Niche Recruitment Careers

Learning Specialist Assistant Kaupapa Māori

Wellington

Permanent

Full-time

Job ID:

46492

Published date:

10-06-2025

Summary

Passionate about te ao Māori? Curious, energetic, and ready for the next step in your career? This could be the opportunity for you.

We’re on the lookout for a go-getter, someone who’s confident in te reo Māori, loves learning, and brings warmth, creativity, and enthusiasm to everything they do. This is your chance to be part of a bicultural organisation that puts people, taonga, and Aotearoa's history and stories at the heart of its work.

You’ll support a passionate Learning team that designs and delivers engaging, kaupapa Māori learning experiences for schools, kura, and community groups. From hands-on sessions to digital learning tools, your mahi will help inspire the next generation, and you’ll be supported every step of the way.

Mō te tūranga | About the role

As a Learning Specialist Assistant - Kaupapa Māori, you’ll help bring learning to life, especially for Māori learners. by supporting the delivery of creative programmes both onsite and online in both English and Māori settings. You’ll use your strong cultural grounding to connect with tamariki and rangatahi, and work closely with experienced Learning Specialists to build your confidence and skills.

You don’t need to be a trained teacher or know the curriculum inside out - what matters most is your passion for people, your commitment to celebrating and sharing te ao Māori and your capacity to learn.

Ko koe tēnei | About you

Fluent te reo Māori speaker, knowledge in Mātauranga Māori and confident in tikanga Māori
Confident public speaker and presenting to diverse groups
Sound digital technology skills and the ability to support the creation of digital content
Ideally, experience working with children and young people
Strong organisational and problem-solving skill
A tertiary-level qualification (in any relevant field)
Natural curiosity and a willingness to learn and grow
An energetic, inclusive approach grounded in manaakitanga, whanaungatanga, and auahatanga

You’ll also need some flexibility to work the occasional weekend or evening.

Ka pēhea koe ka tono mai l How to apply

This is a rare opportunity to be part of something meaningful, delivering learning experiences that reflect Aotearoa’s unique culture and identity. You’ll be backed by a supportive team, with plenty of opportunities to develop your skills and grow your impact.

We are moving quickly with this role, so if you're interested, apply today!

To apply for this role, click the 'Apply' or 'I'm interested' button. For for a copy of the job description, or a chat about whether this role might be suitable for you, please contact Maria Lyons on 021 403 855 or maria.lyons@niche.recruitment.co.nz

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Senior Legal Counsel (Employment), 7+ years' PQE - Flexible Location

Permanent

Full-time

Job ID:

46291

Published date:

03-06-2025

Summary

Senior Legal Counsel (Employment), 7+ years’ PQE

Two permanent roles with flexible location
Diverse range of interesting and exciting work
Supportive team environment

An exciting opportunity has arisen for two senior employment lawyers to join the in-house employment team of one of New Zealand’s largest national organisations. These positions are flexible in terms of their location, however main centres (Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown, Wellington, Hamilton, Tauranga and Auckland) or regional hubs are preferred.

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About the role

You will be joining a busy and collegial team, providing specialised advice and representation across a full range of employment issues. Your work will include contentious and non-contentious matters, spanning the full spectrum of employment law, industrial relations, health and safety, personal grievances, change management and more.

Given the size of the organisation the role offers exposure to complex and challenging legal issues and genuinely engaging and meaningful work.

Ko koe tēnei | About you

To be successful in this role, you will bring:

A Bachelor of Laws and a current practising certificate (or eligibility to get one)
7+ years PQE in employment law (experience in industrial relations and health and safety is beneficial)
Mediation experience and experience representing clients before the Employment Relations Authority and Employment Court
Sound judgement, a problem-solving mindset, and the ability to provide pragmatic advice/actionable solutions
The ability to work autonomously
Strong relationship-building skills, including the ability to establish productive relationships with senior leaders, and the ability to constructively engage with relevant stakeholders across the public and private sectors, and the wider community
An understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and how it applies to your role

Previous in-house experience, experience advising large multifaceted clients, and/or experience working in a unionised environment would also be a plus.

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply

To apply, click the 'Apply' button, and submit your CV. Alternatively, for more information and a confidential discussion about these positions, please contact Katy Elliott on 021 483 490 (katy.elliott@niche.recruitment.co.nz) or Carl Church on 021 166 6441 (carl.church@nicherecruitment.co.nz).

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Legal Executive (Commercial Property), 4+ years' experience - TAU

Tauranga, New Zealand

Permanent

Full-time

Job ID:

46018

Published date:

27-05-2025

Legal Executive (Property Finance), 2+ years' experience - TAU

Tauranga, New Zealand

Permanent

Full-time

Job ID:

46019

Published date:

27-05-2025

Solicitor (Civil Litigation), 3+ years' PQE - WKT

Whakatāne

Permanent

Full-time

Job ID:

46020

Published date:

27-05-2025

Learning Manager

Auckland

Permanent

Full-time

Job ID:

45950

Published date:

25-05-2025

Summary

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced learning manager to evolve and grow learning outcomes across the sport and recreation sector.

Mō mātou | About us

The Sport Integrity Commission is Aotearoa New Zealand’s new independent Crown entity established to ensure experiences are safer and fairer across the sport and recreation system. The Commission commenced operations on 1 July 2024, bringing together anti-doping, dispute resolution, safeguarding, investigations, learning, and capability building into a unified national organisation.

