Job Description

Senior Legal Counsel, Employment Legal

• Take ownership of complex, sensitive and high-impact employment matters.
• Be part of a supportive, engaged and dynamic team within Group Legal that values excellent advice and sound judgement.

See yourself in our team:

Group Services Legal works with the Commonwealth Bank’s business units and support functions to help deliver the Group’s strategic goals and priorities through expert, commercially focused and practical legal advice. We bring legal excellence, sound judgement and a clear understanding of context to the issues that matter most to the Group.

Employment Legal advises the Group on complex and sensitive workplace matters across a broad and highly diverse workforce. The team works closely with Human Resources, Investigations and other legal teams to support fair, practical and legally sound employment outcomes.

Do work that matters:

As a Senior Legal Counsel in Employment Legal, you will provide clear, timely and high-quality legal advice on a broad range of litigious and non-litigious employment and workplace relations matters. Reporting to the General Manager, Employment Legal, you will work autonomously on complex matters, while collaborating with colleagues and senior stakeholders to manage legal, regulatory, operational and reputational risk.

Your day could look like, but not limited to:

• Advise on complex employment and workplace relations matters, including performance and disciplinary processes, terminations, executive employment and remuneration, restructures, workplace change and employee entitlements.
• Advise on workplace and whistleblower investigations, including investigation scope, procedural fairness, confidentiality, privilege and the management of consequences.
• Provide strategic advice on employee disputes, discrimination, harassment, bullying, adverse action, workplace grievances and other sensitive matters.
• Advise on enterprise agreements, industrial instruments, consultation obligations and collective workplace relations issues.
• Manage and support employment litigation, claims, regulatory inquiries and dispute resolution processes, including instructing and overseeing external legal advisers where appropriate.
• Monitor and advise on legislative, regulatory and case law developments, and support the implementation of changes across the Group.
• Partner with Human Resources and the Business to deliver practical, commercially focused solutions.
• Provide clear advice to senior stakeholders, identifying key legal and non-legal risks, options and recommended actions.
• Contribute to legal risk management, governance, policies, guidance, training and continuous improvement initiatives across the Group.
• Support the development of colleagues and contribute to a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing legal team.

We’re interested in hearing from people who have:

• A minimum if 8 years’ post-qualification experience (PQE), and a minimum of five years specifically practising in employment law.
• Substantial experience advising on complex employment and workplace relations matters in a leading law firm or in-house legal team.
• Admission to practise in Australia and a current Australian practising certificate.
• Deep knowledge of Australian employment and workplace relations law, with experience across employee disputes, enterprise agreements, discrimination, investigations and compliance.
• Demonstrated ability to provide clear, practical and commercially focused advice on complex and sensitive matters.
• Sound judgement and the ability to identify, assess and communicate legal, regulatory, operational and reputational risk.
• The capacity to take ownership of matters, work autonomously and manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills, including the ability to influence and build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders.
• Experience in financial services, a regulated environment or a large and complex organisation is highly regarded, but not essential.

The role is based in Sydney or Melbourne.

Working at CommBank

At CommBank, we're committed to creating an accessible, inclusive and respectful workplace. If you require support or adjustments, please let us know. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and we're particularly committed to making a positive difference for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples. For support please contact 1800 989 696.

If you're already part of the Commonwealth Bank Group (including Bankwest, x15ventures), you'll need to apply through Sidekick to submit a valid application. We’re keen to support you with the next step in your career.

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Advertising End Date: 15/10/2026