Senior Legal Counsel

**Ko wai mātou - About us**

Kia ora. We’re Foodies. You know New World, PAK’nSAVE and Four Square right? That’s us

With 300+ stores and over 24,000 Foodies across Te Ika-a-Maui, our North Island Co-op has the privilege of helping New Zealanders get more out of life. Locally owned, we reflect the communities we serve, and we celebrate our people - our taonga, every day for being uniquely them.

**Te Tūranga - About the role**

Are you ready to make your mark as a legal heavyweight in one of New Zealand's largest and most beloved businesses? At Foodstuffs North Island, we’re on the hunt for a **Senior Legal Counsel** to join our vibrant legal team for a **12-month maternity leave contract**. This isn’t just any legal role - it’s your chance to combine sharp legal expertise with commercial acumen to drive innovation and help us achieve our big, bold ambitions.

As a **Senior Legal Counsel**, you’ll be at the forefront of enabling business outcomes while mitigating risk. You’ll act as a trusted advisor across the business, ensuring our projects and partnerships are built on rock-solid legal foundations. Think of it as your opportunity to bring pragmatism, strategic thinking, and insight to the table - while making a genuine impact.

Here’s what success looks like in this role:
**Trailblazing Projects**: You’ll independently lead the legal side of major projects to support strategic initiatives.

**Pragmatic Advice**: Provide commercially appropriate guidance that empowers the business to move forward with confidence.

**Risk Champion**: Advise on contractual liability and to help ensure risks are fully understood and smartly managed.

**Educator Extraordinaire**: Share your legal knowledge to upskill internal stakeholders and keep everyone across their obligations.

**Team Player & Leader**: Support the Associate General Counsel and General Counsel while mentoring others and contributing to a positive team culture.

**Specialist Expertise**: Develop deep expertise in key areas that makes you the ‘go-to’ person for the business.

This **12-month maternity leave contract** is a fantastic opportunity to step into a dynamic, high-performing team and make an immediate impact.

As a Senior Legal Counsel, you’ll be involved in a variety of work which may include:

- Advising on high profile marketing campaigns (e.g. New World), intellectual property and privacy matters.
- Drafting, reviewing and advising on key strategic commercial and supply contracts.
- Company secretarial and corporate governance work.
- Advising on liquor & restricted products laws.
- Supporting on compliance with regulatory matters and responding to regulatory investigations, including advising on the Grocery Industry Competition Act.
- Advising Foodstuffs’ property team and instructing external lawyers on leasing documentation and other property agreements for our $2 billion + property portfolio.
- Supporting on mergers and acquisitions.
- Supporting the Legal team on legal innovation and efficiencies.

At Foodstuffs North Island, we’re all about people, innovation, and making a difference in the lives of everyday Kiwis. Our culture is built on collaboration, curiosity, and shared success.

So, if you’re ready to roll up your sleeves, solve challenging legal puzzles, and shape the future of our iconic Kiwi brands, we want to hear from you

**Ngā painga - What we offer**

We’re committed to providing awesome experiences for our people, including offering a range of benefits:

- Free carparking, we’ve got over 1,000 carparks including 36 EV plugs
- Onsite café with subsidised meals, mini mart, 5% discount at our retail stores
- Flexible working options, a day off on your birthday
- Inhouse learning and development courses, flu vaccinations, and social network groups (we call them Tribes)

**He kōrero mōu - About you**

You’re a legal superstar with a proven track record of blending sharp legal expertise with pragmatic, business-focused advice. With at least 5 years of post-qualification experience under your belt, you’ll thrive on building strong relationships and empowering teams to make bold, informed decisions. You’re a proactive problem solver who thrives in fast-paced environments, bringing a strategic mindset, a collaborative spirit, and a passion for driving innovation. Your energy and enthusiasm will be matched by your ability to see the big picture while managing the finer details with ease.

Key skills and attributes you’ll bring:

- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to simplify complex legal concepts.
- Exceptional relationship-building and stakeholder management skills.
- A proactive, solutions-focused approach to navigating challenges and opportunities.
- Strategic thinking and the ability to align legal guidance with business objectives.
- Outstanding communication and time management skills to juggle priorities effectively.
- A passion for collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning

We’re interested in your diver