The Commission works across all levels of sport and recreation to promote positive integrity cultures. This includes setting integrity standards, delivering learning, and addressing integrity breaches in areas such as anti-doping, safeguarding, and competition manipulation. The Commission’s mahi is grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the needs of participants.

Mō te tūranga | About the role

This role leads the Learning function within the Capability Group, overseeing the development and delivery of high-quality learning that builds integrity capability across the sport and recreation system in Aotearoa. The Learning Manager ensures that the Commission’s learning strategies and products are responsive, accessible, culturally grounded, insight-driven, and meet the evolving needs of participants, organisations, and kaimahi.

The Learning Manager will guide a skilled and passionate team of learning designers, analysts, and advisors in the Capability Group to create engaging and effective learning programmes using smart strategies for big impact. The role involves developing effective and evidence-based learning on topics like anti-doping and safeguarding, designed to meet diverse learner needs. Responsibilities include managing in-person and online learning with strong quality checks, improving learning systems for easy access and great user experience, and working closely with internal teams and the sector to develop solutions that make a real difference in sport and recreation.

Ko koe tēnei | About you

With a real understanding of how to deliver greater learning outcomes in Aotearoa across a wide range of subject matter and audiences, you will be a strategic, inclusive leader with a passion for education and capability building, bringing:

Proven experience designing, delivering and evaluating learning at scale
Deep knowledge of adult learning principles, curriculum design, and digital learning
Strong planning, operational, and stakeholder engagement skills
A collaborative, culturally competent, and values-led leadership style
Familiarity with integrity topics (e.g., anti-doping, safeguarding) is advantageous but not essential
A tertiary qualification in education, learning design, or a related field is preferred.

Tono Mai | How to Apply

Candidates keen to make a meaningful impact in Aotearoa’s sport and recreation sector are encouraged to apply. Submit a CV and covering letter via the ‘apply now’ button by the closing date of Wednesday, 11 June 2025.

For a confidential discussion, or a copy of the position description, please contact Maria Lyons on 021 403 855 or maria.lyons@nicherecruitment.co.nz or Carl Church on 021 1666441 or carl.church@nicherecruitment.co.nz

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Legal Counsel - International Development

Wellington, NZ

Permanent

Full-time

Job ID:

46121

Published date:

21-05-2025

Summary

Position Description

Development Legal Counsel [P401700 – Band 17] Last reviewed: February 2025 Page 1 of 5

Position Title - Ingoa Tūranga Development Legal Counsel

Group - Puni Pacific and Development Group (PDG)

Division - Tānga Development Capability and Insights

Reports to – Menetia Unit Manager, Capability & Insights Division (DCI), Development Legal (DLG)

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About the Public Service - Mō te Ratonga Tūmatanui Mahi tōpū ai ngā Kaimahi Tūmatanui e whai tikanga ai te noho a ngā tāngata o Aotearoa. Hei tā te Public Service Act 2020 ko te pūtake o ngā Kaimahi Kāwanatanga, ko te tautoko i te kāwanatanga whai ture me te kāwanatanga manapori; ko te āwhina i te Kāwanatanga o te wā nei me ō anamata ki te whakawhanake, ki te whakatinana hoki i ā rātou kaupapa here; ko te tuku i ngā ratonga tūmatanui e nui ana te kounga, e nahanaha ana anō hoki; ko te tautoko i te Kāwanatanga e tūroa ai te whai oranga o te marea; ko te huawaere i te whai wāhitanga o te kirirarau ki te ao tūmatanui me te whakatutuki i ngā mahi i runga i tā te ture i whakahau ai. E hiranga ana te wāhi ki a mātou ki te tautoko i te Karauna i ana hononga ki ngā iwi Māori i raro i te Tiriti o Waitangi. Ahakoa he nui ngā momo tūranga mahi, e tapatahi ana ngā kaimahi tūmatanui i roto i te whakaaro nui ki te hāpai i ngā hapori, ka mutu, e arahina ana ā mātou mahi e ngā mātāpono matua me ngā uara o ngā Kaimahi Tūmatanui. The public  service works collectively to make a meaningful difference for New Zealanders.  The Public Service Act 2020 states that the purpose of the public service is to support constitutional and democratic government, enable both the current Government and successive governments to develop and implement their policies, deliver high-quality and efficient public services, support the Government to pursue the long-term public interest, facilitate active citizenship and act in accordance with the law.  The role of the public service includes supporting the Crown in its relationships with Māori under the Treaty of Waitangi (te Tiriti o Waitangi).  Whilst there are many diverse roles, all public servants are unified by a spirit of service to the community, and guided by the core principles and values of the public service in our work.

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About the Ministry - Mō te Manatū The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (the Ministry) acts in the world to build a safer, more prosperous and more sustainable future for New Zealanders. We do this by building connections with and influencing other countries to advance New Zealand’s interests, project New Zealand values and secure the outcomes that matter to New Zealand. We pursue the Government’s international priorities and provide advice to the Government on the implications for New Zealand of what is happening in the world. Our work contributes to the wellbeing of New Zealanders’ in the following ways:

• Kaitiakitanga: Generations of New Zealanders benefit from sustainable solutions to global and regional challenges;

• Prosperity: New Zealanders have better job opportunities and incomes from trade, investment and other international connections;

• Security: New Zealanders are able to live, do business, travel and communicate more safely at home and offshore;

• Influence: New Zealanders have confidence their country can influence others on issues that matter for them now and in the future.

