Senior Solicitor | Wellington City

Job Description

Job Title: Senior Solicitor - Legal Services x2

Role type: Full time, permanent

Location: Wellington City

General Salary Range Band D/C: $103,418 - $136,961 depending on skills and experience

About the Role - Kōrero mō te Tūranga 

This is an interesting and rewarding opportunity to join the MPI Legal Services team and become part of a busy and collegial directorate that provides legal advice across a diverse and rewarding range of work, responding to the Ministry's needs as required.

This position will see you provide legal advice that identifies and provides options for managing legal risk and work in a way that supports the business units across MPI and supports their strategies and, where appropriate, whole of government issues.

As a Senior Solicitor you will provide leadership and direction to the team on legislative development projects, operational matters, instructing external counsel as required, while thinking strategically about the Ministry's litigation objectives.

About You - Mōu 

We are looking for a Senior Solicitor with experience in public law or other relevant legal experience to advise across the full range of work in the Fisheries and Food Safety portfolios.

To be considered, you will need: 

• A relevant tertiary qualification in law and a current New Zealand practising certificate, or the immediate ability to hold one.
• Post-admission experience in public law or another relevant area of law.
• Good attention to detail and drafting skills.
• Strong ability to build and maintain effective relationships across a wide range of stakeholders.
• Leadership experience in operational legal advice, litigation, or legislative development, and continuous improvement.
• Experience with mentoring team members.
• A collaborative and communicative working style.

Desirable:

• Experience working in-house for a large regulator
• Experience with the development and design of legislation
• Knowledge of legislation administered by MPI and the regulatory environment in which MPI operates.

You do not need to meet all of the role requirements to apply. We offer a breadth of development and learning opportunities and will welcome an application if you think you could make a great fit. 

About the Team - Mō tō mātou Rōpū  

The Legal Services Directorate is mainly based in Wellington for the public law and commercial law functions and all around the country for the prosecution function.  The team works collaboratively and provide support and opportunities for development, including a varied and interesting CPD programme. While Solicitors are appointed to a particular team, we have a rotation policy to provide the opportunity to move between teams.

The Food Safety & Fisheries Law Team provides public law, legislative development, emergency responses for food, and litigation support to MPI staff working in the areas of food safety, food export, and fisheries management to MPI Staff in the NZ Food Safety, Fisheries NZ, and Policy and Trade Business Groups. We are a collegial team of nine with six Senior Solicitors and two Solicitors. We all work across both areas - Food Safety and Fisheries and across all the different functions of legislative development, litigation, and operational advice.

About MPI - Mō te Manatū Ahu Matua

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) partners with New Zealand's food and fibre sector to be the world's most trusted provider of high-value food and fibre products.

Benefits of working at MPI - Ngā hua o te mahi i te Manatū Ahu Matua

• Additional MPI leave days
• Ability to purchase extra annual leave
• Annual Wellness payment

Security checks - Ngā Taki Whakahaumaru 

Low level Security Clearance

• most preferably a New Zealand citizen, who has resided continuously in New Zealand for at least the last five (5) years, OR
• is a citizen of, and/or has resided continuously in one or more of the following countries for the last five (5) years: either Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom (UK) or the United States of America (USA); and has a background history that is verifiable and can be assessed as appropriate by the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) towards a recommendation of suitability for a security clearance at this level.
• click here to find out more about the national security vetting process and access the eligibility self-check tool.

If you do not meet these minimum criteria, we will not be able to accept your application.

Are you ready to make a difference? - Kua rite koe mō tēnei mahi whaitake? 

We are committed to being a good partner under Te Tiriti o Waitangi which includes working closely with iwi, hapū, whānau and hāpori.

We aspire to reflect the diverse communities we serve, so we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, and identities. As an organisation, we are committed to making Manatū Ahu Matua Ministry for Primary Industries a great place to work for all.

In your cover letter we'd like to know about you, your values; your interest and motivations for this role; the abilities, strengths, personal attributes and diverse perspectives you will bring to the role and this organisation, which may have also been gained outside of the workforce.

To view the position description and/or apply online, please click “APPLY FOR THIS JOB” or visit the MPI Careers Site. To apply, you must hold the right to work in New Zealand or be eligible to obtain it – click here to find out more about work visa eligibility and options.

Applications close at midnight Tuesday 29 April 2025

If you have any questions about the role, please email Sophie.Hallett@mpi.govt.nz

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