About The Role

Do you hold a law degree and a current practicing certificate?
Can you build strong relationships, influence others, and communicate effectively both verbally and in writing?
Have you worked in employment law or employment relations within a tertiary, public, or private sector environment?

Kōrero mō te tūranga - About the role

Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington is currently recruiting a Principal Counsel to join the Employment Law and Employment Relations team in Te Pūmanawa Tāngata - Human Resources on a permanent, full-time basis.

There is flexibility to work one day a week from home.

Key responsibilities

Provide strategic employment law advice to senior leaders on complex workforce, industrial relations, organisational change, and employee relations matters.
Lead the management of significant workplace disputes, investigations, employment litigation, and regulatory proceedings, balancing legal, commercial, and reputational considerations.
Partner with HR and business leaders to develop practical, risk-based solutions that enable organisational objectives while ensuring legal compliance.
Support collective bargaining, consultation processes, and engagement with unions and employee representatives, providing expert legal and industrial relations guidance.
Lead the identification and management of employment law risks, including monitoring legislative developments and translating legal change into practical organisational responses.
Oversee the development and review of employment policies, agreements, contracts, and governance frameworks to maintain a contemporary and compliant employment environment.
Provide expert advice on privacy, official information, and other statutory obligations relating to employment matters, ensuring timely and compliant responses.
Build organisational capability through thought leadership, coaching, and expert guidance on employment law, workplace relations, and emerging people-related risks.

Ō pūmanawa - About you
You will be a motivated, customer-focused individual who can take the initiative, provide excellent administration and policy compliance.

Key requirements

A law degree with current practicing certificate.
Broad range of practical experience in employment law/relations gained in either a tertiary, private or public sector environment.
Knowledge of current university, tertiary or public sector environments would be advantageous.
Proven understanding of human resources principles and practices where the operating model is to support and enable managers to hold the employment relationship with their staff.
Proven experience in managing relationships and ability to persuade and influence others.
Excellent oral and written communication skills including presentation and negotiation skills.
Experience producing high-quality reports and documents using Microsoft Office.

Role Description: Click here to see further information, including salary details.

If this link is not available, click 'apply' to view this on the University careers page.

Close date for vacancy: 13 September 2026.

Contact details for vacancy: If you have any questions regarding this role, please get in touch with Katrina Leather ([email hidden]).

How to apply: Please ensure you are applying for this role directly on our careers page and not via email. Candidates must submit supporting documents along with their resume, such as a cover letter.

We can only consider applicants who are citizens or residents of New Zealand or Australia or on a current working visa. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and we may progress with suitable applicants prior to the application closing date.