Leader - Legal

Showcase your leadership and property system legal expertise,
- Provide technical and people leadership to a team of legal specialists,
- Work for a high performing organisation that is passionate about achieving outcomes for New Zealand.

Kōrero mō te tūranga - About the role
This leadership position reporting to the Head of Legal (Chief Legal Advisor) sits within our centralised Legal Services business group. This role sees the need for a Leader to provide a mix of home and work leadership for a team of solicitors to deliver for the organisation.
Leading a team of 8, this role can be shaped to add value and bring your own experience and skills to that of the organisation.
In a role where no two days are the same you will see yourself:

- Assisting the Head of Legal to lead a team of solicitors and develop team capability and engagement,
- Helping to achieve the organisation's objectives through providing legal technical leadership and guidance across our key areas of legal work to support the Property Rights part of our Customer Delivery business group, and our survey and titles operations teams,
- Providing legal services relating to land law, conveyancing, and Land Transfer transactions generally, and registration of dealings and instruments in the Land Titles Register,
- Advising on and interpreting legislation, including the Land Transfer Act and Regulations, Unit Titles Act, Property Law Act, Cadastral Survey Act and Surveyor-General Rules, Official Information Act 1982 and Privacy Act 2020,
- Working closely with the Registrar-General of Land team and engagement on legal registration matters,
- Contributing to the development of legislation and regulations and the development of a digitally enabled survey and title system in the context of New Zealand's broader property system,
- Providing thought leadership, advice, coaching and mentoring on technical legal matters and new legislation,
- Contributing to the identification, development, and provision of training to other staff on legal matters,
- Managing the professional development of your direct reports,
- Having a customer orientated focus and an eye to continuously enhance the customer experience,
- Contributing to LINZ engagement with conveyancing and surveying practitioners and key stakeholder groups,
- Helping to ensure rules and standards are being met and working on review and standards development.

This role is a permanent full-time position, however being a flexible organisation, we can look at arrangements from 4 days per week, if this is a preference.

He pūkenga tou - Skills & Experience
The ideal person for this role will be a senior commercial or property lawyer and have:

- A legal degree and current practicing certificate (or be eligible to hold one),
- At least 10 years PQE and strong experience in conveyancing law and practice, Land Transfer registration, the Land Transfer Act and other relevant legislation and experience with Landonline,
- Demonstrable experience leading, coaching or mentoring a group of technical experts,
- A passion for making a positive and sustainable difference through engaging and partnering with the business, customers and stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes,
- Excellent judgement with strong problem solving and decision-making capability, including ability to identify problems, manage or mitigate risks and implement innovative solutions that align with strategic direction,
- Strong communication skills allowing you to easily convey technical information to those who are not familiar with the technical legal aspects of Land Transfer registration.

We are also looking for a person who will complement the professional and collegial nature of our team. This is a great opportunity to join a friendly, forward thinking, people-centric government organisation, in a great team.
**The annual appointing range for this role will be**: $142,541 - $175,000 negotiable dependant on skills and experience.

Ngā mea e tukuna ana e tātau - What we offer our employees
- Interesting work which impacts Aotearoa as we care for whenua, moana and arawai.
- Eye & ear care reimbursements
- Annual Flu Vaccinations
- Reduced Health Insurance Premiums
- Diverse groups and networks
- If eligible for paid parental leave, you will be entitled to a top up payment for the first 18 weeks of the 26 weeks.
- A minimum of four weeks and three days annual leave

Te Tākinatanga - Our Story
Toitū Te Whenua plays a vital role in understanding, developing, and caring for New Zealand's whenua, moana and arawai (land, sea and waterways). Whether you're developing our products and services to support our customers, managing the Crown estate, engaging with our iwi partners, or helping us be an effective regulator, your contribution can make a difference. Our mahi helps New Zealanders have confidence that the development of our land, communities and country is being planned from an informed and expert position that balances environmental