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Diversity and Inclusion - Kanorau, Kauawhi We aspire to be a workplace that values and utilises diverse and inclusive thinking and people. This means that our staff reflect the diversity of New Zealand and the countries we work in, and that the contributions of staff with diverse backgrounds, experiences, skills and perspectives are valued and respected. Our values are:

• Impact: We achieve for New Zealand, every day, everywhere

• Kotahitanga: We draw strength from our diversity

• Courage: We do the right thing

• Manaakitanga: We honour and respect others The Ministry recognises the importance of staff having some flexibility around work hours and working arrangements. In turn there may be some situations where the Ministry’s business deliverables require staff to be available during certain hours of the day or for longer periods to meet a temporary surge in work requirements.

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UNCLASSIFIED

Development Legal Counsel [P401700 – Band 17] Last reviewed: February 2025 Page 2 of 5

About the Group

Pacific and Development Group (PDG) leads an integrated approach to New Zealand’s diplomatic and development engagement with

Pacific countries and is responsible for the management of New Zealand’s International Development Cooperation (IDC) Programme

in the Pacific and globally. PDG has overseen approximately 1000 projects and a budget of c$3 billion over the past three years. We

have approximately 450 staff based in Wellington and at development posts.

About the Division

DCI assures, supports and enables the delivery of impact through the IDC Programme. DCI does this by supporting evidence-based

decision-making, continuously improving capability and systems, and ensuring PDG meets its accountability and transparency

obligations. DCI’s work is underpinned by our technical expertise, systems and data stewardship, and oversight of quality.

About the Team (PDG, LGL)

The PDG LGL team’s role, as a team of trusted professional legal advisers, is to assure the Deputy Secretary (DS), PDG (and, through

the DS, the Ministry) that the legal and associated commercial risks faced by the Ministry in connection with IDC Programme

transactions are identified, allocated, mitigated and (where relevant) managed subject to, and in-accordance with, applicable law

and the Ministry’s relevant policies, procedures, processes and practices. PDG LGL ‘leans in’ to support PDG colleagues in their roles

whilst maintaining and demonstrating the professionalism, independence and understanding of the Ministry and the International

Development Cooperation programme needed to perform our role.

About the Position - Mō te Tūranga

As a Development Legal Counsel you will play a key role in the delivery of the IDC Programme. You will be called on to provide

accurate, prompt and pragmatic legal and associated commercial advice on all aspects of IDC Programme transactions.

This position is responsible for:

• Providing legal and commercial advice in connection with the conceptualisation, development, writing, negotiation and authorisation of IDC Programme transaction documents. (These include IDC Programme -forms of business cases, grant funding arrangements, contracts for services and for goods and grant contribution letters, bespoke IDC Programme documents and third-party-originated documents of many kinds. The other parties will include private sector suppliers, foreign governments and their entities, multi-laterals, NGOs and other New Zealand government agencies and entities.)

• Providing legal and commercial advice in connection with the implementation and management of IDC Programme activities as requested.

• Supporting strategic and tactical thinking about optimal ways and means of successfully achieving particular transactions, activities, outputs and outcomes in the IDC Programme.

• As part of DCI, collaborating with, and supporting, other teams in DCI in providing coherent, integrated risk assurance to DS, PDG.

• As part of that function, where PDG, LGL’s subject matter expertise is relevant: a. supporting and providing training and mentoring to colleagues in PDG;

b. supporting the maintenance and development of PDG’s relevant policies, procedures and processes; and

c. working professionally with other parts of the Ministry which provide services to PDG and/or the or the IDC

Programme.

• Collaborating with, and support, other legal teams within the Ministry for better identification, assessment and management of the Ministry’s legal risk and All-of-Government legal risk.

• Proactively building and fostering excellent working relationships within the Ministry. As a member of a small collegial team you will gain exposure to a wide variety of interesting IDC Programme-related work. This position requires a self-starter who is relatively comfortable working in a team/project environment but (with guidance) also autonomously as and when required. Success in the role requires legal and commercial acuity and acumen in circumstances which are often both sensitive and ambiguous. This requires skill, diligence, good experience, empathy, developed instincts and sound judgement.

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Key Accountabilities - Kawenga Matua The following key accountabilities of this role assist in delivering the Ministry’s purpose:

Role specific • Contribute to the effective operation of PDG, LGL by providing sound, insightful legal and associated commercial advice

and judgement on often complex and politically-sensitive matters.

UNCLASSIFIED

Development Legal Counsel [P401700 – Band 17] Last reviewed: February 2025 Page 3 of 5

• Draft complex and template transactional documentation in partnership with the PDG Programme Teams.

• Review draft and final contracts in the Ministry’s Enquire system.

• Assist in the resolution of contract management issues and disputes.

• Provide guidance and advice on legislation and legal matters.

• Create and maintain standard and bespoke clauses and templates.

• Under line management guidance, instruct external legal counsel as and when required.

• Share knowledge and support other members of PDG, LGL to contribute to the continuing professional development of lawyers in the Ministry.

• Assist in the coaching and development of other staff (including the development of training materials).

