Hobson Leavy are delighted to partner with Te Whatu Ora – New Zealand Health in the Executive Search to find their Chief Legal Counsel.
It’s not very often something happens that’s big; like, really big. Big to the point that it will touch the lives of every single person in the motu. That’s what we’re talking about here. The provision of health services in Aotearoa, and how they are delivered, is about to change in a big way.
Te Whatu Ora-Health New Zealand and Te Aka Whai Ora-Māori Health Authority will together shape the delivery of health services in Aotearoa for generations to come and will form the core of a modern and integrated service looking after the needs of all our whānau. Te Whatu Ora is ‘the weaving of wellness’. Whatu is the combining together of people, resources, organisations, thoughts and actions for the betterment and wellbeing of all. Whatu is also a direct reference to the pupil of the eye, and the vision required of the new entity and system. Join us in this mahi…
Te whiwhinga mahi | The Opportunity
The Chief Legal Counsel is responsible for leading and developing Te Whatu Ora’s legal function as a centre of excellence for in-house legal services across all districts and at a national level to support Te Whatu Ora to meet its objectives, perform its functions and comply with its legal obligations. The role will manage the effective and efficient provision of external legal services and effectively manage any legal risk. The Chief Legal Counsel will act as the primary point of contact for protected disclosures and uphold probity and integrity practices at Te Whatu Ora including advising on conflicts of interest.
Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience
• A tertiary qualification in Law
• Qualified and eligible to hold a practising certificate as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand
• Extensive experience advising in-house at Board, Executive and senior leader levels in the public sector or private sector including developing effective communication materials for Boards and/or Ministers
• Experience advising a large crown entity or public sector organisation
• Strong legal knowledge across a range of areas including excellent knowledge of public law (including the application of the Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti o Waitangi to the public service) and the machinery of government
• Hands on experience of effectively building, leading, engaging, managing, coaching and mentoring legal teams.
• Highly effective oral and written communication skills across diverse audiences.
This role requires and/or would benefit from the following
• An understanding of the significance of and obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, including how to apply Te Tiriti principles in a meaningful way in your role
• Competency with te ao Māori, tikanga, and te reo Māori or a willingness to learn and grow
Nau mai, uru mai | Come and join
Te Whatu Ora is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion, and that means people from all the communities they serve being represented in our workforce. We want to see the real you in your application and welcome the real you on board if you come and work with them. Skills are gained across many areas of our life, not just in formal employment. If you can demonstrate the skills listed in the ad, but the experience was gained through whānau life, community or mahi aroha (volunteering) we encourage you to apply and share your story with us in your cover letter. At Te Whatu Ora we acknowledge and respect our people’s diversity and spiritual needs, ensuring a safe workplace that is a whānau orientated and supportive environment. We particularly welcome applications from Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.
Te painga o te mahi tahi me matou | Benefits
This is a truly rewarding role where you will come to work each day making a difference, leading change, and creating capabilities across our health service. Te Whatu Ora supports flexible and hybrid working, offers learning and growth opportunities and gives all staff five weeks of annual leave per year.
Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply
To express interest in this opportunity, please contact Lucinda Beamish at beamish@hobsonleavy.com or Lauren Shearer at shearer@hobsonleavy.com.
