Chief Legal Advisor

The role As Chief Legal Advisor, you will lead and steward Maritime NZ’s Legal Services function, ensuring high‑quality, practical legal advice that enables effective delivery of our regulatory approach. Reporting at a senior level, you will provide strategic legal counsel to the Director and Authority, while working collaboratively across the organisation to strengthen decision‑making, build capability and embed a shared understanding of what good legal advice looks like in the context of our regulatory approach. You will play a key role within the Regulatory Frameworks and Technical Support leadership group, contributing to organisational strategy and partnering with senior leaders to achieve system‑wide outcomes. In particular you and your team work closely with Regulatory Operations senior leaders to support their operational decision‑making responsibilities. You will lead a high‑performing team, fostering a positive, inclusive and collaborative culture while overseeing people, workflow, budget and performance. This includes driving continuous improvement, building capability and ensuring robust planning, reporting and delivery of the legal work programme. The role also requires strong external engagement—maintaining trusted relationships with Crown Law, external counsel and sector stakeholders—and supporting Maritime NZ’s response functions when required. As a senior leader, you’ll champion health, safety, wellbeing and security, while ensuring the Legal Services function remains responsive, effective and aligned to organisational priorities. Responsibilities Lead and steward Maritime NZ’s Legal Services function ensuring high‑quality practical legal advice that enables effective delivery of our regulatory approach. Provide strategic legal counsel to the Director and Authority. Work collaboratively across the organisation to strengthen decision‑making, build capability and embed a shared understanding of good legal advice. Contribute to organisational strategy and partner with senior leaders to achieve system‑wide outcomes. Work closely with Regulatory Operations senior leaders to support operational decision‑making. Lead a high‑performing team fostering a positive, inclusive and collaborative culture while overseeing people, workflow, budget and performance. Drive continuous improvement, build capability and ensure robust planning, reporting and delivery of the legal work programme. Maintain trusted relationships with Crown Law, external counsel and sector stakeholders. Support Maritime NZ’s response functions when required. Champion health, safety, wellbeing and security within the organisation. Ensure the Legal Services function remains responsive, effective and aligned to organisational priorities. What you bring You are an experienced and strategic legal leader with a strong track record of delivering high‑quality, outcomes focused advice in complex, regulatory environments. You bring the ability to influence at a senior level, build trusted relationships, and work collaboratively across diverse stakeholder groups, including Chief Executives, Boards and senior leaders. With a pragmatic mindset and strong critical thinking, you are skilled at navigating complexity, leading projects to successful delivery, and fostering high‑performing teams through mentoring and development. You communicate with clarity and impact—both written and verbal—and bring a culturally aware, inclusive approach. Proven experience and knowledge of leading legal function to provide independent, high quality, outcomes focussed legal advice. Excellent leadership, negotiation and influencing without authority skills. Successful experience working in regulatory environments with Chief Executives, Boards and senior executives. Demonstrated ability and experience leading and managing complex projects to successful completion. Proven success with mentoring and developing team members and peers. Proven ability building consensus with multiple parties. Experience working effectively within Public Sector systems and processes. Ability to network effectively in a consultative and collaborative manner, influencing and building credibility across a range of stakeholders (internal and external). Highly developed written and oral communication skills. Strong writing and reporting skills. Pragmatism, fresh thinking, and good critical thinking skills. Demonstrated capability to learn and apply strategies to manage stressful or traumatic situations. Ability to work in a culturally safe and respectful manner, always being mindful of the cultural diversity of the industry and having regard to Te Ao Māori and Treaty of Waitangi principles. Benefits Maritime NZ recognises and respects te Tiriti o Waitangi and we are committed to working with Māori to build strong, meaningful and enduring relationships to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes. We aim to be a workplace where everyone feels valued, supported with a sense of belonging. We encourage our people to actively contribute to our workplace culture where we all thrive and authentically live our values. Upon joining us you'll receive a full range of benefits including Income Protection and Life Insurance. Position Details This is a permanent, full‑time role (37.5 hour per week). The appointing salary range is $194,797–$238,085, depending on skills and experience. #J-18808-Ljbffr