• Provide advice and support, in the context of the IDC Programme, in respect of relevant legislation, including: the Privacy Act 2020, the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, the Children’s Act 2014 the Public Finance Act 1989 and (desirably) the Construction Contracts Act 2002.

• Once well established in the role and as requested by line management: o act in a LGL leadership role – e.g. re subject matter expertise, particular projects, guidance to and mentoring of

other members of the Unit; and o act up in the Unit Manager role occasionally.

• All other reasonable duties as requested by the employer or line management. Strategic Planning

• Assist in the development and implementation of strategic and tactical initiatives as required and monitor effectiveness in achieving targets.

Quality Assurance/Process Improvement

• Support business improvement initiatives.

• Contribute to the quality assurance, and improvement, of robust and legally sound contract documentation templates for PDG.

• Where appropriate contribute to the standardisation of tools, process and systems.

• Establish and maintain a focus on improvement of systems, policies, processes and procedures for risk assurance, cost effectiveness, improved efficiency and consistency of approach across PDG.

• Contribute to the development and improvement of, and use, the Ministry’s risk identification, assessment and reporting framework.

• Assist with the development of policy, processes and procedures, and the identification of areas to be updated.

Organisational Responsibilities • Understand the Ministry’s strategic priorities and high-level outcomes framework and how this role contributes to the

framework.

• Understand and apply the strategic context in which the Ministry operates, including priorities and perspectives of the Ministers, partner agencies, and external stakeholders.

• Understand tikanga and Treaty of Waitangi principles and have sufficient appreciation of te reo Māori to be able to apply the Ministry Māori dimension, underpinned by Ministry values, in a way that is relevant to PDG LGL’s work.

• Be aware of and adhere to the Ministry’s Health and Safety policies and procedures.

• Share in the responsibility for health and safety in the work environment by carrying out work-related activities in accordance with safe operating procedures and by accurately reporting all hazards, accidents and incidents.

• Holding and treating information in accordance with all Ministry policies, and creating reliable and trustworthy records in approved systems so that they can be found and used by others

• Participate and contribute to Ministry–wide projects and emergency responses as required.

• Demonstrate the Ministry’s values, goals, policies and procedures in all aspects of work.

• Understand the relevant PDG strategic results framework, and how this role contributes to the framework.

• Understand the DCI divisional plan in effect and how this role contributes to the achievement of the plan.

• As required, contribute to the preparation and reporting requirements of the Ministry’s accountability documents.

• Using the Ministry’s relevant frameworks, identify and participate in opportunities for learning and development, including through regular coaching and mentoring.

• Identify and pursue opportunities to build specialised skills, knowledge and experience aligned with the the Ministry’s relevant frameworks.

Knowledge Management

• Remain up to date with leading contract law cases and good practice standards and industry approaches to stakeholders.

• Contribute to the continuous development of the Ministry’s knowledge base by using the Ministry’s internal systems, sharing information and data with relevant internal stakeholders.

UNCLASSIFIED

Development Legal Counsel [P401700 – Band 17] Last reviewed: February 2025 Page 4 of 5

Health and Safety

• The Ministry is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for all staff, including contractors and other workers, both on and offshore.

You are responsible for:

• Taking reasonable care of your own and other’s health and safety and being mindful of the effect of your actions (or lack of action) on the health and safety of others.

• Complying with reasonable Ministry instructions to ensure the Ministry is able to comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.

• Cooperating with health and safety policies and procedures.

• Identifying and reporting hazards, injuries, illness and incidents (including near misses) that arise from your work or in the workplace.

• Identifying and eliminating or mitigating health and safety risks so far as reasonably practicable and consulting with others in doing so.

• Raising health and safety matters with your manager or health and safety representative (or contact as appropriate).

• Ensuring that all health and safety incidents, injuries, near misses are immediately reported through the relevant Ministry system.

• Ensuring that significant hazards and risks or critical incidents are drawn to the immediate attention of your line manager.

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Skills, Knowledge and Experience - Tohu Mātauranga, Pūkenga, Mātauranga, Wheako The Development Legal Counsel will have the following experience, skills and knowledge: Quaifications

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB), holding (or immediately eligible to hold) a New Zealand Practising Certificate. Experience:

• 2 to 4 years post-admission legal experience in relevant New Zealand law transactions (or materially similar transactions). (See the description of these transactions at About the Position above.)

• Strong experience in advising upon, designing, drafting and negotiating commercial contract documentation (desirably including construction contracts using the NZS suite of contracts).

• Good understanding of intellectual property rights protection and contracting.

• Good experience and understanding of the private sector, and of how the private sector can assist to improve development outcomes.

Skills and knowledge:

• Working knowledge of the Privacy Act 2020, the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, the Children’s Act 2014, the Official Information Act 1982, the Public Service Act 2020, the Crown Entities Act 2004, the Public Finance Act 1989 and (desirably) the Construction Contracts Act 2002.

• Strong written and oral communication skills.

• Well developed planning and organisational skills, including ability to prioritise tasks effectively under pressure.

• Good relationship management skills with an ability to develop trust and credibility.

• Ability to influence and provide a sound argument in the face of an opposing opinion.

• Sound analysis, judgement and problem solving capabilities.

• A proactive, professional, collaborative and customer-oriented approach.

• Ability to deliver effectively within an ambiguous environment.

