Senior Legal Counsel

Are you an experienced lawyer looking for an exciting and impactful role within the public sector?
- Work within a high-performing team that values collaboration and provides opportunities for growth and career development
- Permanent, full-time role, Wellington location preferred. Alternative locations and flexible working arrangements considered

Join the legal team at Te Mana Ārai o Aotearoa / New Zealand Customs Service and play a crucial part in Customs' mission to protect and promote New Zealand through world class border management.

**About the roles**

The New Zealand Customs Service is a government agency responsible for managing and facilitating the movement of people and goods across Aotearoa's borders. We aim to create a great place to work, where our people have a sense of belonging and the capability and desire to meet our future challenges. We are an organisation that is clear about our mission and our work really matters to the safety and success of New Zealand.

Customs Legal sits within the Policy, Legal and Strategy Group. You will be reporting to the Chief Legal Counsel - Public and Commercial, and you will work across many exciting legal areas. The Customs Legal - Public and Commercial team provides legal advice on issues arising under the Customs and Excise Act 2018 and other legislation that Customs enforces at the border. We also advise on policy and legislative development in the border sector, information sharing, international arrangements, provide general commercial advice and represent Customs in response to complaints and in litigation.

These roles present excellent opportunities for lawyers who are looking to take their career to the next level and step into their next challenge, whether that is at the Senior Legal Counsel or Legal Counsel level. As a lawyer at the New Zealand Customs Service, you will play a pivotal role in supporting Customs' functions and ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

We can offer you the opportunity to be part of a high-performing team - we are proud to have won Government Legal Network and Customs Comptroller's Awards. We understand the importance of career progression and professional growth, and we offer a supportive and empowering team environment that encourages ambitious lawyers to thrive (and we have a lot of fun). In this role, you'll be entrusted with significant responsibilities, allowing your leadership skills to grow and to drive positive change. You'll have the opportunity to work closely with senior management and contribute to key decision-making processes.

**To be successful as a Senior Legal Counsel you will**
- Be a qualified lawyer with at least 5 years' relevant post qualification experience and a genuine interest in Customs and border protection;
- Currently hold or be eligible to hold a New Zealand practising certificate;
- Have experience in providing quick turnaround robust and practical legal advice; preferably within a government or relevant in-house environment;
- Have exceptional critical thinking, analysis and problem-solving skills;
- Be able to build relationships and provide advice to all of Customs' business units, the wider border sector and, where necessary, the wider public sector;
- Achieve results both within a team and independently;
- Show a high level of initiative and judgement, flexibility and a sense of responsibility;
- Be able to coach, mentor and contribute to the team's learning;
- Communicate with influence; and
- Have knowledge and understanding of te ao Māori, the relationship between tikanga and the legal system and the Crown's responsibilities as a Treaty partner (or a willingness to develop that knowledge and understanding).

**To be successful as a Legal Counsel, you will**
- Be a qualified lawyer with at least 1 year relevant post qualification experience and a genuine interest in Customs and border protection;
- Currently hold or be eligible to hold a New Zealand practising certificate;
- Have excellent legal research, statutory interpretation and advice writing skills;
- Be able to build relationships and provide advice to all of Customs' business units;
- Achieve results both within a team and independently;
- Communicate with influence; and
- Have knowledge and understanding of te ao Māori, the relationship between tikanga and the legal system and the Crown's responsibilities as a Treaty partner (or a willingness to develop that knowledge and understanding).

To join Customs in any role, applicants must have **New Zealand Citizenship** or have **NZ Permanent Residency** and be able to obtain and maintain an organisational security clearance. The successful applicant will also be required to pass an initial drug test.

**Please note Customs will be managing this recruitment independently in-house and will not be engaging with recruitment agencies at this stage.**

**Applications close at 11pm, Tuesday 18 February 2025.**

**Job details**:

- Reference #
- 43329
- Post