Central Land Council
JOB DESCRIPTION
POSITION TITLE
Leasing Coordinator
POSITION NUMBER
LE009
CLASSIFICATION LEVEL
SOG - A
POSITION LOCATION
Legal
CLC Head Office
27 Stuart Highway, Alice Springs
RESPONSIBLE TO
Manager, Legal Services
Last reviewed:
February 2012
KEY FUNCTION
The Leasing Coordinator is the CLC position that coordinates, leads and develops responses to
leasing related issues that have arisen since the Northern Territory and Australian Government
committed themselves to the ‘secure tenure’ (formalisation of land interests on Aboriginal land)
policy and undertook to promote leasing for fair rent on Aboriginal land.
The position ensures that the CLC is able to manage the additional leasing requirements in a
professional and strategic manner that maximises benefits for Aboriginal landowners and
residents and is efficient in terms of CLC resources. The position will be responsible for
overseeing all aspects of the CLC’s work associated with securing s.19 leasing arrangements
for infrastructure and housing in remote communities within the CLC region.
Additionally the position will advise the CLC on all policy, legal and other issues that impact on
the CLC’s ability to continue to process s.19 leasing on Aboriginal land. This will involve,
amongst other things, ensuring that the CLC is able to adequately report on its leasing workload
and its progress in processing leases on Aboriginal land.
MAIN DUTIES
Housing head leases:
1. Negotiate with NT and Australian Government agencies on issues associated with
infrastructure and block housing leasing arrangements, including a timetable for the roll-out of
new infrastructure and housing leases, and coordinate the CLC s work program in response to
this roll-out.
2. Develop an agreed CLC standard form lease for infrastructure and block housing, and
coordinate negotiations with government agencies with respect to these standard form leases.
3. Undertake community and traditional owner consultations for the initial housing head lease
process, and coordinate consultations for other leasing arrangements.
Whole of community leasing (Township leasing):
4. Undertake community and traditional owner consultations for any further Australian
Government applications for s19A leases.
Roll-out of government leasing:
5. Negotiate with the NT, Australian Government and the Shires to ensure that template leases
are secured and a leasing consultation program is agreed that enables leases to be applied for
in relation to the land on which government assets are situated.
6. Assist to train, mentor, advise and co-ordinate CLC’s regional lawyers, enabling them to
conduct government leasing consultations in communities.
Five-year leases:
7. Negotiate with the Australian Government to ensure that ‘fair’ rent is paid in relation to the
five-year lease rent (and any additional payment required to comprise just terms compensation)
and to ensure that payments are made expeditiously.
Organisational changes within CLC to facilitate leasing:
8. Work with Managers to ensure the CLC is able to undertake lease application consultations
in an efficient and proactive manner, including advising on systemic changes that are needed to
facilitate the leasing workload.
9. Progress and oversee the development of a leasing database.
Accountability – leasing reporting:
10. Ensure that all reporting to the Minister (Annual Report and Trimester Reports), the CLC,
and to Managers, in regard to leasing matters, is completed in a professional and timely
manner.
Leasing strategic direction:
11. Provide legal and policy advice on the legislation associated with the Northern Territory
Intervention, as requested.
12. Work closely with the CLC Executive and Council to ensure that relevant policy and legal
matters are discussed and resolved as required.
13. Liaise, and where appropriate, negotiate collectively with the Northern Land Council to
ensure that leasing outcomes for traditional owners are equitable across the Northern Territory.
14. Develop a project to ensure an effective and expeditious distribution of diverse leasing
incomes in major communities.
15. Lead negotiations with the Northern Territory Government and, if necessary, Australian
Government to ensure the effective reform of legislation that limits leasing on community living
areas.
16. Liaise with the Northern Territory Government regarding its project to bring major Aboriginal
communities within the NT Planning Scheme and develop systems within the CLC to ensure
that the communities being brought within the Planning Scheme and the CLC are prepared for
development applications and other flow on effects.
Management responsibilities:
17. Engage and manage consultants employed to assist with the leasing workload.
18. Manage staff employed on a fixed term or casual basis to meet the leasing workload.
19. Oversee the leasing workload of all regional lawyers with respect to their leasing workload
and in particular.
20. Other duties that are safe, legal and logical while being within the limits of the employee’s
skill, competence and training, consistent with the classification structure.
MONITORING AND COMPLIANCE DUTIES
o Legal Practitioners Act and Regulations
o Law of the Land.
WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
Responsible to the Manager, Legal Section.
Works closely with regional lawyers, and the Policy Unit.
SELECTION CRITERIA
LE009
ESSENTIAL
1. Qualified to be admitted as a legal practitioner in the Northern Territory;
2. Capacity to provide high quality legal representation and advice to traditional Aboriginal owners on
relevant legal matters;
3. Well developed negotiation skills particularly in relation to matters associated with the commercial
leasing and other access to Aboriginal land;
4. Experience in providing legal and policy advice including advice including strategic advice on
legislative reforms;
5. Experience negotiating with governments in relation to commercial leasing and compensation issues;
6. Experience managing consultants and staff;
7. Ability to work under pressure with limited supervision and have an adaptable and flexible attitude
and approaches to work;
8. Highly developed written and oral communication skills;
9. Highly developed conflict management skills or mediation skills;
10. Preparedness to travel to and work in remote areas;
11. A well-developed understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal people living in remote localities;
12. Current drivers licence (manual).
DESIRABLE
13. Experience working with Aboriginal organisations and/or issues;
14. Experience in commercial legal matters;
15. Knowledge of legislation relevant to traditional Aboriginal owners and native title holders in the
Northern Territory;
16. An understanding or experience of in dealing with Indigenous economic development issues;
17. Ability to communicate with Aboriginal people and to advise and seek instructions in a culturally
appropriate way;
18. Ability to work effectively and efficiently as part of a multi-disciplined team of professional and nonprofessional staff.
Approved Copy
Signed: ....................................................................... Date.…../……../…..
(General Manager)