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Relationships - Pātahitanga The Development Legal Counsel position is required to build and maintain the following relationships: Within the Ministry:

• PDG, LGL

• Ministry staff both onshore and offshore

• Commercial Operations Division (COD) staff

• Corporate Legal Unit (CLU) staff

• Legal Division staff Outside the Ministry:

• Other government departments and agencies

• External legal counsel

• Other organisations as appropriate

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Delegations - Whakatautapatanga

UNCLASSIFIED

Development Legal Counsel [P401700 – Band 17] Last reviewed: February 2025 Page 5 of 5

• The role is responsible for the management of nil direct reports.

• Delegations are set out in the Ministry’s Instrument of Delegation.

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Mandatory Role Requirements - Whakaritenga Tūranga Whakahauanga • You must hold New Zealand citizenship.

• You must be able to obtain and maintain an appropriate New Zealand Government Security clearance.

• You must hold, or be immediately eligible to hold, a New Zealand Practising Certificate.

• Subject to legal and Ministry restrictions and rules, some international travel may be required.

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References • Ministry’s Strategic Intentions 2024-2028

Available here: https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/about-us/our-strategic-direction/

https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/about-us/our-strategic-direction/

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People & Culture Advisor (Fixed Term)

Tauranga

Permanent

Full-time

Job ID:

45815

Published date:

07-05-2025

Senior Solicitor / Associate, Corporate & Commercial

Wellington

Permanent

Full-time

Job ID:

45678

Published date:

01-05-2025

Summary

About Russell McVeagh

Russell McVeagh is New Zealand's premier law firm committed to operating at the cutting edge of legal practice. Our award-winning team of lawyers are internationally recognised for their thought leadership, depth of experience and ability to translate complex legal issues into client success stories. We have established offices in Auckland | Tāmaki Makaurau and Wellington | Te Whanganui-a-Tara, and are opening a new office in Queenstown | Tāhuna.

Our values of Respect | Manaaki, Curiosity | Māhirahira, Excellence | Whai hiranga and Tenacity | Whakapau kaha reflect who we are and how we work together.

About the team and the role

Our Corporate partner, Mei Fern Johnson, a market leader in the Corporate and Commercial fields, is looking for a mid to senior level corporate lawyer to join her team in Wellington. This could be a full-time or part-time role. We are also open to candidates based in Auckland.

The team acts for significant entities across the public and private sector. In this role, you would be involved in M&A, general corporate and commercial advisory work, commercial contract drafting and procurement, across the energy, infrastructure, technology and social sectors, to name a few.

The team pride themselves on their reliability, responsiveness and creativity to achieve client outcomes. They support and push each other to keep learning, developing and providing top quality advice. We're looking for a team player who will thrive in that environment and who is as excited about the work we do as we are!

About you

We are looking for a solicitor with:

4+ years' corporate and/or commercial legal experience
Experience in contract drafting and negotiation – this is highly desirable, as it will be a core component of the role
Great attention to detail and high problem-solving skills
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Strong spirit of service and client servicing skills
Strong academic record
Above all, a willingness to learn, develop, and keep challenging themselves

Benefits

Some of our employee benefits include:

Competitive remuneration package
Support, coaching and considered training and development programmes
Annual wellness subsidy

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Senior Commercial Lawyer

Wellington, NZ

Permanent

Full-time

Job ID:

45645

Published date:

24-04-2025

Summary

Position Description

Title:	Solicitor/Senior Solicitor (Commercial)
Business Unit:	Corporate Services
Directorate:	Legal Services
Reports to:	Manager, Agriculture, Forestry & Corporate Law
Location:	Wellington or as advertised
Approved by:	Chief Legal Adviser/Director Legal Services
Date:	November 2024

Let us introduce ourselves

Ko wai mātou

New Zealand Public Service Commission

Ka mahitahi mātou o te ratonga tūmatanui kia hei painga mō ngā tāngata o Aotearoa

i āianei, ā, hei ngā rā ki tua hoki. He kawenga tino whaitake tā mātou hei tautoko i te Karauna i runga i āna hononga ki a ngāi Māori i raro i te Tiriti o Waitangi. Ka tautoko mātou i te kāwanatanga manapori. Ka whakakotahingia mātou e te wairua whakarato ki ō mātou hapori, ā, e arahina ana mātou e ngā mātāpono me ngā tikanga matua o te ratonga tūmatanui i roto i ā mātou mahi.

In the public service we work collectively to make a meaningful difference for New Zealanders now and in the future. We have an important role in supporting the Crown in its relationships with Māori under the Treaty of Waitangi. We support democratic government. We are unified by a spirit of service to our communities and guided by the core principles and values of the public service in our work.

Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)

The Ministry for Primary Industries works to safeguard New Zealanders’ way of life well in the future. To ensure this, we have a vision where New Zealand is the world’s most sustainable provider of high-value food and primary products. Our organisational strategy sets the direction we need to take to achieve this vision and ensure the success of the food and primary industries for the benefit of all New Zealanders. For more information on our current strategy, see Our Strategy.

As we deliver on our key outcomes of Prosperity (Tōnuitanga), Sustainability (Kauneke Tauwhiro), Protection (Whakangungu), and Visible Leadership (Ngā Manukura), we work hard to deliver for New Zealand. Using our key working styles, we always strive to be open, agile, engaging and proactive.

