Job Summary
At Telstra, our purpose is to build a connected future so everyone can thrive. We’d love you to be part of our journey to help our customers connect: faster, better and smarter.
We support flexibility and choice at Telstra. We want you to work in ways that suit you, to enable you to perform better, adapt faster, and thrive both professionally and personally.
What you can expect of us
Flexible working. We support flexible working arrangements that reflect the nature of our work, the diversity of our teams, and the geographic spread of our workforce.
Exciting volunteering and pro-bono opportunities across the Legal team.
Be there when life happens. From Gender Affirmation Leave to Telstra’s Additional Leave Day, we give you time to spend away from work when you need it most.
Pay for performance. We recognize outstanding contributions through our competitive incentive programs.
Parental Leave. A gender-equal policy for all parent/s so you can choose how and when you take your leave (16 weeks full pay or 32 weeks half pay). Receive superannuation contributions on paid and unpaid parental leave.
Unlimited learning. Level up your skills with access to 17,000 learning programs. Learn ‘on the job’ and achieve university credits towards degrees and Masters’ programs.
Global presence. With a global presence across 22 countries, there are many opportunities to work where we do business.
Extra perks. Receive 25% off Telstra products and services, plus unlock exclusive discounts from over 240 brands and partners.
About the team
The Corporate Affairs, Risk and Legal team (CARL) engages with our external stakeholders to support the business, shapes and influences outcomes, builds and maintains relationships with government, regulators and media, and helps mitigate legal and regulatory risk. As a key component of CARL, the Telstra Legal team is not like other in-house teams. At the forefront of our success is our culture.
We are deliberate and self-reflective about the kind of team and culture we are building and strive to create a positive and caring environment where everyone has a sense of pride in their team. We are fun, openminded and creative. We are talented people with expertise across an array of subject matters. We are proud to show up as our whole selves, and embrace flexibility, authenticity, and diversity. We are empathetic and supportive, and passionate about the wellbeing of our team. We celebrate our differences, and the diverse stories, experiences and backgrounds that enrich us all.
We provide everyone the opportunity to continue to develop in their role and career. We are seeking new team members who are not only strong in their own aptitude, but who are supportive of our mission and culture, and care deeply about supporting each other's growth.
The role with us
We are seeking a strong and strategically minded lawyer (5 PQE and above) with excellent judgement and experience advocating externally and advising senior stakeholders on complex matters involving an intersection of legal, regulatory and government policy issues.
The role will suit a lawyer who thrives in advising in high pressure situations and who is also seeking to build their expertise and broaden their value-add capabilities through advocacy and external stakeholder engagement within key areas of regulatory reform for Telstra, including cyber, data & AI, privacy, national security and telco regulatory.
The role involves working with, and learning from, an exceptional team of lawyers and regulatory specialists across a broad range of advice, transactional and advocacy matters.
Key responsibilities
As a Legal Counsel, you draw on your expertise within the legal domain, combined with your evolving breadth of experience in shaping the trajectory of new regulatory or legislative proposals to deliver against the following responsibilities:
Give legal advice (verbal and written) that is clear, commercial, fit-for purpose and tailored to the audience based on your understanding of the strategic priorities, legal requirements and current and emerging risks – including in time pressured high-stakes situations.
Effectively manage an appropriate volume of legal work of a complexity commensurate with your experience by being well organised, delivering on agreed commitments and prioritising competing demands. You should be aware that urgent advice on cyber, data & AI, privacy, national security matters can be required outside of standard working hours.
Leading and/or supporting on regulatory submissions and engagement with external stakeholders (such as Government, regulators and industry associations) concerning reform proposals or incidents.
Provide support on sensitive legal matters and strategic projects, by identifying legal and regulatory issues and risks that may have a significant impact on the business, providing expert legal guidance and project management, applying critical thinking, communicating clearly, sharing informed insights, and implementing innovative solutions that achieve strategic objectives and resolve complex legal issues.
Authentically engage, build, and maintain trusted and collaborative working relationships across the Corporate Affairs, Risk and Legal team, as well as senior internal and external stakeholders. This involves assisting them with legal matters, processes and standards and providing strong advocacy on regulatory matters.
Apply a continuous improvement mindset when providing legal and regulatory support to clients, by sharing great ideas and contributing to initiatives which help drive productivity improvements and maximise client experience outcomes.
Have a customer first mindset.
Provide training and updates to CARL and internal clients and develop precedents and tools to enhance CARL and client legal knowledge and expertise in collaboration with other lawyers.
About you
To be successful in the role, you'll bring skills and experience in:
Qualifications: Bachelor of Laws (or equivalent) and admitted to practice in Australia.
PQE: 5 years’ PQE experience minimum.
Security clearance: hold or be capable of obtaining a Negative Vetting Level 2 (NV2) security clearance from the Australian government (to be sponsored by Telstra).
Capability:
Strong commercial experience (minimum of 5 years), with some advocacy experience (such as preparing submissions or responding to regulator investigations).
Ability to engage with and influence senior stakeholders and explain complex issues clearly and concisely, including providing on the spot advice.
Ability to balance and prioritise a diverse portfolio of work.
Calm under pressure, exhibit good judgement, discrete and an adaptable and flexible mindset.
Strong commercial acumen and exhibited ability to build strong business relationships.
Ability to manage matters autonomously and provide advice under pressure, while also working effectively within a team.
It would also be highly desirable to have experience in one or more of the following areas:
Advisory work related to cyber, national security, privacy, Data & AI, law enforcement or telecommunications regulation.
Advisory work related to competition law and the Australian Consumer Law.
External stakeholder relationship management and engagement.
As part of your application with Telstra, you may receive communications from us on +61 440 135 548 (for job applications in Australia)
When you join our team, you become part of a welcoming and inclusive community where everyone is respected, valued and celebrated. We actively seek individuals from various backgrounds, ethnicities, genders and disabilities because we know that diversity not only strengthens our team but also enriches our work. We have zero tolerance for harassment of any kind, and we prioritise creating a workplace culture where everyone is safe and can thrive.
As part of the hiring process, all identified candidates will undergo a background check, and the results will play a role in the final decision regarding your application.
We work flexibly at Telstra. Talk to us about what flexibility means to you. When you apply, you can share your pronouns and / or any reasonable adjustments needed to take part equitably during the recruitment process. We are aware of current limitations with our website accessibility and are working towards improving this.
Should you experience any issues accessing information or the application form, and require this in an alternate format, please contact our Talent Acquisition team on DisabilityandAccessibility@team.telstra.com or via the additional contact options found at www.telstra.com.au/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion/disability-employment.