Job Description:
- 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 (katrina.leather@vuw.ac.nz).
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.
About Us
Mō Te Herenga Waka - About Our University
Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington is renowned for its high-quality research and exceptional teaching. We attract people from around the world. Our university campus spans Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington - the creative, scientific and political centre of Aotearoa New Zealand - and our students thrive on the connections we have made here.
Explore the many benefits of working at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington. Find out where you fit in our strategic direction and learn more about our research expertise.
Posted: 28/08/2026