Our commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

To mātou kaingākau mo ngā rerekētanga me te tāpititanga

At MPI we respect the individual and want everyone to feel they can bring their whole selves to work every day. For more information on what Diversity and Inclusion looks and feels like at MPI, refer to - Our Diversity and Inclusion

What is the purpose of this position?

Te whainga poto o tēnei tūranga

MPI’s Solicitors and Senior Solicitors are responsible for providing high quality, timely and practical legal advice to staff throughout MPI. They may handle a complex and demanding workload with a high degree of autonomy, with the supervision and assistance of more senior colleagues as appropriate. This may include effectively translating strategy and policy into legislation, interpretating legislation to deliver robust legal opinions and advice, representing MPI in the District Court and/or drafting and managing of commercial contracting arrangements.

The work of a Solicitor/Senior Solicitor (Commercial) focuses on contracts, funding agreements and other commercial arrangements, but sometimes extends to work on public law issues, compliance with corporate obligations and legislation.

What do Solicitors/Senior Solicitors (Commercial) do?

Ngā kawenga mahi

Prepare and present well researched, contextualised and high-quality legal advice on operational/policy/corporate matters and legislation.

Draft and review funding agreements, contracts reflecting other commercial arrangements and tender documents.

Advise on whether contractual and funding proposals are compliant with government procurement rules and rule of law principles.

Build and maintain relationships with clients, Crown Law Office, external legal providers and other government departments and organisations.

Provide legal advice that identifies and provides options for managing legal risk and work in a way that supports business partnerships with branches and directorates.

Provide advice and act as instructing solicitor in litigation involving the Ministry.

Contribute to the maintenance of accurate and up to date internal information management systems (e.g. contingent liability register, precedent filing system, wiki, reporting).

While solicitors/senior solicitors are employed by the Ministry, they will be required to obtain practising certificates, and to comply not only with their obligations as public servants, but also their professional obligations as officers of the Court, and obligations under the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006, and the relevant Rules of Conduct and Client care.

Additional Responsibilities for Senior Solicitors

Subject to the team they are part of Senior Solicitors are expected to undertake a number of additional responsibilities that represent minimum expectations for seniors.

These expectations must be substantially met in the judgement of the Legal Services management team for someone to be considered for progression to Senior Solicitor. This does not mean staff who are not Senior Solicitors are excluded from undertaking any of these responsibilities.

The additional responsibilities expected at Senior Solicitor level are:

Provide legal advice to senior managers within the Ministry, taking the Ministry’s broader strategy into account (including, where appropriate, whole of government issues).

Provide leadership and direction on commercial and contractual matters. This includes providing advice on the management of legal risks and on commercial legal opportunities that may arise as contracts are developed and negotiated.

Provide leadership and direction on operational matters. This includes advice on management of legal risks and on opportunities for operational improvements.
Contribute to the planning and management of legal resources, including involvement in the development of business plans as appropriate.

Identify improvement opportunities in area of practice and ensure operating procedures are based on best practice.

Establish and build strong working relationships at all levels of the Ministry.

Lead projects which include team members and others throughout the Ministry as required.

Provide leadership, mentoring and coaching within Legal Services.

Assist managers with identifying mentoring, training and development needs for the team within the designated areas of expertise, skill or knowledge and work with the manager to see these needs are met.

Assist managers to proactively establish, maintain and monitor effective quality assurance mechanisms within the designated areas of expertise, skill or knowledge.
Retain and instruct external counsel as required, while thinking strategically about the Ministry’s litigation objectives.

General (Solicitors and Senior Solicitors)

Ngā korero Whānui

Respond to the changing needs of the Ministry, performing other tasks as reasonably required.

Participate in responses (using the New Zealand Coordinated Incident Management System) if required and support others to participate in response as required.

Maintain a strict sense of professional ethics, maintain confidentiality and privacy, and abide by the Ministry’s Code of Conduct.

Work in a safe way and take reasonable care to ensure that you do not adversely affect that health or safety of yourself or others.

Understand the risks involved with your work and the controls in place to manage these risks.

Participate in Health and Safety training and provide feedback to Health and Safety representatives and/or management on Health Safety and Wellbeing matters as required.

Ensure all incidents including near misses are reported in MPI’s incident reporting system.

This position description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of tasks, but to act as a guide as to the main duties and responsibilities of the position. In particular, commercial lawyers may need to work with colleagues to provide advice on public law issues or assist with the development of legislation. The content of this position description will be subject to regular review in conjunction with the job holder.

Who would you be working with?

Ko wai ō hoa mahi?

Internal	Nature of the relationship
Manager	To support the Manager in providing high quality advice and to proactively monitor and report any risk. For guidance in individual development and planning.
Other Legal Managers and teams	To facilitate mentoring, sharing of advice, ideas and initiatives and for peer review. To provide surge capacity as may be required by other Legal teams or to allow for further development opportunities.
Branch management	To liaise between business and the corporate groups to contribute to Branch and Legal strategy development, business planning and implementation.
Corporate Services managers and staff	To understand the corporate requirements and translate these for branch managers/staff.
Other managers and staff in the Ministry	To share information and represent interests of branch as appropriate.

