Kaitohutohu ā-Ture Matua | Senior Solicitor - Commercial at Ministry for the Environment, Christchurch

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Permanent role
• Supportive and dynamic team
• Flexible working to support your work-life balance

Our purpose - He taiao tōnui mō ngā reanga katoa - a flourishing environment for every generation – be part of this exciting journey.

Mō tēnei tūrangi mahi | About this role 

This is an exciting time to join the Ministry as it embarks on comprehensive environmental reform, including the Resource Management Act, and responds to Climate Change. 

Our organisation is growing and we are working collaboratively across the organisation to deliver on key work programmes that support our Statement of Intent. 

We are strengthening our team to ensure the successful delivery of these key initiatives and are looking for a driven and experienced Senior Solicitor to join our Commercial Legal Team on a permanent basis. 

As a Senior Solicitor you will work in partnership with the organisation to provide commercial legal advice across the Ministry's broader work programmes with a particular focus on contract and deed work to support investment in environmental projects and Ministry procurement.    

You will deliver advice in a range of formats to a range of clients, including internal leaders and Ministers.  A can-do attitude and strong relationship management skills are important for this role. 

As a Senior Solicitor you will demonstrate leadership within the team and the broader organisation on legal matters.  You will support the growth and development of legal team members and other Ministry staff.

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience  

To be successful in the role you will need: 

• a law degree
• a current NZLS practising certificate (or current eligibility to obtain one)
• commercial law experience
• excellent analytical skills and a proven ability to apply legal concepts
• excellent communication skills, both oral and written, which enable you to deal effectively with key stakeholder relationships
• a proven ability to effectively handle competing priorities and tight time frames
• strong customer service and relationship management skills
• commitment to developing your cultural capability and capacity in te ao Māori.

Salary Range

Salary range for this role is $110,872 to $135,510 pa.  Appointment within this range will be based on skills and experience.

Mō mātou | About us  

The Ministry's purpose - He taiao tōnui mō ngā reanga katoa - a flourishing environment for every generation.  

We offer: 

• a flexible by default approach to support your work-life balance
• agile working, allowing you variety and challenges across the organisation as we work as ‘One MfE'
• generous leave entitlements
• training to competently and effectively engage with Māori as our Treaty Partner, this includes te reo me ona tikanga Māori courses
• active social club and employee networks, including a Māori staff network
• opportunities for development and education.          

A key priority for the Ministry is Te Ao Māori. This means we work with our Treaty partner to advance Māori priorities for the environment and for environmental success. We will be confident and coordinated in our ongoing engagement with Māori and lead the natural resources system in engaging for success with tangata whenua. We will grow our capability and capacity to accurately reflect Māori views in our work.  An organisational priority is that we accurately reflect Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Te Ao Maori into our everyday work, by living our Te Ao Hurihuri Strategy through capability and capacity building.

Tono ināianei | Apply Now

Apply directly by completing the online application form and submit your CV and cover letter.  Note: your cover letter will be a key part of our assessment process, so please highlight how your experience relates to the key skills required for this role.   

If you require further information about this position or require a copy of the position description please email vacancy@mfe.govt.nz

The location for this role is flexible which means you can work anywhere in New Zealand and there is an option to work from home.  As a flexible friendly employer, we are happy to discuss solutions that may work for you and the business.  We value and care about enabling our people to work in a way that means they can work at their best. 

We embrace diversity and inclusion and are committed to equal opportunities. What's important to us is ‘he rau kotahi tangata' – embracing our multiple talents – by harnessing our diversity and being inclusive. We actively encourage applications from all backgrounds.  We are proud to be Rainbow Tick certified and recognise the diversity and uniqueness of our workforce and reaffirm our commitment to create a safe and inclusive environment for everyone. 

We want to ensure accessibility needs are well supported, so the recruitment process is fair and equitable for all. Therefore, please let us know if there is any support, we can provide to ensure the recruitment process is fully accessible to you. You can contact us at vacancy@mfe.govt.nz if you would like to discuss any accessibility needs you may have.

MfE's COVID-19 Vaccination Policy requires all employees who come to our offices, work at non-MfE offices (this does not include remote workers working from home) or interact with the public in the course of their work must be fully vaccinated. During the application process you will be asked to provide details of your vaccination status, and depending on the nature of your work, you may be asked to provide evidence of your Vaccine Pass prior to an offer being made.

Rā Katinga | Applications close: Sunday, 22 May 2022