Principal Counsel

2 weeks ago

Auckland City, New Zealand Niche Full time

Principal/Senior Legal Counsel - Commercial and Construction

Having now appointed their two new legal managers, the Wellington City Council (WCC) legal team are continuing to implement their revised structure, to ensure they are well resourced and have a team of well supported, high performing lawyers.

Come and join their team and take advantage of the amazing work opportunities that arise from the varied, challenging, and complex work they do for our city.

**The work**

The commercial and property team provides legal advice across the full range of Council’s commercial, property and construction work. There are challenging and ongoing projects that need strong and varied legal support such as the Moa Point sludge minimisation facility, strengthening and modernising the central library Te Mataphi, and Let’s Get Wellington Moving.

**The opportunities**

We’re looking for a new Principal Legal Counsel and /or Senior Legal Counsel to provide strategic, solutions focused legal advice. As a collegial team, both roles also support more junior members of the team.

Principal Legal Counsel

As a specialist in their field, the Principal Legal Counsel (PLC) will take a lead role in complex and often high-profile projects to ensure Council achieves its objectives in a safe and pragmatic way.

The Principal Legal Counsel also provides advice to the Council and Executive Leadership Team, as well as others within WCC, and supports the General Counsel and Manager Legal Services Commercial and Property to respond to high-risk and large-scale issues and projects facing WCC. The salary range for the PLC is $160 - $180,000 depending on experience.

Senior Legal Counsel

As Senior Legal Counsel (SLC), you will help lead the team’s response to work within your specialty area. You will provide advice across the full range of WCC’s work and support the Manager Legal Services Commercial and Property to respond to high-risk and large-scale issues and projects facing WCC. The salary range for the SLC is $130 - $150,000 depending on experience.

You will be supported to grow and develop toward your preferred leadership pathway, whether that be as a specialist in your field or people leader.

Working for the Council offers you a range of benefits including 5 weeks annual leave, flexible working options, health and wellbeing support, Council staff discounts and a range of learning and development programmes and opportunities.

**About you**

You will:

- have at least 7 years PQE for the Principal Legal Counsel or 4 years PQE for the Senior Legal Counsel role
- be able to provide strategic, solutions focused legal advice in a fast-paced environment
- be experienced in drafting, reviewing and advising on commercial documents
- thrive in uncertain and complex environments
- have an understanding of or ability to quickly come to grips with the regulatory frameworks in which Council operates
- hold or be eligible to hold a current NZ practising certificate

Having experience working in-house in a public sector commercial environment or local government would be an advantage.

**How to apply

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