Legal Team Lead I Corporate and Registries

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE

• Step into Leadership. Shape Legal Strategy. Grow your career.
• Permanent, full-time position based in our central Wellington offices
• Salary $132,417 - $160,472 + Kiwisaver + wellness benefits

Tēnei tūranga - About the Role:

Are you a seasoned legal professional ready to take the next step into leadership? Join MBIE as a Legal Team Lead in our Corporate & Registries team — a unique opportunity to lead a team of eight solicitor and senior solicitor practitioners while continuing to apply your legal expertise in a strategic and high-impact environment.

This role is ideal for someone looking to transition into people leadership while maintaining a strong technical foundation. You’ll be supported to grow your leadership capability and position yourself for future senior management roles within MBIE or the wider public & private sector.

As the Legal Team Lead, you’ll:

• Lead and manage a team of eight legal professionals delivering high-quality advice across MBIE’s diverse regulatory systems and corporate functions.
• Provide strategic oversight and ensure consistency and excellence in legal service delivery.
• Build capability, mentor team members, and foster a collaborative, high-performing team culture.
• Work closely with the Legal Services Manager and senior stakeholders across MBIE, including the Chief Executive and Ministers.
• Contribute to MBIE’s governance, integrity, and conduct frameworks.

This is a leadership role with real influence — you’ll be helping shape legal strategy and supporting MBIE’s mission to Grow New Zealand for All.

Ngā pukenga me ngā wheako e hiahiatia ana - Skills and Experience Required

We’re seeking a respected legal practitioner who is ready to lead. You’ll bring:

•    A current practising certificate and strong expertise in public law, statutory interpretation, or other relevant areas.
•    Experience working in complex legal environments, ideally within government or regulatory settings.
•    The ability to lead and inspire others, even if you’re new to formal people management.
•    Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
•    A collaborative mindset and commitment to continuous improvement.
•    Must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

Why work for us?

We aim to create a culture where our people are empowered to bring fresh perspectives to issues and to develop new approaches.  Our collaborative team encourages a positive, customer focussed, innovative and best in class attitude.  We are a fun, focused and supportive team who works hard to deliver excellence to our clients.

We proactively support development through on-the-job learning, training courses, conferences, and seminars.

We have a flexible working policy to support work-life balance.

Ētahi kōrero mō MBIE - About MBIE:

MBIE's goal is to create a resilient and high-performing economy that delivers real and ongoing quality of life for all New Zealanders.

We do this by working with others to create an environment that supports businesses to be more productive and internationally competitive, enables all New Zealanders to participate in the economy through improved job opportunities and by working to ensure quality housing is more affordable.

People are at the heart of our mahi, our way of working is guided by our values which shape our behaviours.

• Mahi Tahi – Better Together
• Māia – Bold and brave
• Pae Kahurangi – Build our Future
• Pono Me Te Tika – Own It

Our aspirations are echoed in our Māori identity – Hīkina Whakatutuki – which broadly means ‘lifting to make successful'.

MBIE recognises the partnership founded under Te Tiriti o Waitangi between Māori and the Crown and is committed to giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We will do this through enduring, meaningful and effective partnerships with iwi, Māori, other Māori groups/organisations and the Crown, as this is critical to enable economic and social development, both for Māori and for wider Aotearoa New Zealand. We are committed to continuing to partner with iwi in order to find new sustainable solutions to address long standing systemic and cross-cutting issues facing Māori and wider Aotearoa New Zealand and we are also committed to identifying opportunities for iwi to lead and creating an enabling environment for iwi to leverage these opportunities.

E mōhio ana a Hīkina Whakatutuki i puea ake te kōtuinga I waenganui i a ngāi Māori me te Karauna i Te Tiriti o Waitangi, ā, kei te whai ia ki te whakaū ake i Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Mā te whai kiko o ngā kōtuinga ahungaroa o ngāi wi, o ngāi Māori, me ētahi atu rōpū Māori ki te Karauna, katutuki tēnei. He āhuatanga nui tēnei e āhei ai ngā mahi whanaketanga ā-ohanga, ā-pāpori hoki ki a ngāi Māori me Aotearoa whānui. E whai tonu ana mātou ki te kōtui atu ki ngā iwi mō te rapu huarahi hou ki te whakaara i ngā kaupapakua roa nei e tāmi ana i a ngāi Māori me Aotearoa whānui, ā, e whai ana hoki ki te tautohu i ngā āheinga kōkiritanga mā ngā iwi, me te tautoko i ngā iwi kia whai mana ake ai ēnei āheinga.

Me pēhea te tono - How to Apply:

Click here to view a position description. 

All applications must be submitted via our online process and include a Cover Letter and CV outlining your interest and suitability for the role. 

Email Jess Dalbeth at Jess.Dalbeth@mbie.govt.nz if you have any further questions.

This role will be advertised until filled. We will be reviewing applications as they are received. If you are interested in the role, please don’t hesitate to apply.