Senior Solicitor | Commercial

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE

Wellington Central
Permanent Role

• Commercial legal advisory and contracting experience
• Busy stimulating role with a high degree of client interaction and autonomy
• Provision of pragmatic, solutions-focussed commercial legal advice across a broad range of issues and contracts (including funding, ICT and All of Government arrangements)
• Strong client and stakeholder relationship skills and a genuine interest in understanding and supporting our clients

About the Role - Tēnei tūranga:

MBIE's Legal, Ethics and Privacy Branch (LEAP) is responsible for providing a centre of legal leadership and expertise for MBIE and is an exemplar of best practice for the public service.

We are one of the largest in-house legal teams in the public sector, so if you are looking to enhance your legal skills and knowledge then this is a great opportunity to join our Commercial Legal team as a Senior Solicitor.

Our Commercial Legal Team provides legal advice on a wide range of commercial transactions across all of MBIE’s diverse portfolios.  Our work includes preparing, reviewing and negotiating contracts; advising on competitive tendering processes; and providing legal support and advice on key legal risks.  Like the rest of the LEAP branch, we pride ourselves on having a solution focussed and pragmatic approach and making an important contribution to MBIE’s goal of growing New Zealand for all.

To thrive in this role, you will be highly regarded for your expertise and ability to consistently provide timely, high quality, pragmatic and accurate advice on a range of commercial transactions and issues including funding, ICT and  All of Government contracting.  You will have a broad mix of commercial legal experience including advising on, drafting and negotiating a broad range of commercial contracts.  You will enjoy collaborating with others and be capable of quickly establishing and maintaining strong working relationships with clients and other stakeholders at all levels. 

This role offers exposure to a wide-range of subject matter and challenging and interesting and often novel work.  We will proactively support your development through on-the-job learning and training opportunities.

Ngā pukenga me ngā wheako e hiahiatia ana -

Skills and Experience Required
 

We are interested to hear from candidates with a positive can-do attitude, a willingness to build and share knowledge and be comfortable working in a dynamic and fast paced environment. Further to this you will have the following:

• A tertiary qualification in law and a current practising certificate (or be eligible to obtain one).
• Seven-plus years' post-qualification experience
• Experience in the provision of general commercial contract advice (ideally including funding and/or ICT experience, with some banking and finance experience being desirable but not essential)
• Sound legal technical skills and an understanding of the mechanisms of government or a desire to learn them.
• A pragmatic and solution-focussed way of working.
• Well-developed written and verbal communication skills which allow you to effectively convey key messages to people at all levels and to simplify complex issues as suitable to the audience.
• Exceptional customer service, with effective relationship management skills and the ability to work with stakeholders at all levels of seniority.
• The ability to lead often complex and novel assignments.
• A desire to work collaboratively across the team and to coach and mentor other team members.
• The legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

About MBIE - Ētahi kōrero mō 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 ahunga roa o ngā iwi, o ngāi Māori, me ētahi atu rōpū Māori ki te Karauna, ka tutuki 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 kaupapa kua 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.

How to Apply - Me pēhea te tono:

Click here to view a position description. 

When you are ready to apply please send a CV and cover letter telling us why you're the perfect fit for this role.

All applications must be submitted via our online process.

Email jane.ransfield@mbie.govt.nz quoting ref MBIE/19860 if you have any further questions.

Applications close on 16 August 2026