Senior Employment Counsel

Whāia tō ara whakamua i konei | Where to next? Imagine tomorrow—here at Fonterra

Here at Te Mātāpuna Fonterra, we believe in nurturing talent and providing opportunities for growth. If you’re applying for the next step in your career journey here at Fonterra, then you’ve come to the right place.

Whether you’re looking to deepen your expertise, broaden your horizons, or take on a new challenge, we’re here to support your progress. We’ll help you bring your best and be at your best—because your growth is our growth.

At Fonterra, our strength lies in our people. With over 22,000 employees globally and some of the largest collective employment agreements in the private sector, our commitment to productive and fair employment relationships drives business performance. Our Employment Relations team partners closely across the organisation to provide strategic, operational, and legal insight—making a tangible impact every day.

We’re now looking for a Senior Employment Counsel to help shape a future of better work. If you’re passionate about enabling a safe, engaging, and legally compliant workplace—are commercially minded and have the skills to steer complex employment issues—this opportunity is for you.

As our Senior Employment Counsel, you’ll operate at the intersection of law, strategy, business needs and people. You'll be instrumental in creating an environment that mitigates employment risk and fosters improvement across the business.

Your key responsibilities include:

We are a Co-operative created and owned by Aotearoa New Zealand dairy farmers. Since our beginnings, collaboration, innovation, and passion have enabled us to share the goodness of our dairy with the world. We're committed to caring for the land, our animals, and every drop of milk, producing nutritious food with safe, quality ingredients loved here in New Zealand and around the world.

As part of the Fonterra Co-op, you'll be solving for a better future alongside a team connected by solid values as we strive to be a leader in dairy sustainability, dairy innovation and science, with a focus on New Zealand milk.

When you join Fonterra, you'll open yourself to a career of opportunities where you can grow with us by developing your skills, sharing your knowledge, and exploring diverse career paths that ignite your passions.

You’re a natural collaborator and legal expert with a bold appetite for complexity. Your credentials and experience include:

• Tertiary qualification in Law with a current practising certificate.
• 6 years PQE in employment law—ideally with litigation experience in a specialist practice or in-house role.
• Experience navigating intricate organisations and managing sophisticated employment matters.
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to influence across diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to operate strategically while getting stuck into detailed problem solving.
• A collaborative spirit who thrives in a team setting but can work autonomously with confidence.

We live our values every day—Good Together, Better Every Day, and Every Drop Counts. They are for everyone and guide how we show up for each other, our farmers, and our communities.

We’re committed to helping you grow, empowering you to be your best self, and encouraging you to contribute and learn. You’ll find support through:

Ngā Mahi | A Career of Opportunities

At Te Mātāpuna Fonterra, we are inspired by purpose and guided by our principles and values. Together, we create goodness for generations and make a global impact at a local level. As part of our Co-operative, you are an everyday creator, imagining what Fonterra, dairy, and you can be here.

He Wāhi mō te Katoa | Together, we're shaping a future of inclusion.

Inclusion is key to our Co-operative. We're building a team that reflects the diverse world we live in, believing it drives better decisions and innovation.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds (ethnicities, genders, identities, orientations, ages, abilities, neurotypes, cultures, religions).

Even if you don't meet every requirement listed, we encourage you to apply; we value your potential and growth.

If you face accessibility issues or need accommodations during the process, please contact your recruiter. We ensure fair participation, allowing you to be at your best.