• Newly created role
• Exciting opportunity to establish the in-house legal function
• Variety, challenge and influence
• Based in Newmarket with flexible work options

Here is an exciting, newly created opportunity to establish the in-house legal function for a rapidly growing, New Zealand-owned healthcare business.

About the company

Allevia Health Group (“Allevia Health”) is one of New Zealand’s largest private healthcare groups. With interests in over 25 healthcare businesses, Allevia Health covers hospital, outpatient, diagnostic and mobile medical and surgical services, alongside clinical supply management, veterinary imaging and trans-Tasman occupational health.  Employing more than 2,300 dedicated staff, Allevia Health is committed to delivering a “Better Health Journey” for every patient through a patient-centred approach that leverages the breadth of services within the Group. 

About the role

Working closely with the Group COO, Group CFO and the wider Allevia Health Executive team, you will proactively identify legal, regulatory and commercial risks and deliver high-quality and pragmatic legal advice to support robust decision making. 

With responsibility for establishing Allevia Health’s in-house legal function, your initial focus will be on developing systems and processes to enable safe, compliant and efficient operations. This will include:

• Partnering closely with the Group Procurement Manager to establish and maintain practical contracting standards and review and update existing templates
• Aligning inter-entity agreements with Group policies, procedures and governance frameworks to ensure consistency
• Further developing the Group’s legal governance and compliance framework ensuring alignment across the Group

In addition, as the Group’s primary legal adviser, you will provide practical, commercial and solutions-focused advice on day to day matters across a broad range of legal areas, such as commercial and contractual arrangements, governance and corporate law issues, consumer law, and privacy/data security matters - engaging and liaising with external counsel as required. You will also contribute to strategic projects, ensure the business is updated on legal and regulatory change and deliver internal training in relevant areas.

The role is strongly hands on, requiring someone who is comfortable operating at a detailed, operational level while also bringing the judgement and interpersonal capability to advise the Executive team on significant legal matters.

What we are looking for

• Qualified lawyer with NZ practising certificate (or eligibility to hold one)
• A minimum of 8 years’ PQE ideally in both in-house and law firm environments with a background in corporate and commercial law
• Demonstrated experience drafting, negotiating and managing commercial contracts.
• An adaptable skill set and ability to work across diverse legal areas
• Experience working with complex organisational structures and aligning contractual obligations with governance frameworks
• Experience supporting and influencing executive stakeholders
• Strong commercial judgement with the ability to balance risk and operational needs
• Proactive, solutions-focused and collaborative style

This is a superb opportunity to shape a newly created Head of Legal role within a rapidly growing business as your own, and excel in a highly collaborative environment at a time of significant growth and transformation. You’ll be joining a passionate, knowledgeable and dedicated team with a strong sense of purpose and genuine commitment to creating better health journeys for every patient within their world-class facilities.

For a confidential discussion about this opportunity please contact Jennifer Williams at Williams Legal Recruitment Limited on 027 220 8003 or email jw@williamslegalrecruitment.co.nz.

Click here to apply and view the role on Seek.