Senior Solicitor (Commercial) at Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Wellington

• Opportunity for Senior Solicitor to join our Commercial Legal team
• Work across a range of interesting areas and contribute to the latest government initiatives and programs
• Flexible working options available to support work-life balance
• Permanent position based in Wellington CBD
• Salary range $112K - $160K plus kiwisaver and wellness benefits

About the role:

As part of the Ngā Pou o te Taumaru Group, MBIE's Legal, Ethics and Privacy Branch (LEAP) is responsible for providing a centre of legal advice leadership and expertise for MBIE, and is an exemplar of best practice for both the public service and the wider New Zealand labour and business markets.

MBIE is one of the largest in-house legal teams in the government sector, if you are looking to enhance your legal skills and knowledge then this is a great opportunity to join our Commercial Legal team as a Senior Solicitor.

Our Commercial Legal Team provides legal advice on a wide range of commercial transactions across all of MBIE’s diverse portfolios.  Our work includes preparing, reviewing and negotiating contracts, advising on competitive tendering processes; and providing legal support and advice on key legal risks which may include indemnities, intellectual property matters, confidentiality, and contractual remedies.  Like the rest of the LEAP branch, we pride ourselves on having a solution focussed and pragmatic approach and making an important contribution to MBIE’s goal of growing Aotearoa for all.

You will highly regarded for your expertise and ability to provide timely, high quality, accurate and consistent advice on a range of commercial transactions and issues including ICT, All of Government and funding arrangements.  You will have a broad mix of commercial legal experience including in advising on, drafting and negotiating a range of commercial contracts.  You will enjoy collaborating with others and quickly establish, build and maintain strong working relationships with clients and other stakeholders at all levels.  

This role offers exposure to a wide-range of subject matter and challenging and interesting topics and opportunity to further develop your career within MBIE.  We will proactively support your development through on-the-job learning and we'll also help you to manage a healthy work-life balance; with flexi-time and some days working from home options to name a few.    

Salary range:
Senior Solicitor 1 $112K - $138K
Senior Solicitor 2 $132K - $160K

We aim to create a culture where our people are empowered to bring fresh perspectives to issues and to develop new approaches.  Our collaborative team encourages a positive, customer focussed, innovative and best in class attitude.  We are a fun, focused and supportive team who works hard to deliver excellence to our clients. 

Skills and experience required:

We are interested to hear from candidates with a positive can-do attitude, a willingness to help and share knowledge and be comfortable working in a dynamic and fast paced environment. Further to this you will have the following:
•    A tertiary qualification in law and a current practising certificate (or be eligible to obtain one).
•    Experience in the provision of general commercial contract advice (ideally including ICT and/or funding experience). 
•    An understanding of the mechanisms of government or a desire to learn them.
•    Sound legal technical skills.
•    Well-developed written and verbal communication skills which allow you to effectively convey key messages and ideas and to simplify complex issues suitable to the audience.
•    A reputation of exceptional customer service with experience in developing and maintaining effective working relationships at all levels
•    The ability to lead assignments and to coach and mentor other team members 
•    Enthusiasm, drive and a proactive nature 
•    Must have the legal right to live and work in Aotearoa

About MBIE:

MBIE's goal is to create a resilient and high-performing economy that delivers real and ongoing quality of life for all New Zealanders.

We do this by working with others to create an environment that supports businesses to be more productive and internationally competitive, enables all New Zealanders to participate in the economy through improved job opportunities and by working to ensure quality housing is more affordable.

People are at the heart of our mahi, our way of working is guided by our values which shape our behaviours.

• Mahi Tahi – Better Together
• Māia – Bold and brave
• Pae Kahurangi – Build our Future
• Pono Me Te Tika – Own It

Our aspirations are echoed in our Māori identity – Hīkina Whakatutuki – which broadly means ‘lifting to make successful'.

MBIE recognises the partnership founded under Te Tiriti o Waitangi between Māori and the Crown and is committed to giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We will do this through enduring, meaningful and effective partnerships with iwi, Māori, other Māori groups/organisations and the Crown, as this is critical to enable economic and social development, both for Māori and for wider Aotearoa New Zealand. We are committed to continuing to partner with iwi in order to find new sustainable solutions to address long standing systemic and cross-cutting issues facing Māori and wider Aotearoa New Zealand and we are also committed to identifying opportunities for iwi to lead and creating an enabling environment for iwi to leverage these opportunities.

E mōhio ana a Hīkina Whakatutuki i puea ake te kōtuinga I waenganui i a ngāi Māori me te Karauna i Te Tiriti o Waitangi, ā, kei te whai ia ki te whakaū ake i Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Mā te whai kiko o ngā kōtuinga ahungaroa o ngāi wi, o ngāi Māori, me ētahi atu rōpū Māori ki te Karauna, katutuki tēnei. He āhuatanga nui tēnei e āhei ai ngā mahi whanaketanga ā-ohanga, ā-pāpori hoki ki a ngāi Māori me Aotearoa whānui. E whai tonu ana mātou ki te kōtui atu ki ngā iwi mō te rapu huarahi hou ki te whakaara i ngā kaupapakua roa nei e tāmi ana i a ngāi Māori me Aotearoa whānui, ā, e whai ana hoki ki te tautohu i ngā āheinga kōkiritanga mā ngā iwi, me te tautoko i ngā iwi kia whai mana ake ai ēnei āheinga.

How to apply:

All applications must be submitted via our online process.  Email Jo Smith joanne.smith@mbie.govt.nz quoting ref MBIE/9239 if you have any further questions.

To view the Senior Solicitor 1 position description click here

To view the Senior Solicitor 2 position description click here

Applications close on Sunday 29th January 2023.