• Newly created role
• Broad, interesting work with impact
• Supportive team environment
• Blenheim based with flexible work options 

This is an excellent opportunity to work on a diverse range of legal matters that have a direct and meaningful impact on community outcomes, all within a supportive and collaborative in-house legal team. 

About the organisation

Marlborough District Council (“MDC”) is the unitary authority responsible for both territorial and regional functions across the Marlborough region, headquartered in Blenheim. As a unitary authority, it carries the full suite of responsibilities normally split between a district council and a regional council, giving it a broad mandate over land use, environmental management, infrastructure, and community services. MDC oversees everything from local roads and community facilities to environmental regulation and long‑term regional planning.  It is a values-driven organisation grounded in professionalism, integrity, and a commitment to positive community outcomes. 

About the role

This is a newly created role in the MDC Legal Services team, reporting to the General Counsel. The team provides high quality, pragmatic legal advice that supports Council’s statutory functions and community outcomes. The work is incredibly varied and, genuinely, no two days are the same.  

This role is well‑suited to a lawyer in the early stages of their career who is looking to develop a broad range of experience in a dynamic in‑house environment. You will work across a wide spectrum of legal matters, including governance, bylaws, property and commercial issues, regulatory and environmental matters, official information, and litigation. The breadth of work, combined with the support of an experienced in‑house team, offers an excellent platform for professional growth. 

Responsibilities include: 

• Legal Advisory & Public Law: Provide legal research and advice across a broad range of local government functions including statutory interpretation and risk management.
• Environmental, Planning & Regulatory: Support legal work on environmental, resource management and planning matters including assisting with regulatory compliance and enforcement activities.
• Contracts & Commercial: Draft, review and negotiate a diverse range of contracts, procurement contracts and service agreements.
• Governance & Statutory Processes: Assist with governance matters including legal support for committees, decision-making processes and statutory obligations and manage responses to information requests.
• Litigation & External Counsel: Work closely with internal stakeholders, regulators and other stakeholders and manage external legal advisors and specialist consultants. 

What we are seeking 

• Qualified lawyer with NZ practising certificate (or eligibility to hold one)
• Approximately 2 – 3 years’ PQE legal experience
• Some exposure to public sector or regulatory work is helpful but not essential
• Strong legal research, drafting and analytical skills
• Effective communication skills and the ability to explain legal concepts clearly
• An interest in environmental, planning, regulatory and public law issues.
• An interest in developing skills as an in-house lawyer 

This is a great opportunity to build experience across a broad range of legal areas within a supportive and collaborative in‑house team. The work is purposeful and closely connected to community outcomes, giving you the chance to contribute directly to decisions and projects that shape the Marlborough region and the people who call it home. The region itself offers an exceptional lifestyle. Whether it’s the vineyards, the Sounds, or the sunshine, Marlborough offers a rare combination of professional challenge and work-life balance that is hard to match. 

For a confidential discussion about this opportunity and to obtain a copy of the position description, please contact Jennifer Williams at Williams Legal Recruitment Limited on 027 220 8003 or jw@williamslegalrecruitment.co.nz.

Click here to apply and view this position on Seek.