Senior Corporate Counsel - Privacy

• Business Unit: Legal, Privacy and Compliance 

• Hiring Manager: Beck Barnett, Assistant General Counsel – Commercial & Data

• Location: OCS

• Talent Acquisition Partner: Mantri Boange 

Optus is an Australian telecommunications company, delivering more than 11 million services to our customers every day across mobile, broadband and digital solutions.  

The Senior Corporate Counsel reports to the Assistant General Counsel – Commercial & Data and plays a key role in delivering legal support across the Optus Group on privacy, data governance, and responsible AI. The role partners closely with the Privacy Office, Data Office, and broader Legal team to embed privacy requirements into Optus’ consumer-facing, business-facing and internal activities while providing trusted advice to all business units including Consumer, Enterprise, and People & Culture.

Operating in one of Australia's most competitive and heavily regulated industries, the role also involves monitoring legislative and industry developments, supporting the rollout of Privacy Act reforms, managing external counsel, and advising on Optus' obligations to law enforcement authorities.

 What You’ll Do

• Deliver high-quality, commercially relevant and timely privacy legal advice that empowers the business to make informed decisions while balancing legal risk with business efficiency.
• Support the business in its management and assessment of privacy incidents, including with respect to the mandatory notifiable data breach scheme.
• Draft, review and negotiate privacy and data protection elements of commercial contracts.
• Support the business with respect to data governance practices, from a policy and process point of view.
• Review new initiatives looking to use Artificial Intelligence, providing support and guidance from a privacy and responsible AI perspective.
• Assist with advising on privacy-adjacent areas of law included in other areas of law such as telecommunications laws, digital ID, Spam etc.
• Identify, reduce and manage privacy risk across the business, including with respect to new initiatives as they arise.
• Build strong, collaborative relationships with stakeholders across the Optus Group to embed privacy compliance into day-to-day operations.
• Provide expert advice on Optus' privacy obligations, assisting in developing processes to mitigate risk, and maintain awareness of best practice and regulatory developments in privacy and data.
• Monitor the evolving legal and regulatory landscape, support the regulatory team in managing major risks, and ensure business units understand and comply with all relevant laws through regular training.
• Identify process improvements and appropriate external legal resourcing to deliver efficient, clear and customer-centric legal support that puts the Optus customer first.

What makes you perfect for the role? 

• Admitted solicitor in Australia with 10+ years PQE, ideally spanning both private practice at a leading law firm and in-house giving you the commercial sharpness to move fast and the strategic lens to see the bigger picture.

• Hands-on experience in telecommunications, with knowledge of Australia's regulatory landscape, including Privacy Act, Telecommunications Act, Telecommunications Interception and Access Act and Spam Act, with the ability to translate complex legislation into practical, business-ready guidance.

• Commercially focused legal skills with superior drafting, negotiation and analytical capabilities whilst being able to quickly from issue identification to practical solutions.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with a proven ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Approachable and trusted advisor who builds strong relationships with business clients, with demonstrated experience working closely with senior management on complex matters.
• Ability to lead, coach and junior team members, while also working effectively as part of a broader team and managing competing priorities under pressure.
• Self-motivated and performance-driven, with the ability to work autonomously in a highly competitive, complex and heavily regulated environment.

What’s in it for you?  

• Competitive remuneration and employee discounts. Make life easier (and more affordable) with $80 monthly credit and 25% off Optus products and unique shopping discounts with our retail partners. 

• Flexible working arrangements with opportunities to work three days in the office, two days remote or home. 

• Vibrant and collaborative office campus that includes cafes, convenience store, chill out zones, GP, post office, gym and on-site childcare centre. 

• Competitive leave policies, including additional 'Connected’ days to focus on culture, family, health, community, or whatever’s important to you. 

• We support growing families with inclusive, carer-neutral paid Parental Leave of up to 16 weeks. 

• Direct your own development and build future-ready skills with Optus U’s industry-focused micro-credentials, developed with La Trobe and Macquarie Universities. 

• Build meaningful connections through employee-led networks and diversity initiatives including Culture Connect, Elevate Women, Disability Network and Express Yourself (LGBTQIA+). 

• Put your wellbeing first with free access to counselling and support services, 24/7 — in-person, by phone, SMS, or video. 

• Free Optus bus from Macquarie University Metro Station (every 6-8 minutes); morning and afternoon. 

At Optus, we are strengthened by others and that means valuing diversity and saying ‘yes’ to embracing individual differences. We are committed to ensuring that our application process provides an equal employment opportunity to all job seekers, including individuals from diverse gender, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, individuals with a disability, individuals identifying as being part of the LGBTQIA+ community, individuals who may have served in the armed forces or who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. We also want to do our best to make our recruitment process inclusive. If you require any adjustments or accessibility support to participate fairly and equitably in the recruitment process, please email AccessibleRecruitment@optus.com.au  or call 1800 309 170.  

For more information on Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging at Optus, please visit https://www.optus.com.au/about/inclusion-diversity