ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

We are seeking to recruit several Legal Officers to work in the Legal Services Section at the Office of the National Data Commissioner. In this role you would be required to: 

• provide legal advice under supervision on operation of the Data Availability and Transparency Act 2022 (the Act) and intersection with other laws (e.g. advice on eligibility for accreditation, and availability of compliance and enforcement mechanisms);
• provide legal analysis under supervision of policy proposals to support better availability and use of data for public benefit and strengthening data sharing and handling;
• provide review of a range of materials developed by the ONDC to support the DATA Scheme, including to ensure good privacy practices are built into decision-making;
• draft legal documents with support from managers relating to the DATA Scheme, including development of the online precedent clause bank for use in data sharing agreements and memorandums of understanding between the ONDC and other agencies;
• support the drafting of un-tied legislative instruments, including DATA Scheme Codes and guidelines, made by the Minister and the National Data Commissioner;
• support the review of the DAT legislation (primary and subordinate laws); and 
• undertake privacy impact threshold assessments and facilitate Privacy Impact Assessments for activities and projects undertaken by the ONDC, including by procuring external legal services.

The Policy Section and the Regulation and Compliance Section may also be of interest to lawyers as those teams develop legislation and enforce the law on behalf of the Commissioner drawing on strong legal skills. There are opportunities to surge or rotate across those teams. 

ABOUT THE OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL DATA COMMISSIONER

Currently the Office of the National Data Commissioner (ONDC) has several vacancies for an APS 5 and APS 6 Legal Officer to join the Legal Services Section. 

This is an exciting opportunity to join the team responsible for implementing the Data Availability and Transparency Act 2022. The Act establishes a new, best practice scheme for sharing Australian Government data, underpinned by strong safeguards and simplified, efficient processes – the DATA Scheme. The scheme is focused on increasing the availability and use of Australian Government data helping deliver government services that are simple, helpful and respectful, inform better government policies and programs, and support world-leading research and development.

The National Data Commissioner is the regulator of the DATA Scheme and provides advice and guidance about its operation. The Commissioner also delivers education and support for best practice data sharing and handling. The ONDC sits within the Department of Finance and supports the Commissioner to deliver these functions.

These roles present an opportunity to work at the interface of data, digital, privacy, administrative, commercial and cybersecurity related legal issues. You will be working with a small but experienced legal team to support the Minister for Finance, the National Data Commissioner and others in implementing the DATA Scheme. This job suits lawyers who enjoy problem solving at the forefront of emerging subject matter in policy and law, and working closely with clients and other legal teams across the Commonwealth, states and territories and universities. Your statutory interpretation skills will be challenged on a daily basis as the DATA Scheme is new and Scheme participants rely on the National Data Commissioner to advise, guide and educate. 

The Policy, Regulation and Legal Branch is an inclusive and diverse team, and we pride ourselves on supporting one another to deliver high quality products and outcomes for the Minister, National Data Commissioner and the Australian public. Over 50 percent of our staff have caring responsibilities, and we are committed to helping staff achieve work life balance. We provide an excellent foundation and training for government professionals to develop their legal skills in the public service setting.

We enjoy working hard and celebrating our successes together as a team. We endeavour to bring out the best in each other and recognise that everyone has different strengths. We are dedicated to supporting and celebrating those from diverse backgrounds including Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse colleagues, those with disability and/or neurodiversity, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. We support a range of flexible work arrangements. 

For more information about ONDC please visit our website here. 

DETAILED VACANCY INFORMATION

For detailed information about these roles, including the job specific capabilities, please refer to the downloadable vacancy pack, which can be accessed by clicking the hyperlink at the bottom of this page.

ELIGIBILITY ADVICE & CANDIDATE NOTES

• Under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the Australian Public Service (APS) unless the Agency Head has agreed otherwise, in writing.
• Successful applicants will be required to undergo the process to obtain and maintain, or continue to hold the required security clearance level for the role as indicated in the downloadable job pack. All Finance staff are required to have a minimum baseline security clearance prior to commencement.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• For questions relating to the online lodgement of your application, please email the Recruitment team via recruitment@finance.gov.au or call (02) 6215 1717 between 8:30am - 5:00pm AEST / AEDT Monday to Friday.
• For specific questions relating to this job vacancy, please refer to the details on the contact officer located in the downloadable job pack.