Principal Solicitor – Public Law, Te Tiriti & Litigation
- Manage and mentor your legal colleagues and build the culture of the legal team
- Opportunities to lead projects and continuous improvement initiatives
- Strong, supportive team
Ko wai mātou | Our Organisation
It’s not very often something happens that’s big; like, really big. Big to the point that it will touch the lives of every single person in the motu. That’s what we’re talking about here. The provision of health services in Aotearoa, and how they are delivered, is about to change in a big way.
Te Whatu Ora-Health New Zealand and Te Aka Whai Ora-Māori Health Authority will together shape the delivery of health services in Aotearoa for generations to come and will form the core of a modern and integrated service looking after the needs of all our whānau. Te Whatu Ora is ‘the weaving of wellness’. Whatu is the combining together of people, resources, organisations, thoughts and actions for the betterment and wellbeing of all. Whatu is also a direct reference to the pupil of the eye, and the vision required of the new entity and system. Join us in this mahi...
Te whiwhinga mahi | The Opportunity
The purpose of the Principal Solicitor role is to lead the provision of high-quality, system-minded, and client-focused legal advice across all levels of the organisation. This role is particularly focused on constitutional and public law, governance, regulators and litigation. In this role, you will develop constructive and creative legal solutions to take advantage of opportunities and respond to problems. You will drive the steady and efficient management of longer-term legal matters and develop systems, processes, and training to ensure in-house legal services are of a consistently high quality. You will also manage and mentor other lawyers in the legal team, and instruct and work closely with external legal counsel as required.
You will lead the establishment of partnerships between clients and the legal team to ensure legal expertise and advice is provided to inform future decision making for work programmes that best support the delivery of the Government's and Ministry’s priorities and objectives. You will need to regularly engage with members of the Executive Leadership team and, as necessary and appropriate, with the Board of Te Whatu Ora on key legal risks, issues and strategies.
Legal Services is comprised of a national team of highly skilled lawyers working in specialist roles, and District teams supporting the operational work of our hospitals and community services in the districts and regions. Our work covers public law, procurement of goods and services including commercial, construction, ICT, health law and governance. We also link in with the employment law team regularly. We have a relatively flat structure and work together to support one another, our clients and our patients across the mōtu. Our legal function is in the development phase and holds great potential for involvement in a variety of legal issues and projects across the organisation.
This is a full-time permanent role that can be worked from anywhere in Aotearoa. However, the Public Law team is based in Wellington and day-to-day responsibilities will require engagement with agencies in Wellington, which means preference would be given to a candidate who resides in Wellington.
Mōu | About you
To be successful in this role you will have at least seven years' experience providing legal advice to public sector clients. You will be someone who enjoys a challenge, seizes opportunities and loves to support and get the best outcome for the organisation you work for. The successful candidate will be a great communicator, comfortable with ambiguity and providing both reactive and proactive advice to a wide range of clients in a fast-moving and diverse environment. You will have a strong understanding of the context of the public sector and experience
providing advice to senior leaders. And you will be able to manage and mentor your legal colleagues and help to build the culture of the legal team.
Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience
You will have:
· An understanding of the significance of Te Whatu Ora’s obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Pae Ora Act, including how to apply these in a meaningful way in your role
· Competency with te ao Māori, tikanga, and te reo Māori or a willingness to learn and grow
· A tertiary qualification in Law
· Qualified and eligible to hold a practicing certificate as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand
· At least seven years' post-qualification experience working as a lawyer
· Strong legal skills and practical experience at a senior level providing legal advice across a range of areas including public law and the application of the Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti o Waitangi to the public service
· Experience in implementing Te Tiriti o Waitangi in action
· Working knowledge and experience with government processes, machinery of government and working with legislation
Nau mai, uru mai | Come and join us
Te Whatu Ora is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion, and that means people from all the communities we serve being represented in our workforce. We want to see the real you in your application and welcome the real you on board if you come and work with us. Skills are gained across many areas of our life, not just in formal employment. If you can demonstrate the skills listed in the ad, but the experience was gained through whānau life, community or mahi aroha (volunteering) we encourage you to apply and share your story with us in your cover letter. At Te Whatu Ora we acknowledge and respect our people’s diversity and spiritual needs, ensuring a safe workplace that is a whānau orientated and supportive environment. We particularly welcome applications from Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.
Ko te mahi e tika ana mō te ao hurihuri nei |Work that suits today's ever -changing world
This is a truly rewarding role where you will come to work each day making a difference, leading change, and creating capabilities across our health service. Te Whatu Ora supports flexible and hybrid working, and offers learning and growth opportunities for staff.
Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply
To view the position description and/or apply for the role (by submitting your cover letter and CV), please click here. For tracking and reporting purposes, all applications must be submitted through our online career portal.
The applications closing date is 21 May 2023 at midnight. If you have any questions about the role, please feel free to contact Judy Chappell on careers@health.govt.nz
