Job Deputy Principal Registrar - Executive Leadership & Registrar Coordination, Blacktown

The Chief Justice is responsible for the management of the administrative affairs of the Federal Court of Australia (FCA) and the effective, orderly and expeditious discharge of the business of the Court under the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth). The Court has 62 judges and registries in 7 locations nationally. The Chief Executive Officer and Principal Registrar assists the Chief Justice in the management of the business and administrative affairs of the Court.

The Deputy Principal Registrar will support the Chief Justice and Chief Executive Officer and Principal Registrar in the exercise of their statutory duties and their day-to-day management and operation of the Court. The Deputy Principal Registrar may also act as Chief Executive Officer and Principal Registrar when required, including Entity responsibilities.


The key duties of the position include
Executive Leadership role - Supporting the Administrative Affairs of the Court
The Deputy Principal Registrar will support the Chief Justice and CEO in the exercise of their statutory duties and their day-to-day management and operation of the Court. In consultation with the Chief Justice and CEO, the Deputy Principal Registrar will:

• With the Principal Registrar, actively lead the establishment, shaping and achievement of the Court's key initiatives and objectives across all Court operations. This includes playing a key role in the delivery of Court projects and reform initiatives.
• Manage the operational budget for the Federal Court of Australia. Manage the development and review of the Court's policies and practice. This will include formulation and implementation of policies within the Court, development of Court practice documents (e.g. Practice Notes & Judicial Policies) and implementing legislative changes as they arise.
• Provide high level advice and support to Judicial Committees and Judicial Project Groups.
• Be a member of key Court executive and leadership committees, including Judicial Committees and the Executive Committee.
• Provide high level advice and support regarding judicial inductions and national judicial functions such as national conferences and seminars. This will involve management responsibility for staff responsible for managing national judicial functions.

The Deputy Principal Registrar may also act as the Chief Executive Officer and Principal Registrar, as required.

Executive Leadership Role - Registrars

• Lead and coordinate with District Registrars to ensure Court Registrars and staff resources are structured and deployed to maximise support for judges, professional satisfaction for registrars and staff and to achieve the objectives of the Court.
• Lead key Registrar projects and initiatives in relation to resources and structure, workload management, practice and procedure and learning and development.
• Manage the allocation of Registrar work and workload capacity, which includes management responsibility for staff overseeing Registrar allocations.
• Lead and coordinate the national recruitment, induction, and learning and development of Registrars.

Senior Stakeholder Management
The Deputy Principal Registrar will:

• Build, maintain and strengthen key strategic relationships with government agencies such as the Attorney General's Department and other key Federal Departments on key issues of policy, governance, legislative change and regimes relating to the Court. In relation to issues requiring legal advice, the Deputy Principal Registrar will manage and coordinate the requests through the Office of General Counsel.
• Build, maintain and strengthen key strategic relationships with external stakeholders including other Courts and Tribunals, the legal profession and other agencies in relation to issues affecting the Court.
• Attend meetings and forums to represent the Court in a principal or support role, as required.
• Build, maintain and strengthen key relationships with internal stakeholders including Judges, General Counsel and National Project Officer.
• In partnership with the Principal Registrar, develop and maintain communication and engagement processes to ensure staff and stakeholders are consulted and kept informed about changes to Court practice and operations, and other key issues impacting the Court.

Perform delegated judicial functions

• The Deputy Principal Registrar will be expected to engage in a sufficient amount of core legal work, including mediations, to maintain familiarity the Court's trial and appellate workload.