Legal Counsel

• Richmond, Nelson based
• Great culture
• Hours flexible with a minimum of 24 hours/week
• Occasional travel to meetings in NZ and Melbourne

The opportunity

An exciting opportunity exists for a Legal Counsel to join the OneFortyOne Legal Team. Reporting to the General Counsel & Company Secretary in Melbourne, this role is responsible for giving independent, quality legal advice across OneFortyOne’s forestry and milling operations in New Zealand. 

OneFortyOne

OneFortyOne is a world-class sustainable forest grower and forest products company with a multi-regional approach to investing in and growing its business in New Zealand and Australia. Since inception, it has continued to develop its asset base, including the acquisition of Nelson Forests in 2018.  OneFortyOne both owns its own forests and manages forests on land owned by a number of iwi.  OneFortyOne also owns the Kaituna Sawmill in Marlborough, which processes logs and treats timber for distribution within NZ and offshore.

OneFortyOne’s vertically integrated forestry and mills business is in New Zealand’s second largest domestic processing region. With forests covering around 80,000 hectares in the Tasman and Marlborough regions, we harvest more than one million cubic metres each year.  OneFortyOne’s logs are sold within NZ and a large proportion exported. This iconic forest estate has some forests which are in their fourth rotation, all managed sustainably and responsibly. 

The role

Acting as a trusted partner to the General Manager NZ Forests, General Manager Kaituna Sawmill and numerous contract managers, you will lead the NZ legal function.

You will:

• provide advice and guidance across a range of commercial and contractual issues (relating to export, log/timber supply, many different types of contracting service providers, forestry/carbon/environment regulation, responsibilities to iwi land owners, property, resource management, health and safety, etc.);
• keep the business up to date with regulatory and legal compliance;
• be involved in risk management, ensuring risks are proactively identified and managed;
• assist with the development and implementation of policies and procedures which align with the wider OneFortyOne group;
• draft contract templates and keep these up to date;
• provide dispute management and negotiation assistance;
• support OneFortyOne wider group projects;
• support the wider Australian legal team; and
• ensure the business receives specialist external legal advice when appropriate.

Your profile

To be successful in this role, you will have an LLB and current practicing certificate, combined with at least 8 years of broad commercial legal experience. You will have strong knowledge of contract and commercial law, documentation and practice and the ability to provide strategic, solutions-focused legal advice.  Whilst it is not expected that you have an in-depth knowledge of each of the areas listed above as being required for this role, any experience in these areas is an advantage and there should be a desire/interest to upskill.

Decisive yet flexible, you make the complex simple and can build credibility with multiple stakeholders in a fast-paced, dynamic organisation.  You will be self-sufficient and comfortable working independently while understanding the importance of regular communication with your manager, peers, and the wider business.  You will also have a demonstrated ability to manage multiple and varied tasks, including excellent organisational and time management skills.

With a minimum of 24 hours per week, there is flexibility to consider days and hours including full-time depending on skills and experience.  

Whilst the role is predominantly based in the Nelson region, travel maybe required to Marlborough, within NZ and to Melbourne.

If you are looking to further your inhouse career, or you are looking for a change from private practice, this role has variety, challenge and offers the chance to get involved in a highly regarded organisation making a positive difference to the environment and local economy. 

Please apply to Jenny van Workum, Human Resources Manager; nz.careers@onefortyone.co.nz.

Applications close on Friday 2^nd August 2024.