External	Nature of the relationship
Ministers offices	For support of the Minister(s) and collaboration on ministerial servicing processes and relevant issues if required.
Stakeholder / industry groups	To inform, share information, liaise on key matters, and represent the interests of the Ministry.
Service providers	Build effective business partnerships.
Other government agencies	To inform, share information, liaise on key matters, and represent interests of the Ministry including through collaborative projects. Develop and operationalise partnership programmes that can deliver mutually agreed outcomes.
Māori stakeholders, Iwi, Hapu, organisations	To facilitate active collaboration, build knowledge, and capture Māori knowledge/information as inputs to work.

Dimensions of the position

Ngā ahuatanga ō tēnei turanga

Delegations of Authority for all positions with a requirement to make decisions on behalf of MPI are detailed in the ‘HR and Finance Delegations’ documentation: HR and Finance Delegations.

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

MPI operating expenditure	By agreement with your manager and in accordance with the annual budget.
Non-departmental expenditure	By agreement with your manager and in accordance with the annual budget.
Capital expenditure	By agreement with your manager and in accordance with the annual budget.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT CHECK

To fulfil the requirement of this position, the following pre-employment checks are required:

New Zealand criminal conviction history check (Ministry of Justice)

SECURITY CLEARANCE

To fulfil the requirement of this position a security clearance classification to the following level is required

Confidential

Who are we looking for?

Ko te tangata mo tēnei tūranga?

Qualifications

Essential

Relevant tertiary qualification in Law and a current Practising Certificate (or able to be issued Practising Certificate before commencing work).

Experience and knowledge

Essential – Solicitor/Senior Solicitor generally

Demonstrated successful and appropriate experience in all key competencies including:

Knowledge of or a demonstrated interest in gaining knowledge of legislation administered by the Ministry.
Knowledge of or an interest in gaining knowledge of legislation relevant to all government departments – e.g. Official Information Act, Privacy Act.
Managing internally focussed relationships.
A strong track record of achievement of results.
A can-do attitude with attention to detail and strong on successful delivery of work.
Managing internal relationships while demonstrating excellence in execution.
Understanding of the machinery of government, the Crown’s obligation to Māori, and the role and work of the Ministry.
Working effectively with government agencies.

Desired – Solicitor/Senior Solicitor generally

Knowledge of the Ministry business environment, its strategic priorities, strengths, and weaknesses.

Additional experience required for Solicitor/Senior Solicitor (Commercial)

Relevant recent experience as described below: for solicitors, 2+ years; for senior solicitors, 7+ years

Essential: experience of drafting contracts and advising on contractual terms as an in-house lawyer in a government department, other public sector agency, or corporate legal team; or in a law firm
Desirable: experience of advising on New Zealand public sector procurement rules and/or public sector funding grants
Desirable: experience of advising on contractual disputes, managing commercial litigation, and instructing counsel

Skills

Essential

Mentoring.
Aligning with strategy and planning.
Strong analytical skills.
Clear judgement and an ability to recognise and understand the implications of advice.
Communication and presentation skills.

Capabilities

Ngā taumata mātou

COMMON CAPABILITIES – expected in all MPI roles
Engaging Te Whai Wāhitanga	Connects with others Listens Reads people and situations Interacts appropriately in different situational / social / cultural settings Communicates tactfully
Honest and Courageous He Pono, He Māia	Shows courage Shows decisiveness Acts with integrity
Resilient He Manawaroa	Is adaptable Remains effective under pressure Demonstrates composure
Results Focus He Aro ki ngā Hua	Committed and tenacious Focused on achieving
Self-Aware Learner He Ākonga Kiri Mōhio	Seeks feedback on own performance Self-assesses Adapts approach Shows commitment to development
Tikanga Māori Tikanga: the dynamics of doing what is right / rite so as to respect, and not transgress, the mana, integrity and honour of anyone in a given context; Māori: the indigenous people of the land	Applies Māori culture and language to work Draws on Māori culture to enrich one’s work Applies Māori knowledge and values within a government and Crown context Refer to relevant Career Pathway Māori Cultural Competency for role-specific expectations.

CAPABILITIES – specifically relevant to this role

Judgement and Decision-Making

(Standard level for Solicitors, Advanced level for Senior Solicitors)

Is astute; makes timely decisions that stand up to scrutiny; is comfortable proceeding when faced with uncertainty and incomplete data if circumstances demand it.

What it looks like at the Standard Level:

Considers options and likely consequences: thinks broadly before deciding.
Able to give rationale for decisions: can give reasons and explain the logic for decisions.
Is able to make decisions in uncertain situations: makes decisions even when the outcomes are uncertain.
Makes timely decisions, balancing the desire for complete information with the need to progress important or urgent matters: shows good judgement; neither rushing to a decision, nor delaying overlong when faced with multiple / uncertain options in a time-limited setting.

What it looks like at the Advanced Level:

Demonstrates astute judgement and decision making in senior roles and high-stakes situations.

Works Collaboratively

(Standard level for Solicitors, Advanced level for Senior Solicitors)

Understands wider context, focuses on organisational priorities, works across boundaries, shares information, and makes connections for better outcomes.

What it looks like at the Standard Level:

Understands the context: is aware of wider organisational context and decision-making processes.
Focuses on priority work: understands the wider priorities and aligns efforts accordingly.
Shares information: proactively keeps others informed and provides them with information relevant to their work.
Builds trust with other teams/groups: takes steps to earn and maintain trust with other teams; spends time with others to understand and support them in achieving their priority objectives.
Works across boundaries: proactively communicates and collaborates across team / group boundaries.
Supports others to succeed: finds opportunities for own group to contribute to the success of other groups and teams.

