Principal Federal Prosecutor

Banking and Finance Law
Canberra, ACT
September 2, 2025
Full Time
Application deadline closed.

Job Description

The CDPP is committed to recruiting and retaining lawyers of the highest calibre. We have Principal Federal Prosecutor (PFP) vacancies across all of the CDPP’s Practice Groups. To secure one of these roles, you will need to be an enthusiastic, energetic and critical-thinking lawyer with an aptitude for criminal law and an understanding of the important role an independent prosecutor plays in our system of criminal justice.

The PFP is a frontline leadership and management role, working as part of a dynamic management team. You will lead a team of prosecutors to deliver efficient and effective prosecution legal services, build legal capability, manage resources and foster internal and external relationships.

In addition to the base salary and 15.4% superannuation, the Principal Federal Prosecutor (PFP) position attracts a $36,330 per annum allowance, in line with the Determination 2024-4 Prosecutor Allowance.

About the role

As a PFP, you will:

  • Work collaboratively with others to support and promote the strategic objectives of the CDPP and proactively manage the workload of their team;
  • Encourage a team-based approach to the delivery of prosecution legal services, delegating and assigning tasks to team members, setting clear expectations and monitoring performance;
  • Use business data and reporting tools to measure legal workloads, meet deadlines and balance competing priorities;
  • Play an important leadership role in more complex and difficult prosecutions and lead team efforts to identify and resolve issues early, clear roadblocks and ensure that appropriate resources are applied in a timely and efficient way to deliver better prosecution outcomes;
  • Provide instructions and directions to team members and will promote the use of digital litigation support software and legal practice management systems to analyse and manage evidence and caseloads more efficiently and effectively;
  • Build legal capability within their team and across the CDPP and support the induction and training of less experienced staff while looking for opportunities to stretch and develop those with more experience;
  • Coach and be a mentor to staff and provide positive and constructive feedback to help them reach their full potential;
  • Engage with partner agencies and stakeholders to build and strengthen relationships and improve outcomes across the APS and the criminal justice system;
  • Demonstrate a detailed and comprehensive understanding of the roles, functions and responsibilities of the CDPP in the context of relevant legislative, regulatory and compliance frameworks, including the DPP Act 1983 (Cth), Crimes Act 1914 (Cth), Criminal Code (Cth) and Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth); and

Regularly apply the Prosecution Policy of the Commonwealth with limited supervision while engaging with National Legal Directions, Practice Group Instructions and, in their role as a legal manager, applying policies relating to workplace diversity, work health and safety (WHS), workplace participation, privacy and the APS Code of Conduct.

Why you should apply

At the CDPP, we are committed to a workplace that reflects the community we serve. We recognise how drawing on different experiences and opinions drives innovation, new ideas and a more collaborative workplace.

No matter where you work with us, you’ll have access to:

  • unique and challenging work;
  • professional development opportunities;
  • generous leave entitlements
  • clear and transparent salary progression, and scheduled salary increases;
  • 15.4% superannuation;
  • a $295 annual wellbeing allowance;
  • free and confidential 24/7 counselling through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), available for staff and their family members; and
  • flexible working arrangements considered in accordance with our Enterprise Agreement and the operational needs of the role.

This recruitment round is also advertised as Affirmative Measure – Disability and Affirmative Measure – Indigenous. The affirmative measures are designed to address the under-representation of people with disability and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander staff in the APS.

Candidates who apply under Affirmative Measure – Disability will need to meet the minimum requirements of the position to progress through the assessment stages.

Candidates who apply under Affirmative Measures Indigenous will need to meet the minimum requirements of the position to progress through the assessment stages

♦ Please refer to the Candidate Information Pack for more details.

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