General Counsel

at  Tauranga City Council

Tau ake rā te moana nei, e papaki kau ana ki te ākau tangata, kakenga waka ka mauru te tohu ki te arearenga o Mauao, he pou herenga mōu, he pou hononga mōu, kia herea ki te tika, kia herea ki te pono. Kia mau, kia ita, kia ū - haumi e, hui e, tāiki e!
Tauranga City Council has established a vital new role aimed at offering legal counsel to the Chief Executive and Senior Leaders.

TE TŪRANGA | ABOUT THE ROLE

As General Counsel, you’ll be our principal legal advisor, overseeing all contentious matters from inception to resolution, and leading initiatives to enhance internal processes for the Council’s safety and operational efficiency.

The key outcomes and deliverables of this role are listed below:

• Oversight of all facets of litigation, including development and risks associated.
• Review how we collaborate with external counsel, seeking to optimise and devise effective litigation strategies.
• Be the basis of advice and counsel to protect Council from legal and reputational risk.
• Act as a New Zealand wide leader in local government statutory matters, contributing expertise and insights to industry discussions and driving initiatives.
• Train and educate staff, management, and stakeholders to foster awareness and cultivate a culture of compliance and ethical conduct that remains current and relevant.
• Develop, nurture and utilise professional relationships to facilitate the betterment and cultivation of Council’s compliance culture.

In order to thrive in this role, you will bring the following skills to this important position:

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from a recognised New Zealand law school and admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand.
• A NZ leader and expert in or more of the following local government issues: litigation management, risk mitigation, privacy, public liability and professional indemnity, with no less than 15 years of legal experience.
• Demonstrated leadership in local government legal matters, amplified by outstanding communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills across large Councils at the highest levels.
• Able to contribute to and influence policy development within the Council.
• Leading and managing a legal team, including mentoring and developing staff.
• Ability to adapt to changing legal landscapes and implement new processes or technologies in the legal function.
• Responding effectively to legal crises or emergencies, providing calm and clear guidance.
• Ability to work autonomously and collaboratively in a dynamic environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• A significant amount of resilience combined with a stoic approach that emanates throughout your approach