• Employment Type: Part-time: 3 days per week
• Duration: 12 month fixed term contract
• Remuneration: Senior Competitive Total Package
• Location: Kensington, NSW (Hybrid Working)
  
  

About UNSW:
UNSW isn’t like other places you’ve worked. Yes, we’re a large organisation with a diverse and talented community; a community doing extraordinary things. Together, we are driven to be thoughtful, practical, and purposeful in all we do.

The UNSW Intellectual Property (IP) & Commercialisation team within UNSW Legal and Compliance supports the University in navigating all areas of intellectual property, commercialisation and research legal matters; your work will contribute to the team’s integral role in supporting the University’s research performance and profile in line with the objectives of UNSW’s research and innovation agenda.

Why your role matters:
As Senior Legal Counsel - Clinical Trials, you will provide dedicated legal guidance to the Faculty of Medicine & Health, advising on complex research, clinical trial, and related IP matters, to navigate legal considerations across conduct, human research ethics and governance activities.

Drawing on your extensive experience in clinical trials and medical research, you will lead the development and implementation of innovative legal strategies to mitigate or resolve complex issues; delivering a comprehensive legal service to stakeholders that ensures ongoing regulatory compliance across the research lifecycle.

Reporting to the Head of IP & Commercialisation, this role oversees and provides:

• Interpretation of legislation and guidelines relevant to the conduct of clinical trials.
• Drafting, reviewing and support negotiating research funding and collaboration agreements, material transfer, data access and medical device supply agreements and similar.
• Advice on regulatory compliance, human research ethics and related IP and commercial issues in clinical trial and research related agreements.
  
  

Who you are: Bringing deep expertise across clinical trial and  human research governance as well as complex commercial agreements, you are a legal professional experienced in providing solutions‑focused advice. Taking a collaborative, detail‑driven approach, you will bring your legal experience and knowledge of the clinical pharma landscape to navigate ethical frameworks, IP and contractual arrangements with confidence, delivering timely, pragmatic guidance across vital research collaborations and affiliations locally and internationally for our Faculty of Medicine & Health.
Tertiary qualifications in law and 10+ years’ post qualification legal experience

• Experience in clinical trial governance and research, and IP commercialisation or.
• Admission to the Supreme Court of NSW and a current practicing certificate
• Ability to review, draft and advise on agreements related to clinical trials, including advising on applicable insurance and regulatory requirements
• Demonstrated familiarity with the procedures and legal/policy framework for ethical review of human research, including the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research, and animal research, and relevant NHMRC policies/guidelines
• Demonstrated ability to develop practical solutions to address client needs, while effectively prioritising and executing tasks
• High level of attention to detail, an ability to organise and appropriately prioritise and deliver work in a timely way
• Collaborative and team orientated with proven ability to quickly establish and maintain a high level of personal and professional credibility at a senior level and with UNSW stakeholders including the wider legal team, while also having the ability to work independently and with initiative
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with demonstrated strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated excellent interpersonal skills, with the proven ability to develop and foster constructive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders using initiative and discretion

For more detailed information on required skills and experience and role responsibilities, please refer to the position description.

Benefits and Culture:
UNSW offer a competitive salary and access to a plethora of UNSW-perks including:

• Flexible/hybrid working
• A well-established team of experienced lawyers
• Additional 3 days of leave over the end of year shutdown period
• Access to lifelong learning and career development
• Discounts and entitlements

How to Apply:
Make each day matter with a meaningful career at UNSW. Submit your application online before Wednesday 11 March 2026 at 11:55pm. A copy of the Position Description can be found on JOBS@UNSW.

Get in Touch: Katherine Molloy, Talent Acquisition Consultant
katherine.molloy@unsw.edu.au
Please apply directly through the website. Applications sent to the contact above will not be accepted.

Pre-Employment Checks:
Aligned with UNSW’s focus on cultivating a workplace defined by safety, ethical conduct, and strong integrity preferred candidates will be required to participate in a combination of pre-employment checks relevant to the role they have applied for. These pre-employment checks may include a combination of some of the following checks:

• National and International Criminal history checks
• Entitlement to work and ID checks
• Working With Children Checks
• Completion of a Gender-Based Violence Prevention Declaration
• Verification of relevant qualifications and/or professional membership
• Employment history and reference checks
• Financial responsibility assessments/checks
• Medical Checks and Assessments

Compliance with the necessary combination of these checks is a condition of employment at UNSW.

UNSW is committed to equity diversity and inclusion. Applications from women, people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those living with disabilities, members of the LGBTIQ+ community; and people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, are encouraged. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options for eligible staff.