Senior Solicitor

Environmental Protection Authority; Wellington; Hybrid; NZD 107,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work

Four weeks leave

Work-from-home setup stipend

EPA Environment Day

Māori capability program

Learning opportunities

Social club

EPA awards

Job summary

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in Wellington seeks an experienced Senior Solicitor to join our Legal Group. With 5+ years PQE, you will provide high-level, timely legal advice on public law, litigation and commercial matters to support our statutory functions.

Based in Wellington with hybrid working options, the role offers a competitive salary, generous leave, and opportunities to work on emissions trading, procurement and regulatory enforcement, plus professional development and

Qualifications

• 5+ years' experience PQE as a lawyer.
• Senior level experience advising on public law, litigation and commercial matters.
• Analytical, timely and practical legal advice.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-level, timely legal advice on statutory functions.
• Advise on public law issues, litigation, and regulatory enforcement.
• Collaborate with clients to develop practical, well-reasoned solutions.

Skills

Public law advisory

Litigation experience

Commercial law

Risk assessment

Communication & influencing

Proactive risk management

Regulatory matters

Legal research

Job description

As New Zealand's environmental regulator, the work we do today helps shape the future of our tomorrow. Our purpose | To tātou kaupapa We are the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), New Zealand's independent environmental regulator. Our role is important; to help protect our country's unique way of life by looking out for the health of its environment, and its people. Our kaupapa is about making the right decisions, based on evidence, mātauranga, and science. We are passionate people working as one EPA to encourage big ideas and bold goals. What we achieve today helps shape the future of New Zealand for generations to come. Jump in the waka - make history with us.

About our group | Mō te roopu

Our Legal Group helps to bring the EPA's vision to life by guiding the EPA in delivering on its responsibilities and strategic direction. Our kaupapa helps the EPA to protect the environment within the ambit of the law by providing solution focused advice, as the EPA's trusted advisors, on legal issues associated with the EPA's statutory functions. The protection of the environment sits at the heart of every decision we make. We're a passionate and connected crew, who put in the mahi to achieve meaningful outcomes for our people and the environment.

About the role | Mō te tūnga

This role is based in our Wellington office. While we're happy to consider work-from-home arrangements, this role is not designed for full-time remote working. Due to an internal promotion with the Legal Group, we are looking for an experienced Senior Solicitor with a minimum of 5+ years' experience to seamlessly slot into our team of 12 (including General Counsel and two Lead Solicitors) with their collaborative and open style and who will positively work alongside our clients in a collegial manner to come up with well thought out, practical solutions to best suit everyone. The successful candidate will have the ability to provide a high level of timely, accurate and solution focussed legal advice at all times on issues associated with our statutory functions.

EPA is part of the environmental regulatory system in Aotearoa, protecting and enhancing our way of life. The type of work you could be involved in is varied and interesting and you could be tackling such issues as emissions trading, pesticide use, genetically modified organisms, nationally significant infrastructure projects, marine consents for oil, gas and seabed mining activities or fast track consenting. You'll provide advice on broader public law issues, including matters relating to the Crown Entities Act, compliance and litigation, procurement and other corporate service matters. You may also be involved with judicial review and statutory appeal proceedings, as well as prosecutions, investigations, and regulatory enforcement.

About you | Mōhou ake

If you have some or all the skills and capabilities below, we would love to hear from you:

• 5+ years' experience PQE as a lawyer
• senior level experience advising on matters relating to public law, litigation and commercial
• excellent analytical skills and ability to provide accurate, timely, practical, solutions-focused legal advice
• ability to proactively identify, and appropriately communicate and manage, legal risks for the EPA
• strong problem-solving skills including the ability to think laterally and apply knowledge to multifaceted scenarios
• highly developed communication and influencing skills with good relationship management
• litigation - including conducting court proceedings and prosecutions
• settlement and litigation-risk assessment
• public-law decision-making and statutory interpretation
• advising operational regulators

Desired skills include:

• data governance, privacy and information-security issues
• intellectual property and licensing
• public-sector procurement
• technology and data contracts

What's in it for you | Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou

There are a range of benefits for our people:

• flexible working culture, this is a hybrid role based in our Wellington office
• three additional paid leave days between Christmas and New Years in addition to four weeks' annual leave
• $400 non-taxable payment to help you set up working at home
• an annual paid EPA Environment Day to support the community with environmental initiatives
• in-house Māori cultural capability building programme
• excellent learning opportunities, including the annual EPA Symposium, and Regulatory Practice Essentials modules
• active and lively social club, and diverse groups and support networks
• EPA awards recognising individual and team effort

Salary range

$106,532 - $159,798 per annum (midpoint $133,165) This is the full salary range of the band, from 80% - 120%. Appointments will generally be made at or below the midpoint of this range, depending on skills and experience.

Applications close | Rā Katinga

5pm, Tuesday 3 November 2026

We will review applications as they are submitted and may begin our selection process prior to the end of the application stage.