Senior Legal Counsel

About the role:

As our Senior Legal Counsel youll be a trusted advisor across the co-operative providing pragmatic commercially focused legal advice that enables confident decision-making and strong outcomes. Reporting to the General Counsel & Company Secretary youll work closely with leaders and teams supporting a broad commercial portfolio while helping embed robust governance privacy and risk practices into how we operate.

Youll lead and coach our Assistant Legal Counsel and provide expert legal support across property procurement commercial contracts privacy and dispute management.

Key accountabilities

Provide high-quality practical legal advice across the co-operative supporting commercial property regulatory and operational activities
Partner with the General Counsel & Company Secretary to deliver legal and governance strategies aligned to organisational objectives
Lead the co-operatives privacy programme as designated Privacy Officer championing data protection and compliance
Draft review and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements including contracts leases joint venture documentation licences and regulator disclosures
Oversee legal support for property transactions including acquisitions disposals and lease renewals
Manage legal disputes and litigation engaging and directing external counsel where required

About you:

Youll be one to balance technical expertise with strong judgement influence and a practical mindset. You enjoy building trusted relationships leading others and shaping how legal supports success across our cooperative. Ideally youll also bring:

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand with a current practising certificate
• 5 years experience in commercial legal roles ideally with in-house experience
• Strong knowledge of commercial corporate and regulatory law including contracts privacy property consumer employment and competition law
• Proven ability to anticipate legal risk and provide clear commercially sound advice
• Confidence influencing senior stakeholders across a large complex organisation

Dont Meet Every Requirement

We encourage you to apply anyway. We are looking for individuals with diverse experiences and are keen to hear from those who believe they have the drive and potential to succeed in this role.

How to Apply

Ready to take on the challenge Click apply now! Applications will closeSunday 8 February 2026 and will only be accepted via our careers site.

If you have any questions about the role or experience any issues submitting your application please email

Join us in feeding the South Island.

About Us

Were a team of 14000 who make sure South Islanders have access to the groceries and essentials they need. Proudly 100% Kiwi-owned and operated our co-operative has more than 180 PAKnSAVE New World Four Square and On the Spot stores feeding the South Island.

We value being at the heart of our communities like weve always been to make the South Island a better place for today and for many generations to come. From sunny Golden Bay all the way to Stewart Island theres a Foodstuffs store serving you and your whānau.

Our success is down to our people who bring their skills experience passion and expertise to make Foodies an amazing and rewarding place to work. Our co-op has a wide variety of roles to offer and endless opportunities for development.

Our Values

At Foodies together we drive success to be our best and care for our whānau. We recognise that it takes a collective effort to achieve success and we thrive on fostering a culture of collaboration to drive innovation and embracing challenges as a united team. We are committed to supporting our people and to positively impact the lives of South Islanders every day.