Senior Solicitor - 18 month fixed term

About this role

Mo tatou - About Us

He aha te mea nui o tēnei ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.

What is the most important thing in the world, it is people, it is people, it is people 

Ka noho mātāmua te orangatonutanga o te tangata ki a mātou o Mahi Haumaru Aotearoa. Ko te aronga matua kia haere haumaru ngā tāngata katoa ki te mahi, kia hoki haumaru ki te te kāinga. Inā ka ngākaunui koe ki ēnei āhuatanga, tomo mai ki tēnei whare whakaruruhau. 

WorkSafe New Zealand | Mahi Haumaru Aotearoa, is the primary work health and safety regulator – our vision is that everyone who goes to mahi comes home healthy and safe.  Our kaimahi are passionate about our vision and embrace and demonstrate our Mātāpono WorkSafe Values through the mahi they do: 

• Whakakotahi – we're united in a strong purpose 
• Kōrero mai – we engage meaningfully 
• Tiakina mai - we're entrusted with a duty of care. 

We offer a range of benefits including:

• Free life insurance
• Discounts on health insurance and eye care
• Five weeks annual leave
• $400 contribution towards setting up your home workstation
• 15 days sick leave and
• Learning and professional development opportunities

There are a growing number of employee led networks to promote the goals and needs of our diverse communities, such as our Te Rōpū Atuapiko Rainbow Network, Pacific Network, Wāhine Network, Tū Rangatira Māori Network.

We are coming to the end of the current organisational change process we have been in. WorkSafe | Mahi Haumaru is going into a period of transition and stability.

Ko te tīma - About your team

WorkSafe | Mahi Haumaru is a Crown Entity responsible for administering and enforcing the Health and Safety at Work Act and other health and safety legislation.  The Legal team provides the quality, in-house legal services that WorkSafe | Mahi Haumaru needs to perform those functions effectively, including the Chief Executive and the Board.    We are a busy, tight-knit team that works collegially, professionally, and to high standards. 

Ō te tūranga - About the role

You will be responsible for providing high quality, timely, accurate, and practical legal advice (formal and informal) in a dynamic context primarily in relation to WorkSafe's investigations. The role will also see you acting as counsel for WorkSafe in its litigation, including appearances before the District Court nationwide in the conduct of WorkSafe prosecutions. 

This role will suit someone who is seeking an opportunity to join a friendly and professional team that supports WorkSafe in achieving its vision of ensuring that everyone who goes to work comes home healthy and safe. 

It will suit a lawyer who thrives on variety and challenge and enjoys working collaboratively with staff across an organisation. 

Ko tōu ake mahi - What You'll Do

• Provide written and oral legal advice, guidance, and support to WorkSafe on matters associated with the legislation that WorkSafe enforces (including prosecution decision-making) and on operational matters generally
• Draft legal documents, including Court documents
• Act as counsel for WorkSafe in respect of its litigation activities
• Deliver other legal services that support the achievement of WorkSafe's strategic objectives
• Contribute to the development of others in the team including through knowledge sharing, mentoring, training, and peer review
• Instruct external legal counsel, as required

Ko ngā pukenga ōu - What You'll Bring

• litigation experience (ideally including criminal litigation) from within a similar complex regulatory environment 
• experience operating in an in-house legal environment 
• a passion to make a difference in health and safety  
• the ability to build strong internal and external relationships 
• a current practising certificate 
• a level 2 (or higher) Prosecutor's Classification Scheme classification (or the ability to obtain this) 
• Relevant tertiary qualification in law 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. 

Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi. 

With your food basket and my food basket the people will thrive

Awhe utu - Salary range

As part of our remuneration framework the full salary range for the position is from $136,709 to $180,906.  Note: KiwiSaver/SSRSS employer contribution is additional to/on top of your base salary.

Me pēhea te tono - How to apply

Click the apply link, complete an application form and submit a copy of your CV and cover letter.

For further information please contact careers@worksafe.govt.nz with any queries, or to find out more about working for us, go to Careers | WorkSafe.

WorkSafe Mahi Haumaru is an equal opportunity employer.  We value diversity and welcome and encourage applicants from all walks of life.  We value the experience your point of difference could bring to us.

Please let us know if there is any support we can provide to ensure the recruitment process is accessible to you. We look forward to reviewing your application and getting to know more about you.

Applications close on: Tuesday 29 April