Senior Solicitor

 Te whakapakari tahi i tō tātau Taiao – Enhancing our environment together.

Our vision is a healthy environment and a resilient and prosperous community.

About The opportunity | Ko te āheinga:

Hawke's Bay Regional Council is seeking a Senior Solicitor to join our Legal, Compliance and Risk Team. This role offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the protection and management of our region's precious natural resources while providing high-quality legal advice across the organisation.

Key aspects of the role include:

• Providing expert legal counsel on a wide range of matters affecting the Council
• Supporting the Chief Legal Advisor in managing legal risks and compliance
• Participating in negotiations, mediations, and legal proceedings
• Conducting legal and organisational risk training
• Enhancing legal awareness and capability across the Council

This position offers the chance to work on diverse and challenging legal issues in a dynamic local government environment. You'll play a crucial role in supporting our vision of a healthy environment and a resilient, prosperous community.

About you | E pā ana ki a koe:

The ideal candidate will demonstrate a collaborative working style and a high level of personal resilience. You should be prepared to challenge the status quo, displaying courage, initiative, and innovative thinking. Cultural empathy and awareness are crucial, including an understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its application in public administration.

We're looking for a legal professional with:

• A Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree and admission as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand
• A current legal practicing certificate from the New Zealand Law Society
• 7+ years of post-qualification experience, preferably with in-house legal experience in the public sector
• Expertise in commercial law, including contract negotiation and regulatory compliance
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
• Knowledge of risk management, audit frameworks, and local government legislation
• A collaborative working style and high level of personal resilience

Apply now and be part of a team dedicated to excellence, accountability, and transparency in local government.

What we offer | Nga huanga mōu:

The salary range for this role is between $126,540 - $140,600 and will depend on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate.

Other benefits of working for our team include:

• Flexible working options to support work/life balance
• 5 weeks annual leave after 3 years
• 4% superannuation after 3 years
• Life insurance and income protection
• Subsidised eye tests and lenses, flu vaccinations, and other well-being initiatives
• Strong commitment to developing and upskilling people within a supportive working environment.

See a full list of our staff benefits here .

As an equal opportunity employer, we are dedicated to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment. We recognise that collaborative and innovative organisations depend on having a workforce made up from a diverse range of perspectives and experiences. We're all about excellence, and we encourage open communication – if you need any specific support, just let us know! Our main goal is to empower each person to share their unique talents to contribute to the outcomes for our community. This commitment ensures that our workplace is a dynamic and progressive space where everyone can flourish.

 HBRC is responsible for Civil Defence emergencies and as such, all staff may be called upon to support the response.

How to apply | I pēhea ki te whakauru:

Applications close 16 October 2024, however we will be shortlisting and interviewing appropriate candidates as applications are received. If you are interested in this position, please do not wait to apply as we may close the ad earlier than advertised. 

View the full job description here.

Please apply through Seek. If you would like any further information regarding the role, please email recruitment@hbrc.govt.nz

Applicants must have existing rights to work in New Zealand.

About us | E pā ki a mātou:

At Hawke’s Bay Regional Council our purpose is to work with our community to protect and manage the region’s precious taonga of rivers, lakes, soils, air, coast and biodiversity for health, wellbeing and connectivity. Our organisation is diverse and our work is varied. Our structure comprises of six key business units; Corporate Services, Integrated Catchment Management, Asset Management, Māori Partnerships, Policy & Regulation, and the Executive Advisory Group which also consists of the Civil Defence and Emergency Management.

We focus on prioritising:

Te kounga o te wai, te haumarutanga me te mārohirohi ā-āhuarangi o te whakamarutanga | Water quality, safety and climate-resilient security.  

Kia koi, kia toitū hoki te whakamahinga o te whenua | Climate-smart and sustainable land use. 

Kia ora, kia āhei, kia mārohirohi ā-āhuarangi hoki te rerenga rauropi | Healthy, functioning and climate-resilient biodiversity. 

Kia toitū, kia mārohirohi ā-āhuarangi hoki ngā ratonga me ngā hanganga ā-whare | Sustainable and climate-resilient services and infrastructure. 

16 September 2024

Back to News Archive