Data Protection Lead

Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs

Reference: VG/VLA/CLICS/-1

• Full time, Ongoing position
• Salary range: $131,154 - $155,000 plus superannuation
• Up to $15,900 in salary packaging, flexible hybrid work arrangement

About the role

The Data Protection Lead strengthens Victoria Legal Aid's ability to protect the confidentiality, integrity and appropriate use of information across all data domains. This role ensures VLA's data security governance, standards and assurance processes are effective, proportionate to risk and aligned with privacy and cyber and information security requirements. By providing expert advice, oversight and control effectiveness monitoring, the position supports the organisation to manage sensitive data securely and maintain the trust of clients, partners and the community.

This role is based at our Melbourne CBD office on Wurundjeri Country.

About you

As our ideal candidate, you will possess:

• Deep understanding of data security governance in complex and public service or regulated organisations, including how to integrate it effectively with privacy, cyber and information security, information and data management, and enterprise risk management frameworks.
• Proven ability to assess organisational risk tolerance and translate it into proportionate, fit for purpose data security standards and controls.
• Strong ability to analyse emerging risks, regulatory changes and technology trends, and to adapt organisational data security strategy accordingly.
• Demonstrated experience in navigating competing operational and compliance priorities to achieve sustainable, organisation wide data security outcomes.
• Expertise in stakeholder engagement across diverse technical and non technical audiences, with the ability to influence decisions and build enduring partnerships.
• Experience in developing and applying meaningful performance measures for governance capabilities and using these to drive continuous improvement.
• A knowledge of the general business of VLA and a commitment to our vision and values.

Employee benefits

• A focus on work life balance, including flexible working arrangements
• Hybrid work from home & office model
• Generous leave benefits, including
  • Three days paid seasonal leave (to be taken between Boxing Day and New Year's Day public holidays)
  • Paid gender affirmation leave
  • Five days both paid reproductive and fertility leave per calendar year
• Annual 3% salary increase each December plus performance related salary incentives
• Attractive salary packaging options including General Expenses up to $15,900, Meals & Entertainment up to $2,650 PLUS Novated Leasing
• Discounted annual Myki public transport passes
• Individual learning and professional development opportunities, tailored to your role and career goals
• Free annual flu vaccinations
• Access to gym and end of trip facilities at our CBD office
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program, including confidential counselling and a range of mental health and wellbeing resources.

Announcements

Applications close on 19 July 2026 at 11:59pm.

Staff must attend office based days at their primary work location. Interstate applications will be considered only where the candidate can relocate to Victoria.

VLA is committed to putting the safety and wellbeing of children first.