Lawyer, Intellectual Property, Research and Commercial Law

• Full time, continuing opportunity
• Located at the Michael Spence Building (F23) on the Camperdown Campus
• Base Salary $162,528 + 17% superannuation

About the opportunity

The University of Sydney’s Office of General Counsel (OGC) is looking to recruit an experienced and motivated Lawyer, Intellectual Property, Research and Commercial Law to join the IP, Research and Commercial Law Team.

The Lawyer, Intellectual Property, Research and Commercial Law will provide clear, practical and timely legal advice to primarily support the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) and the Research Portfolio progress the University’s research and commercialisation activities. Working closely with stakeholders across the Research Portfolio—including Pre-Award and Pipeline, Post-Award (Grants and Contracts), Clinical Trial Contracts, Commercialisation and Investments—the successful candidate will manage and support senior lawyers with a diverse range of matters involving the review, drafting and negotiation of research and commercial agreements, support for strategic projects, commercialisation initiatives, and other legal issues as they arise. All work will be undertaken with a commercial and strategic mindset, aligned with OGC’s Purpose and Strategy.

The Lawyer, Intellectual Property, Research and Commercial Law will work under the direction and support of a Senior Lawyer in the Intellectual Property, Research and Commercial Law Team, and will collaborate closely with senior colleagues across the team and the wider OGC, including the Director, Intellectual Property, Research and Commercial Law and the General Counsel.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• support Research Portfolio clients navigate complexity and give decision makers confidence in pursuing the University’s objectives and strategy
• provide clear, timely, strategic legal advice to support the activities of the Research Portfolio, with the support of Senior Lawyers and the Director, IP, Research and Commercial Law
• draft, review and negotiate a wide range of research, commercialisation and corporate agreements (e.g. funding agreements, research collaboration agreements and sub-contracts, clinical trial research agreements, data and material transfer agreements, professional services agreements (e.g. consultancy, research services and testing), IP agreements (e.g. assignments, options, licenses) and transactions as well as corporate agreements to support spin outs (e.g. SAFEs and shareholders agreements) to promote the University’s strategic interests and objectives
• demonstrate excellent drafting skills using plain English drafting and assist with template creation and development
• manage external legal services, as required 
• innovative, with a keenness for use of legal AI tools to support work as appropriate
• contribute to other legal work, projects and initiatives as part of the broader remit of the IP, Research and Commercial Law team and OGC, as required 
• advise on legal developments which may impact University policies and practices, particularly relating to research and commercialisation.

About you

• qualifications in law and admission to practice in Australia, and hold a current practicing certificate
• a minimum of 6+ years post admission legal experience is desired 
• experience and practice in intellectual property law, commercialisation and commercial law, corporate law and research experience (with national security (e.g. sanctions, export controls, etc.) and clinical trials experience or knowledge looked favourably upon), with plain English drafting, negotiation and matter management skills
• an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework relating to research and the major Australian public funding schemes available for research
• highly developed interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to operate with tact and professionalism across complex internal and external environments 
• team player – experienced collaborating in a team environment 
• an agile and flexible approach that is able to pivot and contribute to overall program success
• growth mindset – not afraid to challenge the status quo.

Sponsorship / work rights for Australia

You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to be eligible to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.

Pre-employment checks and declarations 

Your employment is conditional upon the successful completion of all pre-employment or background checks required for the role in terms satisfactory to the University.  Also, to meet the University’s obligations under the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Eliminate Gender-Based Violence you will be asked to declare if you have been investigated for, or found to engaged in, sexual harm or gender-based violence in the course of previous employment or in a legal process. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment.

EEO statement 

At the University of Sydney, our shared values are trust, accountability and excellence and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that thrives through diversity and reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this through our commitment to diversity and inclusion, evidenced by our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTQIA+. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds. 

We are proud to be recognised as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Platinum Employer. Find out more about our work on diversity and inclusion. 

How to apply

Applications (including a cover letter, CV, and any additional supporting documentation) can be submitted via the Apply button at the top of the page.  

For employees of the University or contingent workers, please login into your Workday account and navigate to the Career icon on your Dashboard.  Click on USYD Find Jobs and apply.

For a confidential discussion about the role, or if you require reasonable adjustment or any documents in alternate formats, please contact Nayomi Siriwardane, Recruitment Operations by email nayomi.siriwardane@sydney.edu.au.

© The University of Sydney

The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.

Click to view the Position Description for this role.

Applications Close

Wednesday 04 November 2026 11:59 PM