What it looks like at the Advanced Level:

Demonstrates collaboration at an organisational / sector level.
Fosters collaboration across groups and/or the organisation.

Solves Problems

(Standard level for Solicitors, Advanced level for Senior Solicitors)

Finds and implements effective solutions to problems.

What it looks like at the Standard Level:

Takes steps to fully understand the problem and contributing factors: ensures there is a clear problem definition before moving to find a solution.
Explores different solution options and possible side effects: thinks widely and does not rush into first apparent solution.
Selects and implements solutions that are effective: considers cost-benefit analysis of potential solutions and potential unintended consequences before deciding how to proceed.
Involves stakeholders and ensures that solutions meet their needs.

What it looks like at the Advanced Level:

Demonstrates problem solving skills in complex, high-stakes situations.

Communicates with impact

(Standard level for Solicitors; Advanced level for Senior Solicitors)

Communicates in a clear, persuasive, and effective way

What it looks like at the Standard Level:

Communicates clearly: tailors messages so that they are clear, succinct, and resonate with their different audiences.
Influences others: asks questions to understand others’ concerns; presents a clear and convincing rationale for what is being proposed.
Communication achieves intended purpose: audience feels well-informed or is influenced toward desired action.

What it looks like at the Advanced Level:

Demonstrates 'presence': others listen to and respect what is said, even if not agreeing.
Gains active participation and/or support for initiatives, from senior leaders, staff, and other relevant senior stakeholders.
Communicates clearly with a very wide range of audiences, such as community stakeholders, organisation senior leaders, senior external stakeholders, and staff.

ADDITIONAL CAPABILITIES
Inquiring and Analytical (Advanced for Solicitors and Senior Solicitors)	Shows curiosity, flexibility, and openness in analysing and integrating ideas, information, and differing perspectives What it looks like at the Standard Level: Thinks analytically and critically: gets to the heart of issues and uncovers underlying causes; clearly describes their analytical process and rationale. Shows curiosity: looks for feedback; explores options; encourages others to critique their ideas. Shows awareness, and minimises impact, of bias: insightful about the strengths and weaknesses of their analysis and approach; mitigates impact of potential biases. What it looks like at the Advanced Level: Brings well-developed analytical thinking together with an openness to creative approaches to complex situations across the organisation / sector.

ADDITIONAL CAPABILITIES

Customer and Stakeholder Connection

(Standard level for Solicitors and Senior Solicitors)

Thinks from stakeholder / customer perspective, understands their interests and consults in order to achieve best outcomes.

What it looks like at the Standard Level:

Thinks about broader context: understands and articulates interdependencies when making decisions.
Knows stakeholders / customers: knows and understands the groups and individuals - within and outside the organisation - who have an interest in your work.
Consults widely: connects with stakeholders and customers - internal and external - early and often to ensure the best outcomes.

What it looks like at the Advanced Level:

Demonstrates extensive understanding of different stakeholder perspectives in complex, external sector settings, and an ability to relate to, and consult effectively with such stakeholders.

Plans and Organises

(Standard for Solicitors and Senior Solicitors)

Plans, prioritises, and organises work of self / others; to deliver on short and long-term objectives across the breadth of their role without placing others under undue pressure.

What it looks like at the Standard Level:

Manages and delivers on work priorities: breaks work into chunks; creates realistic timeframes for each stage of work; anticipates and addresses roadblocks and problems; communicates and coordinates with others as required; evaluates and reviews outcomes against plan.
Purposeful about use of time: prioritises what is important; strikes an effective balance between proactive and responsive work activities.

What it looks like at the Advanced Level:

Demonstrates planning and organising skills in large and complex projects / situations involving many people and groups in a medium-long time frame with significant resource challenges.

Inquiring and Analytical

(Advanced for Solicitors and Senior Solicitors)

Shows curiosity, flexibility, and openness in analysing and integrating ideas, information, and differing perspectives

What it looks like at the Standard Level:

Thinks analytically and critically: gets to the heart of issues and uncovers underlying causes; clearly describes their analytical process and rationale.
Shows curiosity: looks for feedback; explores options; encourages others to critique their ideas.
Shows awareness, and minimises impact, of bias: insightful about the strengths and weaknesses of their analysis and approach; mitigates impact of potential biases.

What it looks like at the Advanced Level:

Brings well-developed analytical thinking together with an openness to creative approaches to complex situations across the organisation / sector.

GROUP-SPECIFIC / TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES – from career pathways
Integrity	Acts honestly in accordance with moral or ethical principles
Technical/Functional	Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills to do the job at a high level

RESPONSE TECHNCIAL EXPERT CAPABILITIES – for Tier 5 / 6 managers / staff likely to be involved in a response function in their area of expertise
Solving Problems	Identifies solution given available information
Anticipating Problems	Forecasts and detects errors, gaps, and potential flaws
Professionalism	Acts in accordance with job related values, principles, and standards
Dealing With Ambiguity	Comfortably handles unclear or unpredictable situations
Handling Pressure	Remains calm, composed, and focussed on the work in ongoing high-pressure situations

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