• Temporary full-time opportunity 
• Provide SME on commercial law matters 
• Great team with flexible working arrangements on offer

About the Role

The Principal Legal Officer (Commercial) is the agency’s subject matter expert on commercial law matters, providing advice on commercial transactions including the procurement of goods and services and assisting the Electoral Commissioner and other internal stakeholders to resolve complex or sensitive disputes with providers, suppliers or other contractors.

The successful applicant will play a critical role in supporting the delivery of the NSW State general election in March 2027.

The role is a Temporary Full-time position until 30 June 2027. 

About the NSW Electoral Commission

The New South Wales Electoral Commission delivers trusted and independent systems, processes, oversight and engagement that support democracy in New South Wales. Our vision is to maintain confidence in the integrity of the democratic process and make it easy for people to understand and participate.

Our work includes:

• Running and regulating elections
• Communicating and engaging with current and future voters, key NSW community stakeholders and NSW election participants; and
• Investigating possible offences and enforcing electoral and lobbying laws such as the Electoral Act 2017 and the Electoral Funding Act 2018.

What we offer

• Opportunity to work on large scale events and assist your local community  
• Career development opportunities through study and face to face training
• Access to self-paced expert-led training via LinkedIn Learning
• Employee Assistance Program for wellbeing support 
• Staff social events to connect with colleagues  
• Work/Life balance (35 hour working week), flex leave, generous holidays and leave conditions
• Access to Fitness Passport for eligible staff 
• Free annual flu vaccination
• Convenient CBD location, access to public transport 

Key knowledge, experience and essential requirements

• Experience managing complex legal matters as a solicitor in a jurisdiction similar to NSW.
• Expertise and experience in commercial law.
• Ability to provide accurate and timely advice for commercial transactions, and engage expert external lawyers in complex and high-risk matters, to support large scale election events, ongoing regulatory activities and the Commission’s business as usual activities, including the ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to identify procurement and contract management risks and ensure this informs contract development, management and procurement decisions.
• Capacity to develop documentation to support practice management of commercial matters and education of key business contributors.
• Experience delivering in-house legal services to or advising government agencies is desirable. 
• Expertise and experience in public and/or administrative law is desirable. 
• Relevant tertiary qualifications in law.
• Hold a practising certificate issued by the Law Society of NSW prior to commencing duties.
• Meet the political neutrality requirements for officers of the NSW Electoral Commission, including having no affiliation with political parties, candidates, elected members, third party campaigners or lobbyists.
• Satisfactory Criminal Record check result.

How to apply

As part of your application, you will be asked to respond to the two targeted questions:

1. Describe a time when you have had conflicting deadlines involving the management of a busy legal caseload. How did you manage yourself and communicate about your workload with managers, clients, colleagues and other stakeholders, while still managing your professional obligations? (maximum 300 words)
2. How do you consider in-house lawyers can add the most value? Consider some of the strategies and practices you have used to deliver value to your clients in the past. Please provide examples from a role where you have been involved in the management of contracts or commercial transactions (maximum 300 words)  

You should include a covering letter summarising your skills, knowledge and work experience, along with an up-to-date resume which clearly detail your skills and experience as relevant to this role. 

For further information regarding the role please download the Role Description.

Applying for a role in the NSW Public Service

For more information on how to apply for a role in the NSW Public Service, please refer here.

The NSW Electoral Commission embraces diversity and inclusion and is committed to creating a workplace that reflects the population of New South Wales. We welcome applications from people from diverse backgrounds and encourage women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, LGBTQIA+, people with disability, mature-age people, and people from culturally diverse backgrounds to apply for this role. 

If you have any questions about applying or would benefit from an adjustment to the recruitment process to help you perform your best, please contact talent@elections.nsw.gov.au. For more information on recruitment adjustments visit I Work for NSW Adjustments for individual needs.

Applications received and completed after closing time will not be considered for selection. 

The selection process will include a range of assessment techniques to assist in determining your suitability for the role.

For further information, contact NSW Electoral Commission’s Talent team on talent@elections.nsw.gov.au

Other Information

Your employment will be subject to National Criminal Records Check to determine your suitability for employment.  

The NSW Electoral Commission is committed to maintaining public confidence in the integrity of the electoral system. The Commission requires all its employees to refrain from membership of any political party and from engaging in political activity which could be seen as reflecting adversely on the strict political neutrality of the Commission. To maintain political neutrality, applicants for roles with the Commission who are, who have been or who may be perceived to be or have been connected with political activities may also be ineligible for appointment and should disclose such information as part of their application. This does not include voting in a Commonwealth, State or Local Government election, which is compulsory in NSW.  The Commission’s Political Neutrality Policy may be viewed on its website.

A talent pool may be created from this recruitment action for ongoing and temporary roles of the same work classification that may become available for filling over the next 18 months.

This role is based in at our Elizabeth Street, Sydney office with a hybrid work arrangement. 

Applications Close: Monday 27th October 2025 @ 11.59pm