At Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service, we deliver public healthcare across regional, rural and remote communities. With over 4,500 staff, we are committed to improving the health of Central Queenslanders and delivering safe, high-quality care.

This is a unique opportunity to work at the centre of decision-making within a large and complex health service, contributing to outcomes that directly impact patient care, workforce management and organisational governance.

Job details

The Opportunity

This is not a traditional legal role.

Reporting to the Director, Office of the Chief Executive, you will provide senior, trusted legal advice directly to the Chief Executive, Executive Leadership Team and clinical leaders across CQHHS.

You will work on complex and high-impact matters spanning:

• Clinical, medico-legal, and health law
• Governance and statutory decision-making
• Employment, privacy, and information law
• Litigation and coronial matters

Why this role is different

Work at executive level

Engage directly with senior decision-makers, including the Chief Executive and Board, on significant organisational issues.

Be part of a broader legal network

While you will be an independent advisor to CQHHS, you will be part of a broader network of legal teams across the State.  To embed these networks and provide support you will have access to the Metro North Hospital and Health Service Legal Team, providing:

• Professional support and peer collaboration
• Access to specialist expertise
• Opportunities to work across complex and novel issues

Access to external legal expertise

Where required, you will have access to external legal advisers to escalate and manage complex or high-risk matters, ensuring you are supported in delivering high-quality outcomes.

Breadth and impact

This role offers exposure to a wide range of legal issues rarely seen in a single position, with direct impact on patient safety, workforce outcomes and organisational performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide expert legal advice across clinical, governance, employment and information law matters
• Support coronial matters, clinical review processes and complex ethical issues
• Advise on workforce and employment matters under relevant legislation
• Manage litigation and represent CQHHS where required
• Build strong relationships across clinical, corporate and executive teams
• Contribute to organisational decision-making and risk management

About You

• A highly capable lawyer with strong judgement and the ability to provide clear, practical and timely advice
• Comfortable operating in a complex, high-pressure environment
• Able to engage effectively with senior stakeholders and clinicians
• Solutions-focused, with a strong sense of accountability and professionalism
• Interested in work that has real impact beyond legal technicality

Mandatory Requirements

• A degree in law and admission to practice as a Legal Practitioner in Queensland (certified qualifications and proof of registration is required prior to appointment).
• Four or more years' post admission experience (or agreed equivalent) gained within a similar field, quality corporate and/or government environment is highly desirable.

How to Apply

To apply for this role, please submit the following: 

• Provide a current CV (maximum 2 pages) outlining your relevant experience, roles and responsibilities, and any leadership or governance exposure.
• Instead of a traditional cover letter, please respond to the following two questions. Each response should be no more than 400–500 words.
  • Question 1 – Decision-making under uncertainty: Describe a time you made a decision or provided advice with incomplete information. Outline the context, key risks, options considered, your recommendation, and the outcome.
  • Question 2 – Influencing senior stakeholders:  Describe a time where your advice was not initially accepted by a senior stakeholder. What was the context, how did you respond, and what was the outcome?

Guidance for Applicants

Your responses should:

• Focus on specific examples from your experience
• Demonstrate your ability to identify and balance legal, operational and reputational risks
• Clearly outline your thinking process, including options considered and rationale for your recommendation
• Highlight how you engage and influence senior stakeholders, including in situations of challenge or disagreement
• Be written for a senior executive audience—clear, concise and outcome-focused

Shortlisted candidates may be asked to complete a scenario-based assessment and participate in an interview process focused on judgement, risk assessment and stakeholder engagement.

Further information

We are committed to building inclusive cultures in the Queensland public sector that respect and promote human rights and diversity.

Microsoft Word (.doc) or PDF file types are supported. Files must be a maximum of 2MB each.

Documents

Before applying for this vacancy please ensure you read the documents below.

• Information for Applicants (PDF)
  
  RK6D680550 - Principal Lawyer (PDF)