Senior Legal Counsel - Construction Specialist

Construction – Senior Legal Counsel – 3‑year fixed‑term contract Exciting opportunity to join one of New Zealand’s premier in‑house legal teams and be involved in important and impactful construction legal work. Great in‑house legal role working on some of NZ’s largest and most complex construction projects Exposure to complex and diverse work in a fast‑paced and transformational environment 3‑years fixed term contract to align with delivery of our major projects, flexible work arrangements, FREE onsite parking. About the role We are looking for a construction lawyer to join our team here at Auckland Airport for a 3‑year fixed‑term contract. This role will partner closely with project delivery, procurement, commercial, operational and executive stakeholders to provide pragmatic legal advice throughout the project lifecycle, from procurement and contract negotiation through to project delivery, variations, claims management and dispute avoidance. The successful candidate will be comfortable operating in a complex project environment and balancing legal risk against commercial outcomes. Your key responsibilities are: Advising our infrastructure team on Auckland Airport’s precinct‑wide infrastructure plan, the role will need to provide strategic and contractual advice on our construction projects. A strong understanding of construction contracts is required Advising on potential disputes and appropriate resolution Providing legal advice regarding legal obligations Assisting staff with engagement with external stakeholders (airlines, Government organisations, contractors, third parties operating on Airport land) Maintaining and reviewing the Company’s precedent documents Processing the execution of contracts and agreements in accordance with Company policy In conjunction with the Head of Legal and the rest of the legal team, liaising and managing the relationship with AIAL’s external legal counsel Identifying appropriate matters to be outsourced and providing key link between relevant Company personnel and external legal counsel What you’ll bring to the role To ensure your success in this role, you will need: Admitted as a barrister and solicitor in New Zealand and holding a current practising certificate LLB 10+ years’ experience across a leading private practice law firm(s) in a front end construction team and/or in an in house legal team; Ability to work with supervision but also as an effective team member Well‑developed skills as a team contributor, with demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively Excellent relationship‑building skills at all levels of the organisation Demonstrated success in applying influence and/or negotiating to achieve a win/win outcome Ability to think strategically and cope with business complexity Understanding of commercial realities, and well‑developed business acumen in the NZ construction industry Sound working knowledge of relevant legal frameworks in New Zealand #J-18808-Ljbffr