Senior Legal Counsel - Auckland

Senior Legal Counsel - Auckland at Te Whatu Ora, Auckland

• 2x Senior Legal Counsel - Medico-Legal positions based in Auckland
• Fantastic opportunity to work across cases in the Northern Region

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is dedicated to serving all New Zealanders. Through integration and collaboration, we're building a health system underpinned by partnership, equity, sustainability, whānau-centred care, and excellence. About the Role The role of the Senior Legal Counsel Medico-Legal is to provide high-quality, pragmatic in-house legal advice on health and privacy law to support clinical staff and leaders. The role also provides advice on investigations by external regulators including the Health and Disability Commissioner, Coroners, Ombudsman, and the Privacy Commissioner; attends hearings and other forums; works with Police; assists with reviews and disputes; and provides training to staff on health and privacy matters. We have two roles vacant; one based at the Middlemore Hospital Campus and focussed on supporting Counties-Manukau District; and one based at the Greenlane Hospital Campus and focussed on supporting Te Toka Tumai District. The roles will also provide assistance to other Districts in the Northern region, including Te Tai Tokerau, and on national matters when required. Both roles are full time, permanent positions. About the Team The Health New Zealand legal team has offices across New Zealand, supporting the operational work of our hospitals and community services. We are a collaborative and collegial team united by a commitment to support quality health services and outcomes for all New Zealand's populations. Our work is broad-ranging and critically important including work on significant and often novel public law, regulatory, medico-legal and privacy issues, and major procurement, data & digital, commercial, construction, property, and litigation matters. This work is fundamental to achieving the kaupapa of our organisation. About you

• You must be admitted as a barrister or solicitor in New Zealand and have a current APC (or the ability to get one quickly).
• You will have at least ten years' legal experience – this does not have to be solely in healthcare and could include adjacent experience in-house experience, litigation experience, or family law experience which is translatable to the Health New Zealand environment.
• You will be someone who enjoys a challenge, can take the initiative and get the best outcome for the organisation.
• Your great communication skills, and ability to provide both reactive and proactive advice to a wide range of clients in a fast-moving and diverse environment, will all be key to success in this role. You will be willing to learn and build on your skills and take the lead on projects and tasks. You will be a team player and enjoy contributing to the culture of the legal team.
• Your relationship skills will be outstanding and your ability to quickly absorb information, identify issues and see through complex problems and issues will be crucial.
• You will be someone who can work independently at a senior level and take responsibility for making decisions on complex issues under time pressure but can relate to a wide range of people.

You will bring

• Competency with te ao Māori, tikanga, and te reo Māori or a commitment to starting your journey and taking ownership of your learning and growth
• Experience in projects / initiatives which give effect to Te Tiriti principals and frameworks

Working for Health New Zealand Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is ‘the weaving of wellness'. We're dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of Aotearoa/New Zealand. The Equity Work Programme at Health NZ focuses on helping everyone in the health system think about equity when they do their work. It also promotes the cultural change needed for the whole system to reach equity in health outcomes. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Health New Zealand are committed to being good employers and honouring our equal employment opportunity obligations. Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

• We want to see the real you in your application and welcome the real you on board if you come and work with us. Skills are gained across many areas of our life, not just in formal employment. If you can demonstrate the skills listed in the ad, but the experience was gained through whānau life, community or mahi aroha (volunteering) we encourage you to apply and share your story with us in your cover letter.
• We particularly welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.

How to Apply To view the position description and/or apply for the role please click “apply now.” All applications must be submitted through our online careers portal before 11:59pm on 2 March 2025. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Nicole Rickard at nicole.rickard@tewhatuora.govt.nz . Note: You may be redirected to the employer's careers website. #J-18808-Ljbffr