Senior Lawyer

Ministry of Social Development NZ; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 122,000 - 152,000; Full time

Job summary

Ministry of Social Development NZ in Christchurch seeks a senior lawyer to lead advice on corporate matters, incl. contracting and information sharing.

You will work closely with MSD business areas to identify legal risks and ensure compliance, mentoring other legal staff and collaborating across MSD Legal. The role aligns with MSD - Services for the Future, a multi-year transformation programme to modernise systems and services, supporting people into employment and welfare initiatives.

Qualifications

• Current practising certificate (or ability to immediately obtain) and ~5 years' PQE.
• Public sector or service transformation experience is a strong advantage.
• Experience leading advice on corporate contracting and information sharing.
• Ability to mentor, coach and develop lawyers.

Responsibilities

• Provide clear legal advice on complex corporate matters.
• Lead and coordinate contracting and information-sharing guidance across MSD.
• Mentor and develop other legal staff within MSD Legal.
• Instruct and manage external legal counsel when required.

Skills

Legal leadership

Contracting

Information sharing

Mentoring

Education

Law degree

Practising certificate

Tools

Legal research

Instructing external counsel

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Ministry of Social Development NZ – Christchurch, South Island

This is an opportunity to support key MSD work programmes, including one of New Zealand's largest public sector technology-enabled transformation programmes

Join a team focused on delivering solution-focused legal advice on corporate matters

Full-time position available, Wellington (preferred) or Christchurch

Our Corporate Team is one of several legal teams within MSD Legal and is responsible for providing advice on corporate matters, including procurement, commercial and social sector contracting, privacy, OIAs, delegations and health and safety.

Our Corporate Team is one of several legal teams within MSD Legal and is responsible for providing advice on corporate matters, including procurement, commercial and social sector contracting, privacy, Official Information Act 1982 requests, delegations and health and safety.

About the role - Mō te tūnga

We are looking for a senior lawyer experienced in leading advice on corporate matters, particularly in the areas of contracting (commercial and social sector) and information sharing.

As a Senior Lawyer in the Corporate Team, you will work closely with a range of MSD business areas to identify legal risks to ensure MSD meets its legal and compliance obligations.

You will mentor and support other legal staff, contributing to the overall capability and excellence of MSD Legal.

The Senior Lawyer role involves working collaboratively with others in the Corporate Team and across MSD Legal.

MSD - Services for the Future is a multi-year programme to transform how MSD operates so we can deliver for New Zealanders and focus our resources and investment on the people who need it.

The programme will make significant changes to our underlying systems and introduce redesigned services that put people first. We'll create better tools and processes for supporting people into employment, modernise our payment system and enable better ways of working with our social sector partners.

provides clear legal advice on complex issues

enjoys working collaboratively across a range of subject areas and has excellent relationship building skills

can coach, mentor, and develop lawyers

has experience in instructing and managing external legal counsel

is observant of trends in technology and government policy, and the impact this has on our work.

has a current practising certificate or the ability to immediately obtain one and we would prefer at least 5 years PQE.

has experience in providing such advice in a public sector context and/or service transformation context is a strong advantage.

http://www.msd.govt.nz/hr/documents/position-descriptions/dce-organisational-assurance-and-communication/legal/senior-lawyer.docx

Salary - Utu-ā-tau: $122,381 - $152,296

The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) is a people-centred organisation. We're in communities across the motu, working with partners to help New Zealanders be safe, strong and independent.

We provide social policy advice to government, and assistance including income, employment and housing support to people of all ages, families, whānau and communities.

As a Te Tiriti o Waitangi partner, we are committed to supporting and enabling Māori, whānau, hapū, Iwi and communities to realise their own potential and aspirations.

Our people are as diverse as the communities we serve. We care about the wellbeing and success of our people and provide a supportive and inclusive working environment where people can thrive and be who they are.