Properties Lawyer

Why work with us?

At Council, we’re proud of our region. We collaborate with community to achieve truly sustainable outcomes, enhance our enviable lifestyle, and create award-winning places and spaces that are uniquely Sunshine Coast. So, if you love it here as much as we do, and you want to shape our region for the future – you’ll want to join our team!

With the vision to be Australia’s most sustainable region -Connected. Liveable. Thriving, our region is a model of sustainability, where caring for our environment, creating vibrant communities and growing our local economy is a way of life.

About the Role

Legal Services delivers professional, high‑quality legal support across Council, ensuring organisational decisions, projects and programs are underpinned by sound legal frameworks. The Branch plays a central role in managing legal risk, supporting strategic direction, and enabling Council to meet its corporate objectives. With a collaborative, high‑performing culture and a focus on excellence, the team provides trusted advice across a diverse and rapidly evolving portfolio.

The legal issues you will manage in this role are diverse, complex and strategically significant. As the region continues to experience rapid growth, and with major development and infrastructure projects increasing in scale and complexity, your expertise will be central to directing future property transactions and commercial projects.

You will advise, negotiate and draft a wide range of documents including:

• Sale and Purchase Agreements
• Leases, Licences, Easements and related property instruments
• Management, Construction and Development Agreements
• Joint Venture, Project and Collaboration Agreements

Operating across Council, its committees, managers and staff, you will provide specialist professional advice on property law, commercial law and complex local government matters, contributing directly to the delivery of key regional priorities.

Key Responsibilities

• Draft, negotiate and advise on property‑related agreements, leases, licences, easements and commercial contracts.
• Provide high‑level legal advice on complex property, commercial and major project matters within a local government context.
• Prepare complex legal documentation that supports the planning and delivery of development and infrastructure projects.
• Support the General Counsel in achieving Branch objectives and delivering best‑practice legal services aligned to corporate strategy.

About you

As a legal professional, you hold a current unrestricted Legal Practising Certificate and bring substantial post‑admission experience in property and commercial law. You are well‑versed in advising on major property transactions and commercial projects, ideally within a political or local government environment.

You have significant knowledge of the law, the principles of law, and the legislative and administrative framework underpinning local government practice, particularly within high‑growth, rapidly changing contexts.

Your leadership capability and stakeholder management strengths enable you to build trusted relationships, influence outcomes and provide authoritative, solution‑focused advice.

You demonstrate excellence in drafting, communication and legal analysis, coupled with sound judgement, discretion, integrity and a commitment to delivering high‑quality legal services. You bring a commercially minded, self‑motivated and collaborative approach, contributing effectively both independently and as part of a team.

Criminal History Check Required

Appointment to this position is subject to the satisfactory completion of a Criminal History Check.

Our Culture & Employee Benefits

Council is committed to creating an inclusive, culturally diverse, healthy, skilled and dedicated workplace culture. As an employee you will enjoy a range of benefits and working styles to suit you:

• Wellbeing: Your wellbeing is important to us therefore we offer a number of different initiatives such as discounted health related memberships, fitness passport, employee assistance program and development opportunities. 
• Flexibility: We know it is important to balance life and work, therefore we offer flexible working including a hybrid WFH model that help you be your best.
• Extras: Those extras make a difference therefore we offer salary packaging options on novated leases, superannuation, smartphones and devices.

How to apply

Your written application should include:

• A 1-2 page cover letter demonstrating your ability to fulfil the mandatory and desirable requirements on the Position Profile. Keep the key responsibilities in mind when addressing this criteria; and
• A current resume or curriculum vitae.

Once you have these two documents ready, click ‘Apply Now’ and follow the prompts to complete your application.

Further Information

Helpful information to assist you in completing your application is available on the Sunshine Coast Council website.

To learn more about Council’s vision and projects, you can view the Corporate Plan 2025-2030.

For specific enquiries contact Mitchell Birks during business hours on 0448 136 214.

We're working hard to create an inclusive workplace that reflects the diverse community we serve. If you require adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please reach out to the Recruitment Team [email protected].

At Sunshine Coast Council, we embrace differences in gender, age, ethnicity, race, cultural background including First Nations, disability, religion and sexual orientation. To deliver the best service to our region we want a workforce that reflects the diverse community that we serve. Sunshine Coast Council strongly encourages all suitable applicants to apply for this role.