The Role

The Black Dog Institute (BDI) Legal, Risk, Governance and Compliance function sits within the newly formed Finance and Central Services Directorate together with Finance, IT, and Facilities.
The Legal, Risk, Governance and Compliance Specialist will work with relevant internal stakeholders and BDI’s outsourced legal provider to ensure that Black Dog’s research, corporate and commercial activities are conducted in a way that aligns with Black Dog’s mission and strategy.
The Legal, Risk, Governance and Compliance Specialist will provide clear, consistent and pragmatic legal advice and will ensure that Black Dog takes a responsible approach to risk management and complies with relevant laws and policies. The Legal, Risk, Governance and Compliance Specialist will also provide support to Black Dog’s wholly owned subsidiaries.

Duties & Responsibilities

Legal advice and service delivery

• Takes a lead role in providing legal advice to BDI officers responsible for negotiating, preparing and managing a range of agreements to facilitate research and related activities at Black Dog.
• Provides sound advice to BDI officers in terms of negotiations, matters and agreements relating to intellectual property management, ownership and protection.
• Establishes and maintains BDI IP registers, policies and procedures.
• Review of funding and grant agreements with government and philanthropic funding bodies.
• Takes a lead role in providing legal advice to BDI officers responsible for negotiating, preparing and managing a range of contracts and agreements to facilitate commercial transactions including services and procurement agreements, research, IT and technology agreements, fundraising, partnership and employment agreements consistent with Black Dog’s strategic objectives and legal obligations.
• Working with Fundraising Directorate to provide legal services and advice in terms of corporate sponsorship arrangements, fundraising agreements and agreements related to promotional initiatives.
• Providing legal and risk advice to internal stakeholders including research staff and the professional services team regarding interpretation of contracts in terms of rights and liabilities.
• Providing advice and facilitating effective external contracting arrangements including establishing systems and processes to ensure effective end to end contract management, monitoring and review activities post-contract, renegotiations and variations/amendments.
• Briefing external legal service providers as required.
• Management of external legal spend (including fixed pro bono hours).

Risk, Governance and Compliance

• Creates a compliance framework that supports BDI and ensures Black Dog staff comply and keep up to date with relevant laws and policies.
• Takes responsibility for the effective oversight of BDI’s Enterprise Risk Management Framework, DI risk management function and associated risk management policies and procedures.
• Plays an active role in supporting good governance across BDI and Black Dog’s wholly owned subsidiaries, including oversight of the program of activity which ensures sound and effective foundational governance practices remain in place at BDI.
• Providing expertise and support in the development and implementation of policies and procedures for effective governance of the Institute in consultation with participating stakeholders.
• Developing, reviewing and updating templates, clauses, policies and procedures and providing input into Black Dog policies generally.
• Assisting with regulatory compliance to minimise risks for the Institute including monitoring changes in legislation and assessing their impact on Black Dog (including privacy, data governance, fundraising, child safety, clinical service provision).
• Co-ordinating Black Dog's response to subpoenas.
• Overseeing key governance processes, including recordkeeping, business continuity planning, and insurance matters.
• Contributing to risk management and compliance by ensuring that Black Dog Institute's risk management policies and procedures are actively managed and monitored and that control treatments and reporting occur in a timely fashion according to the Black Dog Institute Risk Management Framework, and that risk management is fully embedded into how Black Dog Institute business is conducted.
• Coordinating and preparing approval documentation for Black Dog executives and/or Board in accordance with Black Dog’s Contracts Approval Process.
• Maintaining a register of contracts.
• Act as BDI’s Privacy Officer and manage the Privacy mailbox on a day-to-day basis.
• Involvement in internal working groups or committees as subject matter expert.

Staff training

• Develop and implement a program of continuous awareness, education and upskilling for BDI officers and staff in areas of responsibility.

Management and internal reporting

• Assisting in preparing any reports/advice required for the Black Dog Board & Executive Leadership Team.

Work, Health and Safety

• Ensure self-compliance with all WHS legislation and BDI WHS Policy and Procedures.
• Report any WHS hazards and significant issues to Director, People & Culture, or delegate.
• Work In a safe manner, applying duty of care.
• Contribute expertise and advice to support BDI’s WHS compliance, systems and processes.

Note: the list of responsibilities is not exhaustive, and the Institute may change or request additional activities to meet the operational needs of the business.

Skills & Experience Required 

Essential Criteria

1. Bachelor of Laws and a current practising certificate from the Law Society of NSW (or eligibility to immediately apply for such certification) with a minimum of 8 years post-qualified experience.
2. Extensive experience in a broad range of legal areas, including commercial transactions, IP and commercialisation, goods and services procurement agreements, research, IT and technology agreements, fundraising, partnership and employment agreements.
3. Broad and extensive experience in overseeing effective risk and compliance functions and frameworks.
4. Sound governance skills and demonstrable experience in governance functions and roles in a similar context.
5. Extensive commercial and other contract drafting and negotiation skills and experience.
6. Demonstrated understanding of intellectual property law.
7. Demonstrated experience in corporate law and governance.
8. Excellent commercial awareness with strong relationship building, influencing, and negotiating skills in order to provide practical legal solutions for the business.
9. Advanced verbal and written communication skills and the ability to convey complex information in a concise and clear manner that is readily understood by non-lawyers and supports expeditious and effective decision-making.
10. Team player with ability to build rapport and maintain solid working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
11. Proactive with strong time management and organisational skills and the ability to meet deadlines and prioritise work in a dynamic environment.
12. Ability to systematically analyse complex problems, draw relevant conclusions and implement appropriate solutions.
13. Capability to develop and run internal training and continuous education programs.

Desirable Criteria

1. Previous experience in a medical research institute, university or other research or healthcare organisation or understanding of a similar operating environment.
2. Previous experience in a not-for-profit environment.
3. Risk and/or governance related qualifications and/or training.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
We actively welcome applications from candidates of underrepresented backgrounds and recognise that not all candidates will have had equal opportunity to gain experience in the past. If you’re excited about this opportunity but feel you don’t meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply as your unique perspective and experiences matter.

How to Apply 
To become a part of the Black Dog Institute team, follow the link to ELMO to apply and submit your most up to date resume. If you are shortlisted for the role, we will call you and let you know you are successful. Please do not respond to any suspicious emails requesting you to upload your ID or personal details. 

Please note: All offers of employment are subject to background checks, which may include police checks, reference checks, and verification of qualifications, as relevant to the role’s requirements.