Senior Legal Counsel - Commercial

Senior Legal Counsel – Commercial

Waipapa Taumata Rau | The University of Auckland

The University of Auckland is New Zealand’s pre‑eminent University, with a turnover of $1.6 bn, including research revenue of over $300 m generated across eight diverse faculties and two research institutes. With over 6 000 staff and 46 000 students, the University of Auckland is one of New Zealand’s most significant and complex entities.

This is a dynamic, fast‑paced role where your legal expertise will directly contribute to the University’s strategic and commercial success. As Senior Legal Counsel – Commercial, you’ll work across a wide range of matters, supporting research, enterprise, procurement, partnerships and innovation.

You’ll be part of a collaborative legal team, providing pragmatic, solutions‑focused advice that enables the University’s teaching, research and engagement activities. This role offers the opportunity to work with purpose, influence outcomes, and support commercial initiatives that have real impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating a broad range of commercial agreements.
• Advising on intellectual property, confidentiality, data sharing and commercial risk.
• Supporting commercialisation, innovation and revenue‑generating activity.
• Providing legal input into procurement, funding and partnership arrangements.
• Partnering with senior leaders to manage legal risk and enable informed decision‑making.
• Contributing to continuous improvement and legal literacy across the organisation.
• Upholding the University’s commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and equity outcomes.

This is a full‑time (37.5 hours per week) permanent position.

For more detailed information, please refer to the Position Description.

About You

You’re a confident and capable legal professional with 8+ years PQE, ideally with experience in commercial law within a large and complex organisation. You bring sound judgement, a pragmatic mindset and the ability to work autonomously on high‑impact matters.

You’re aspirational, smart and commercially aware – someone who thrives in a dynamic environment and enjoys solving problems with purpose. You’re comfortable navigating ambiguity, managing competing priorities and building strong relationships across diverse teams.

If you’re looking for a role where your legal expertise can help shape innovation and strategic partnerships, we’d love to hear from you.

The University of Auckland is New Zealand’s leading university and maintains significant computational, laboratory and analytic facilities.

Benefits

For more information, please visit Staff Benefits .

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted online before the closing date of Sunday 30 November 2025 to be considered. Please include your cover letter and your CV highlighting how you can meet the skills and experiences detailed above.

For a confidential conversation, please reach out to Joshua Chapman

Please note we are happy to answer your questions, but we do not accept applications by email.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

The University is committed to meeting its obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi and achieving equity outcomes for staff and students in a safe, inclusive, and equitable environment. For further information on services for Māori, Pacific peoples, women, LGBTQI+ people, people with disabilities, parenting support, flexible work and other personal circumstances, go to

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