal risk and enable strategic growth across public hospitals, private hospitals, aged care and virtual care.
• Shape the future of healthcare through property and project excellence: Use your expertise to support the facilities, infrastructure and developments that allow St Vincent's to deliver life-changing care to patients, residents and communities.
  
  

About St Vincent's Health Australia

At St Vincent's Health Australia, we are shaping a future health and aged care system that supports people with life-changing care, wherever and whoever they are.

Founded by the Sisters of Charity in 1857, St Vincent's is one of Australia's leading not-for-profit health and aged care organisations. Our 30,000 dedicated people provide compassionate care through public and private hospitals, aged care residences, virtual care and services delivered at home across New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.

Our vision is for every person to receive excellent and compassionate care through a better and fairer health and aged care system. Together, we are focused on enhancing our impact, connecting care and transforming the system. Our work is grounded in our values of Compassion, Justice, Integrity and Excellence.

About the Opportunity

We are seeking a highly experienced Head of Legal – Property and Projects to join our National Legal Team in Sydney or Melbourne.

Reporting to the National Director Legal and Risk, this executive leadership role is responsible for leading the Property and Projects Practice Group and providing strategic legal direction across St Vincent's extensive national property, infrastructure and capital works portfolio.

You will advise on some of the organisation's most significant legal and commercial matters, including property acquisitions and disposals, leasing arrangements, major redevelopment projects, construction contracts, strategic partnerships and infrastructure investments.

Leading a specialist team of lawyers and legal professionals, you will work closely with executive leaders, Board committees, operational stakeholders and external advisers to manage legal risk and enable the delivery of projects that support the future of healthcare and aged care across Australia.

This is a rare opportunity to combine sophisticated legal practice, people leadership and strategic influence within a purpose-led organisation making a meaningful difference to communities nationwide.

Your Key Responsibilities

As a senior member of the National Legal Team, you will:

• Lead the Property and Projects Practice Group and provide strategic legal advice across St Vincent's national operations.
• Oversee legal matters relating to property acquisitions, disposals, leasing, licensing and land use arrangements.
• Advise on major capital works, infrastructure developments, construction projects and redevelopment initiatives.
• Develop and implement legal frameworks, systems and processes that support effective project delivery and risk management.
• Provide legal oversight across the full project lifecycle, from planning and procurement through to delivery and completion.
• Identify, assess and manage legal and regulatory risks associated with property and projects activities.
• Partner with executive leaders and senior stakeholders to support organisational priorities and strategic initiatives.
• Manage external legal providers and ensure the delivery of high-quality, commercially focused legal services.
• Contribute specialist expertise to broader legal, governance, risk and commercial matters across the organisation.
• Lead, mentor and develop lawyers and staff within the Property and Projects Practice Group.
• Build trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including government bodies, consultants, contractors and development partners.
  
  
  

About You

You are a highly accomplished legal leader with 15+ years' post-qualification experience and a proven track record advising on complex property, construction, infrastructure, projects and commercial matters. You have successfully led legal strategy on major transactions, developments and business-critical initiatives, balancing legal risk with commercial outcomes in complex and highly regulated environments.

You are a trusted adviser to executive leadership teams, Boards and senior stakeholders, recognised for your sound judgement, strategic thinking and ability to influence critical decisions. Combining deep technical expertise with strong commercial acumen, you deliver practical solutions that support organisational priorities while safeguarding long-term interests.

An experienced people leader, you have built, led and developed high-performing legal teams and foster cultures of collaboration, accountability and excellence. You are comfortable operating at both strategic and operational levels, navigating competing priorities and leading through complexity.

Most importantly, you are motivated by the opportunity to apply your expertise within a purpose-led organisation. You understand that hospitals, aged care facilities and healthcare infrastructure are fundamental to delivering exceptional care, and you are inspired by the opportunity to help shape the projects, partnerships and investments that will support patients, residents and communities for generations to come.

You Will Bring

• A tertiary qualification in Law.
• Admission as a Solicitor or Barrister in Australia.
• Eligibility to hold a practising certificate without supervision requirements.
• Significant post-qualification experience in property, construction, infrastructure, projects or commercial law.
• Experience gained within a leading law firm, major corporation, government organisation or complex in-house legal environment.
• Demonstrated expertise across property transactions, leasing, development projects, construction contracts and infrastructure matters.
• Strong commercial acumen and the ability to provide practical, risk-based legal advice.
• Experience partnering with executive leaders and senior stakeholders.
• Proven leadership capability, including mentoring and developing legal professionals.
• Highly developed negotiation, communication and relationship management skills.
• Strong organisational and project management capability within a complex, multi-stakeholder environment.
• The ability to work strategically while maintaining a practical and solutions-focused approach.
• A commitment to St Vincent's values and an appreciation of the social purpose of healthcare and aged care services.
  

Why Join St Vincent's?

• Lead work that leaves a lasting legacy
  Help shape the hospitals, healthcare facilities and infrastructure that support communities across Australia.
• Work on high-profile and complex matters
  Advise on property transactions, major developments, construction projects and strategic initiatives across a large and diverse national organisation.
• Influence at the executive level
  Partner with senior leaders, Board committees, operational executives and key external stakeholders on critical organisational decisions.
• Lead a specialist legal practice
  Develop and guide a high-performing team while contributing to the broader success of the National Legal function.
• Join a values-led organisation
  Build your career in an organisation guided by Compassion, Justice, Integrity and Excellence, with a longstanding commitment to delivering better and fairer care.
• Make a Meaningful Difference
  This is more than a property and projects leadership role. It is an opportunity to help create and maintain the infrastructure, facilities and partnerships that enable life-changing healthcare and aged care services for generations to come.
  

If you are a senior property, construction or projects lawyer seeking executive exposure, complex legal work and a stronger sense of purpose, we would welcome your application.

Apply Now

Join St Vincent's Health Australia and help us build the environments, facilities and services that support better healthcare outcomes across Australia.

Applications may close before the advertised closing date.

Important Information

Employment is subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, including identification, right-to-work, reference and nationally coordinated criminal history checks. The successful applicant must also comply with applicable St Vincent's Health Australia policies and screening requirements.

St Vincent's Health Australia welcomes people from all backgrounds and beliefs. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels respected, valued and empowered to contribute their unique experiences.

Closing Date:

3 October 2026 11:59pm

Reconciliation Action Plan:

At St Vincent's we acknowledge the importance of creating a work environment that is welcoming, safe, equitable and inclusive for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Employees. As part of our Commitment to Reconciliation and Closing the Gap in employment related outcomes, we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

For further information, visit https://www.svha.org.au/about-us/reconciliation or get in contact at [email protected]

View Reconciliation Action Plan

Code of Conduct:

View Code of Conduct