Legal Advisors - Senior Legal Advisor and Intermediate Commercial Legal Advisor

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Wellington (with the possibility of Auckland)

Advert extended until end of Tuesday 22nd April.

Join our diverse and talented people and work at the heart of national security, providing essential intelligence to the NZ government to protect New Zealand and its people.

At the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) | Te Pā Whakamarumaru, we are dedicated to our mission of keeping Aotearoa New Zealand and our people safe and secure. We collect, analyse and assess intelligence to protect New Zealand from threats such as foreign interference, espionage and terrorism.

Why work for us

Alongside getting to work with our talented people, we also offer a range of comprehensive benefits which include:

• Medical Insurance and Vision Care packages
• Enhanced employer contributions to your Kiwisaver
• Generous Leave benefits, including additional paid days off and enhanced sick and parental leave
• Childcare allowance for your preschoolers
• Onsite free gym (Wellington only)
• Opportunities for personal and professional growth and career pathways across the intelligence community
• Flexible working options, and great work-life balance

We can't reveal all the details of what you will get to work on, but as part of the Legal and Compliance team you will get to work on complex and novel issues and contribute to the protection of New Zealand's national security.

This is an opportunity to work somewhere really different, on really interesting work and to contribute directly to the protection of New Zealand and New Zealanders.

SENIOR LEGAL ADVISOR | Salary range: I $120,358 - $153,791

We are looking for a talented, highly motivated, Senior Lawyer to join our fun and collaborative team.

We're looking for someone who is keen to make a difference and be at the cutting edge of legal issues. You will be comfortable advising on a range of legal areas and on novel and complex matters to support the organisation to fulfil its important functions. 

Key responsibilities:

• Provide high quality, strategic legal, compliance, and risk management advice on all matters relating to the operational and administrative activities of the NZSIS
• Provide legal input into the development and implementation of legislation, policies and processes relevant to NZSIS
• Provide legal training to the NZSIS workforce on legal and compliance requirements 
• Provide leadership within the team and across the organisation

We are looking for someone with

• Minimum of 8 years PQE
• Extensive experience of legal practice in either the public or private sector, with experience in operational or similar environments 
• Excellent judgement, initiative, influence and ability to offer solutions to identified problems with minimal supervision
• An ability to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines when required by operational demands

INTERMEDIATE COMMERCIAL LEGAL ADVISOR | Salary range: H $103,009 - $131,622

We are looking for a talented, highly motivated Intermediate Commercial Lawyer to join our fun and collaborative team.

The role will cover a wide range of commercial and contract matters that will involve you in projects big and small.  While the role will be predominately commercial, there will be opportunities to provide legal advice across a range of other stimulating areas in support of the intelligence collection and protective security functions of NZSIS.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide high quality commercial legal, compliance, and risk management advice (as well as advice on matters relating to the operational activities of NZSIS, as required)
• Draft documentation to support NZSIS's commercial (and other) requirements
• Provide legal input into the development and implementation of legislation, policy and processes relevant to NZSIS
• Provide legal training to the NZSIS workforce on commercial arrangements (and other legal and compliance requirements as required) 

We are looking for someone with

• Minimum of 3-5 years PQE
• Commercial law experience, ideally including:
  • experience within, or for government; and
  • ICT contract experience
• Excellent judgement, initiative, influence and ability to offer solutions to identified problems
• An ability to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines when required by operational demands

Before you apply

Working within our unique environment means we have to ensure you're eligible for employment.

You must:

• Have been a New Zealand Citizen for at least 10 years

OR

Hold a current NZ Residency Class Visa and ideally have been a citizen of the UK, USA, Canada or Australia for at least 10 years

• Be eligible to obtain a Top Secret Special (TSS) security clearance
  • Ordinarily, this means you'll have a 15 year checkable background in countries NZSIS Vetting can make meaningful and reliable checks.

Still unsure? Use this online tool to self-check your eligibility for a TSS security clearance: http://www.protectivesecurity.govt.nz/eligibility-tool

The NZIC treats all applications for employment in the strictest confidence and we expect that you maintain a similar level of confidentiality during the recruitment process and throughout your career.

We'll provide you with information and tips throughout the recruitment process, but in the meantime check out our Myth Busting booklet: https://beyondordinary.nzic.govt.nz/mythbusting