Legal Counsel

Southern Cross; Auckland; On-site; NZD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellbeing leave (5 days)

Health insurance

Life insurance

Discounts on pet and travel insurance

Parental leave benefits

Workplace wellbeing programme

Flexi leave for study/volunteering

Annual volunteer day

Job summary

Southern Cross Health Insurance in Auckland seeks a Legal Counsel to join our Legal & Governance team, delivering pragmatic, commercially grounded advice that supports sound decisions for our members.

You'll partner with leaders across the business—from contracting and marketing to product interpretation—translating complex issues into plain language while balancing risk, opportunity, and customer outcomes.

Qualifications

• LLB or equivalent with NZ practising certificate.
• At least three years' PQE, preferably in-house.
• Solid understanding of financial services legislation.
• Strong risk management capability and data handling.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Track record of building trusted relationships and influencing.

Responsibilities

• Providing timely, practical legal advice across commercial contracting, marketing and product interpretation
• Advising on legal and regulatory obligations, including financial services legislation
• Shaping pragmatic solutions balancing legal risk with strategic priorities and member interests
• Supporting fair outcomes for customers and ongoing compliance with relevant legislation
• Building legal and regulatory understanding across the business through training and practical tools
• Contributing to legal research and knowledge-sharing that strengthens the function
• Supporting colleagues and lifting team effectiveness and productivity

Skills

Legal advice

Contract law

Regulatory compliance

Risk management

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical thinking

Plain language

Education

LLB degree

NZ practising certificate

Job description

About us

Southern Cross Health Insurance is shaping a healthier Aotearoa New Zealand. Our purpose is simple: empowering our members to live well for longer. We're here to give peace of mind through timely access to quality care, inspire healthier living, and lead positive change across the health system. As a New Zealand-owned, member-based organisation, we're building a future where wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do -- delivering exceptional value for our members and creating an environment where our people thrive.

Now is an exciting time to join us. You'll be part of a high-performing, values-driven team where people are at the heart of everything we do -- and in return for your talent, you'll have the opportunity to grow, make an impact, and be proud of the difference your work makes.

About the role

We are looking for a Legal Counsel to join our Legal & Governance team, providing pragmatic, commercially grounded legal advice that helps Southern Cross make sound decisions and deliver good outcomes for our members.

You'll partner with leaders and teams right across the business, from commercial contracting and marketing through to product interpretation. It's a varied, hands-on in-house role where you'll help people understand their legal and regulatory obligations, weigh up risk and opportunity, and land on practical solutions, while building the kind of legal capability that means teams come to Legal when it really counts.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing timely, practical legal advice across commercial contracting, marketing and communications, and product interpretation

• Advising on legal and regulatory obligations, including financial services legislation and guidance, so the business can make informed, defensible decisions

• Shaping pragmatic solutions that balance legal risk with strategic priorities, commercial opportunity and member interests

• Supporting fair outcomes for customers and members, and ongoing compliance with relevant legislation and regulatory guidance

• Building legal and regulatory understanding across the business through training, education and practical tools

• Contributing to legal research and knowledge-sharing that strengthens the Legal function

• Supporting colleagues and bringing ideas that lift team effectiveness and productivity

You’re comfortable translating complex legal issues into plain language and bring a practical, solutions-focused mindset, with the confidence to offer constructive challenge while building trusted relationships across the business.

Ideally you will also have:

• An LLB or equivalent, with a current New Zealand practising certificate

• At least three years' PQE, preferably including some in-house experience

• A solid understanding of financial services legislation

• Strong risk management capability, including handling sensitive data and customer outcomes

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

• A track record of building trusted relationships, with the ability to collaborate and influence

Who we are

Ngākau nui. Āhurutanga. Tikanga.

Join a proud, diverse team that's always there, always real, always true. If you thrive in a caring, honest and open culture, we think you’ll love working with us.

We know our team's culture and wellbeing drive us forward. That's why we prioritise not only professional development but opportunities to thrive personally. We offer exceptional work/life balance, and our people are encouraged – and rewarded – for living well.

Southern Cross employee benefits include:

• Five days of wellbeing leave per year

• Health insurance for you and your immediate whānau

• Life insurance cover and discounts on pet and travel insurance

• Extra parental leave benefits and financial wellbeing support

• Participation in our workplace wellbeing programme

• The option to purchase flexi leave for study, volunteering, or supporting your whānau

• An annual volunteer day to contribute to a cause with your team

This role is Auckland based. While we appreciate interest from candidates in other locations, we're not able to consider remote options at this stage. If this sounds like the kind of work you want to help shape, we’d love to hear from you. Have questions? Check out our FAQs for help with the application and recruitment process.

We are proud to have taken the Pride Pledge, reflecting our commitment to inclusion and belonging. We also facilitate an active, employee‑led Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Forum, which includes our Rainbow Network, Māori Network, Pasifika Collective, and Neurodiversity and Whānau Support networks.

If you share our commitment and passion, we’d love to hear from you.