Director of Legal and Company Secretary - Parental Leave Cover

Director of Legal and Company Secretary

12-month maximum term contract | Full time | Sydney, NSW (hybrid) | Reports to the CEO

AARNet is Australia's National Research and Education Network — the organisation that built the internet in this country and has kept pushing its boundaries ever since. We connect over one million researchers, faculty, students, hospitals, schools and museums across Australia with world-class network infrastructure, and we don't settle for the status quo. If you're the kind of senior legal leader who thrives on trust, tempo and genuine impact, this is a rare opportunity to sit at the centre of a purpose-driven, nationally significant organisation.

We're looking for an experienced Company Secretary and legal executive to lead our Legal & Company Secretariat function for a 12-month maternity leave cover contract. You'll be the Board's trusted advisor, the CEO's go-to for legal risk, and the steady hand guiding our legal, risk, compliance and governance teams through a period of active transformation.

The Opportunity

As Director of Legal and Company Secretary, you'll lead and oversee every aspect of AARNet's legal and company secretariat functions across the Group, while also supporting our Risk & Compliance (including Privacy) and Governance functions as they embed new processes across the organisation. You'll lead a team of seven — including our Head of Legal, Senior Legal Counsel, Legal Counsel, Risk and Compliance Manager and Governance and Transformation Manager — and be directly accountable for the quality and timeliness of legal advice reaching the CEO, Board and Executive team.

What You'll Be Doing

•     Serving as Company Secretary for AARNet and its subsidiary Boards — leading meeting preparation, corporate records and statutory compliance.

•     Acting as the conduit between the legal team and the CEO, Board and Executive on corporate law, commercial contracts, IP and regulatory matters.

•     Overseeing the corporate governance, risk and compliance frameworks, and ensuring the organisation meets every applicable law, regulation and reporting obligation.

•     Managing relationships with external legal counsel, auditors and other governance bodies, including spend within budget.

•     Leading, mentoring and developing the legal team's day-to-day operations and workload.

•     Identifying and escalating legal and governance risks across the Group, and setting up a clean handover at the end of the contract.

What You'll Bring

•     15–20 years' post-admission experience in corporate/commercial law, including demonstrated leadership of an in-house legal team.

•     Proven experience as a Company Secretary, with confident Board and Committee administration and statutory compliance.

•     Strong command of corporate governance frameworks, regulatory compliance and risk management.

•     A track record leading governance and transformation programs — including simplifying and consolidating contractual arrangements.

•     Skilled negotiation and advisory experience across commercial contracts, infrastructure and intellectual property matters.

•     The ability to build trusted relationships quickly with a Board, CEO and Executive team, and to hit the ground running as an interim senior leader.

•     Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills; experience in higher education, research, technology or telecommunications is a plus.

Qualifications

•     Tertiary qualifications in law.

•     A current unrestricted Australian practising certificate as a solicitor (or eligibility to obtain one).

•     AICD qualifications will be highly regarded.

Why AARNet?

This is a chance to lead at the centre of an organisation that has quietly shaped Australia's digital and research landscape for over three decades — and continues to build the infrastructure our researchers, hospitals and schools rely on. You'll work alongside a Board and Executive team who value courage and foresight, in a role where your legal and governance judgement will directly shape how AARNet operates.

How to Apply

Appointment is subject to a valid right to work in Australia and pre-employment screening, including a National Police Check and verification of employment history and academic qualifications.

To apply, submit your CV and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience. We'd love to hear from you.