General Counsel & Company Secretary

Artemis Executive Recruitment Limited; Hamilton; On-site; NZD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Waikato Waters is seeking an experienced General Counsel to join its Executive Leadership Team in a pivotal three-year fixed-term role. Based in Hamilton, this senior, stakeholder-facing position requires consistent onsite presence and strategic leadership across governance, risk, and regulatory compliance during the transfer of water services into a single entity. Applications welcome from NZ-qualified lawyers with in-house experience.

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer with at least 12 years in-house leadership experience in a complex, regulated environment.
• Current New Zealand practising certificate or eligibility to obtain one.
• Experience in governance, risk, and regulatory frameworks; strong commercial judgement.

Responsibilities

• Lead legal and governance function for the transfer of water services from six councils into one entity.
• Provide strategic legal and commercial advice to the Board and Chief Executive.
• Strengthen governance, risk frameworks, and ensure regulatory obligations are met throughout the transition.
• Oversee governance, company secretariat, procurement, major capital works, and privacy/disclosure considerations.

Skills

In-house legal leadership

Regulatory risk management

Contracting and procurement

Governance and board liaison

Stakeholder engagement with iwi/Māori

Strategic legal advisory

Education

New Zealand practising certificate or eligibility

Job description

About the role

Waikato Waters is seeking an experienced General Counsel to join its Executive Leadership Team in a pivotal three-year fixed-term role.

As a trusted adviser to the Board and Chief Executive, you will lead the legal and governance function as water services transfer from six councils into one new entity. You will provide strategic legal and commercial advice, strengthen governance and risk frameworks, and ensure regulatory and statutory obligations are effectively managed throughout this significant period of change.

Your remit will span governance and company secretariat, major capital works, procurement and commercial arrangements, risk and assurance, privacy and disclosure. You will also build strong relationships with councils, regulators, iwi partners and advisers, providing clear and pragmatic leadership in a highly regulated and high-scrutiny environment.

Based in Hamilton, this is a full-time position with flexibility. Given the seniority and stakeholder-facing nature of this role, consistent onsite presence will be an essential element of your success.

What we’re looking for

• An experienced qualified lawyer with at least 12 years’ senior in-house legal leadership experience within a complex, regulated environment with a current New Zealand practising certificate, or eligibility to obtain one.
• Solid experience managing legal, regulatory, commercial and reputational risk
• Strong commercial judgement across contracting, procurement and major projects
• Experience establishing or developing governance, risk and assurance frameworks
• The credibility and judgement to operate effectively at Board and executive level
• Confidence engaging with iwi and Māori partners, with respect for te ao Māori and tikanga Māori
• Experience within utilities, infrastructure, water or a similarly regulated sector would be highly desirable

About the company

Waikato Waters is a newly established, publicly owned water services organisation bringing together water services from six councils into one entity. This is an important period in its establishment, with the organisation building the governance, systems and capability required to deliver effectively for its communities over the long term.

Its leadership culture is grounded in responsibility, integrity, respect, collective leadership and leading through change. This is an environment that values sound judgement, transparency and collaboration, with the opportunity to help build something enduring for Waikato communities and the taiao.

Te mana o te wai, te mana o te tangata – Healthy water, healthy people.

Artemis Executive Recruitment is committed to creating inclusive and respectful workplaces. We value diversity as a strength and welcome applicants that can help bring a difference to our client organisations.