New Zealand Police is working with the community to make New Zealanders be safe and feel safe. With over 13,000 staff, we provide policing services 24 hours a day, every day. We operate by land, sea and air, manage over 860,000 emergency calls a year and are always actively preventing crime and crashes.
We're working towards specific goals and targets that highlight our intent to work collaboratively with iwi and communities, other government sectors and business partners to deliver `Our Business' and achieve long-term change.
Senior Legal Advisor - Employment!
- Based at Police National Headquarters, Wellington
- Police Employee
- Permanent, Full time
- NAV
- JR 5415057
E tu ki te kei o te waka, kia pakia koe e nga ngaru o te wa.
Stand at the stern of the canoe and feel the spray of the future biting at your face
Mo te tunga | About the role
Are you looking for an opportunity to take your legal career to the next level and gain experience in a fast paced and exciting area?
People Group has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Legal Advisor to join the Employment Legal Team based at Police National Headquarters (PNHQ) in Wellington. You will be working within a small dedicated team who provide Employment law advice nationally across Police.
Police is one of New Zealand's largest employers, and the employment issues that arise are complex and interesting. The People Group Employment Legal team provide advice on high risk and complex employment law matters, projects, change management processes, and disciplinary matters for Police nationally as well as providing advice on employment investigations that are complex or of a serious nature. The team provides advice on all aspects of the employment relationship, manages personal grievances, and provides advice on the interpretation of legislation, employment agreements and policies. The team also works with external counsel on ERA/Employment Court matters.
The successful applicant will have a high degree of integrity, and their personal attributes will reflect Police values and code of conduct. You will work in a collegial team environment in PNHQ, and be supported by the team manager, you'll be interacting with many work groups internally as well as with districts and directorates as well as external partner agencies across Aotearoa.
Key Accountabilities:
- Demonstrate a broad range of experience in a legal advisory or in-house counsel role, with a focus on employment law.
- Manage personal grievances including representing employers at mediation.
- Provide legal advice as and when required on employment issues, including interpretation of collective employment agreements and the Holidays Act.
- Manage a high case load, with the ability to prioritise matters and manage competing deadlines.
- The ability to take a constructive approach to building relationships internally and externally.
- Prepare written and verbal communication clearly and concisely, present comfortably to both large and small groups.
- Expert communicator able to adapt to working with a broad range of customers (including working directly with senior Police leaders and executives) both internally and externally in an environment that is committed to Our People.
- The ability to apply your legal research and writing skills in a fast paced environment which aligns with Our Business.
- A working knowledge of relevant NZ law applicable to employment law and in-house roles in Government.
- The ability to develop, maintain and maximise effective partnerships to develop sound, achievable and sustainable legal solutions.
He aha taau e kawe mai | What you'll bring
Whilst we are looking for skills, knowledge and experience relevant to the role, we also place high importance on your state of mind, the alignment of your values with ours, your ability to contribute to and build high performing teams, and the way that you lead yourself or others.
Whakaritenga motuhake | Special requirements
- Hold an LLB and a current practising certificate (or be eligible to obtain a current practising certificate)
- Have a minimum of 6 years PQE or equivalent and recent experience in employment law (either in-house or in a law firm), and we would welcome a broader range of legal experience throughout your career to date including in professional discipline or litigation
- Travel to mediations or disciplinary meetings across Aotearoa
This role is Team Leader level. You can refer to Indicators for Success for further information on the requirements
To view the position description for this role please copy and paste this link into a new browser:
https://www.police.govt.nz/sites/default/files/pd/07-2025/senior_legal_advisor_-_employment.pdf
Mo tatou | About us
New Zealand Police is the lead agency responsible for preventing crime and enhancing community safety. It works in partnership with individuals, communities, businesses, and other public sector agencies towards the vision of making New Zealand the safest country. Police is the government's largest front-line response agency with around 15,000 staff in large and small communities all over New Zealand and in liaison and policing development roles overseas.
Your development is highly valued at NZ Police. Our employees enjoy significant investment in their development not only at an individual level, but also at the team and community practice level. We work hard to match you with work that will both play to your strengths and challenge you in new ways.
The work you'll be engaged in is real, tangible work that directly benefits our frontline and communities. Taken all together, this means we can offer you career path opportunities to progress in your chosen profession and become a more well-rounded, experienced leader, with opportunities across the range of work we support.
To view more detailed information about our recruitment process along with further details about requirements please click below link:
Applicant Information Pack (External)
Tono inaianei | Apply now
If this position sounds like you, click apply now and submit a tailored CV. You will be required to submit an application form. Before confirmation of hire, pre-employment checks will be undertaken which include reference, drug and alcohol testing and police vetting prior to any written offer being made.
For further information on the application process, please copy and paste this URL: https://www.police.govt.nz/careers
All applications must be submitted online and will not be accepted directly via email. All applicants must have the right to work in New Zealand.
Utu a-tau | Salary
This position is covered by a collective agreement and salary will commence between $142,124 and $157,916 dependent on skills and experience relevant to the role.
If you are an internal applicant, you must apply internally through the police system. You must provide an alternative contact email address and state your future commitments should you be successful in the next stage of the recruitment process.
Please note: Deadline for applications is 5:00 pm on 31st August 2025. Applications may be reviewed prior to the close date as well as contact made with candidates.
If you have any questions about this vacancy, please contact ashna.narayan@police.govt.nz