Legal Counsel

SGS is the world leading Testing, Inspection and Certification company. We operate a network of over 2,700  laboratories and business facilities across 119 countries, supported by a team of 99,250 dedicated professionals. With 145 years of service excellence, we combine the precision and accuracy that define Swiss companies to help organizations achieve the highest standards of quality, safety and compliance. 

Our brand promise  -when you need to be sure - underscores our commitment to trust, integrity and sustainability, enable businesses to thrive with confidence. We proudly deliver our expert services through the SGS name and trusted specialized brands, including Brightside, Bluesign, Maine Pointe and Nutrasourse.

SGS is a publicly traded on the Swiss Exchange under the ticket symbol SGSN (ISINCH0002497458, Reuters SGSN.S, Bloomberg SGSN:SW)

If you're looking for a role that will accelerate your experience across a range of industries—including mining, industrial, environmental, supply chain, and various service sectors—within a multinational company that values a respectful and inclusive culture, then this is the opportunity for you!

As a Legal Counsel you will provide independent, timely and, pragmatic legal advice to SGS Australia Group's management, divisions and functions, protecting the Group’s legal and commercial interests.

The key practice areas are primarily general commercial law, with additional focus on privacy, competition, and consumer law.

This is a hybrid role with flexibility to work from home and from our offices in  either Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth. It’s well-suited to candidates seeking either full-time or part-time work (4 days per week or school hours).

Some specific responsibilities will include, however not limited to:

• Provide general commercial law advice including advice on business transactions, drafting, advising on and negotiating commercial contracts and tender submissions, business/asset acquisitions and disposals
• Provide advice on privacy law issues including managing the Group’s Privacy Compliance Programme and acting as the Group’s Data Protection Officer;
• Provide advice on trade practices (Competition and Consumer) law issues including managing the Group’s Competition and Consumer Law Compliance Programme;
• Identify and manage legal risks in relation to claims, contracts and operations;
• Develop internal governance, risk or compliance related policies where required;
• From time to time provide education sessions to management and staff on regulatory compliance and legal issues generally;
• Liaise with the Group’s external legal advisors and other stakeholders as required and Geneva HQ based legal and other staff as well as other SGS staff internationally.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Qualified as a solicitor in Australia for unrestricted practice
• Minimum of 4 years’ experience
• Experience as in-house counsel ideally in a multi-national setting
• General Commercial, Privacy, Competition and Consumer law experience (Intellectual Property and Information Technology law experience will be an asset).

If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you. Please also include a cover letter with your application.

WHY WORK FOR SGS?

Working at SGS means joining an innovative, Global company. Here are some of the benefits to working for SGS. 

•    As a company, we have embraced the shift to flexible work

•    Sustainability is embedded in our culture and the way we do business

•    Paid parental leave

•    Paid time for volunteering day and blood donations

•    Corporate health & wellbeing offers

•    Ongoing learning & development 

•    Career development opportunities (Nationally and Globally)

•    SGS Rewards: Our employee benefits platform with access to retail and online discounts and cashback

COME TO WORK AND BE 100% YOU



SGS Australia supports a diverse workforce, we encourage applications from people of all ages, nationalities, abilities, and cultures – including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the LGBTQI+ community and people living with disability. Providing employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is an important part of our SGS Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). We truly believe the diversity among us will continue to foster a strong, innovative, and forward-thinking workplace.



SGS Australia acknowledges and pays respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual, and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.