Principal Counsel Operational Policy
Wellington, NZ
Full time, permanent position
Location: National Office, Wellington, Auckland or Christchurch
We are seeking an experienced lawyer to join our busy and collaborative legal management team. This is a newly established role, and you will report directly to the Deputy Chief Legal Advisor.
About the role | Mō te tūnga:
This is a challenging and rewarding role and you will provide specialist advice and guidance on operational policy matters. You will work collaboratively across the Legal Leadership Group to provide thought leadership and strategic legal advice on legal matters and complex risks and issues to the Ministers, CE and senior leaders. You will maintain a strategic oversight of the Ministry’s operational policy framework and legal advice on operational policy issues, ensure legal risk and appropriate options for mitigating risk are effectively identified. You will play a key role working with MSD colleagues to help achieve quality operational policy reform and enhancement.
What you bring | Ōu pūmanawatanga:
You will be a qualified barrister and solicitor with a current practising certificate.
To be successful in this role, you will have significant experience providing strategic legal advice at a senior level within a large and complex organisation. You will certainly be a strategic thinker who applies a system lens to address complex operational policy matters and you will have strong experience leading the legal input into operational policy development with your expert knowledge of welfare law, NZ government legislative and policy process, as well as the privacy and official information laws and the ability to mentor other areas of law relevant to the Ministry’s business.
About us | Mō mātou
The Ministry of Social Development is a people-centred organisation. We’re in communities across the motu, working with partners to help New Zealanders be safe, strong and independent.
We provide social policy and advice to government and assistance, including income, employment and housing support to people of all ages, families, whānau and communities.
As a Te Tiriti o Waitangi partner we are committed to supporting and enabling Māori, whānau, hapū, Iwi and communities to realise their own potential and aspirations.
Our people are as diverse as the communities we serve. We care about the wellbeing and success of our people and provide a supportive and inclusive working environment where people can thrive and be who they are.
Position Description | He Whakaahuatanga Tūnga:
Salary | Utu-ā-tau: $161,811.00 - $214,131.00
How to apply
To apply, click the 'Apply Now' button to upload your CV, cover letter and complete the online application form.
Note: Your cover letter will be a key part of our assessment process, so please highlight how your experience relates to the key responsibilities listed in the position description.
All applications must be made online. If this is not possible or if you have any queries, please contact us at jobs@msd.govt.nz
Internal MSD Employees – please apply through your myHR portal at work. This will ensure that your myHR employee profile is visible as internal candidate.
Closing date: Thrusday 19th February 2026
Joining us
Joining MSD means being part of a whānau that celebrates the diversity each individual represents. We show manaaki, we care about the wellbeing and success of people and want everyone to thrive, and be who they are in a supportive and inclusive working environment. We work together to make a difference for communities while doing the right thing with integrity. We are a Treaty partner committed to strengthening relationships with Māori, Hapū, Iwi and communities to realise their own potential and aspirations.
If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to tell us when you apply so we can assist you through the recruitment process.
