Paralegal/Junior Lawyer

Fulltime, Permanent

Hybrid, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW

Reporting to: Head, Legal & Governance 

You are an early-career legal professional who enjoys variety, thrives on solving complex problems and takes pride in delivering high-quality work. Whether you have recently been admitted to practice or are completing your Practical Legal Training, you are eager to develop your legal skills in a purpose-driven organisation making a real impact on people's lives.

You are a confident communicator with exceptional attention to detail and a strong interest in commercial law, governance, contracts and risk management. Comfortable working with a broad range of stakeholders, you enjoy balancing legal analysis with practical business outcomes and are motivated by the opportunity to support world-class medical research through sound legal and governance practices.

Reporting to the Head of Legal & Governance, this role offers a unique opportunity to gain broad exposure across legal, governance, compliance and research-related matters within one of Australia's leading medical research institutes. You will work closely with teams across the organisation, supporting a diverse range of commercial, operational and research activities.

This role is ideal for a newly admitted lawyer, graduate lawyer or experienced paralegal looking to build a career in an in-house legal environment. You'll contribute to contract management, policy development, intellectual property initiatives, research governance and risk management while gaining valuable experience in a highly collaborative and mission-driven organisation.

• Reviewing and updating policies, procedures and governance frameworks across the Institute
• Assisting with the drafting, review and negotiation of commercial and research-related agreements
• Managing contract, material transfer agreement (MTA) and data transfer agreement (DTA) databases
• Supporting research governance, data governance and compliance initiatives
• Assisting with intellectual property and strategic legal projects
• Providing clear, practical legal advice and guidance to internal stakeholders
• Monitoring legal and governance documentation to ensure accuracy and regulatory compliance
• Contributing to risk management and continuous improvement initiatives across the organisation​
  

• A law degree and admission to practice in Australia, or currently completing your Practical Legal Training
• Ideally, up to one year of legal experience gained in private practice, in-house or a similar environment
• Strong drafting skills with the ability to prepare contracts, policies and professional communications
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain complex concepts clearly
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with sound commercial judgement
• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities
• A collaborative and professional approach, coupled with a high level of integrity and discretion
• A genuine interest in governance, risk, research and the not-for-profit or medical research sector

The Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute (the Institute) is dedicated to finding cures for cardiovascular disease and is one of the most respected heart research facilities in the world. Renowned for the quality of its breakthroughs, the Institute was established in 1994 and has grown to a team of more than 200 researchers from around the globe, working across five divisions.

A global centre-of-excellence, it integrates Cardiac Physiology and Transplantation, Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Molecular Cardiology and Biophysics, Structural and Computational Biology, as well as Vascular Biology. At the Institute, we translate our discoveries into new diagnostics, prevention, and treatment of cardiovascular disease - reducing the incidence, severity, and impact of heart disease. 

Being part of an Institute that is not only dedicated to finding cures for cardiovascular disease, but one that also strives to ensure our employees and students enjoy a great working environment. We value and are committed to providing a safe working environment that embraces diversity, gender equity and promote flexible working arrangements for all employees.

We encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to apply. We also welcome applicants with diverse educational backgrounds, professional knowledge, personality types, thinking styles and life experiences. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.

• Salary packaging (including a $15,900 tax-free component, plus meal and entertainment allowances, holiday accommodation/venue hire plus many more).
• Banking & lifestyle benefits with Commonwealth Bank, including lending offers, discounts from participating retailers and financial wellbeing webinars.
• Fitness Passport
• Excellent environment with new state-of-the-art equipment.
• Collaborative team environment
• Continuous learning and development opportunities

We are only accepting applications from candidates with full working rights in Australia.

Early applications are encouraged, we are reviewing and conducting interviews on a rolling basis upon receiving applications.

Come and work with us & help make a difference.