This role is based in any Oranga Tamariki location across Aotearoa New Zealand. Mō mātou | About us Oranga Tamariki, Ministry for Children has a commitment to putting tamariki and rangatahi at the heart of what we do. Our purpose is to ensure all tamariki are in loving whānau and communities where their oranga can be realised. We work alongside children, young people, whānau, hapū, iwi and communities to help achieve positive outcomes for those we serve. In our work, we aim to demonstrate these values: We put Tamariki first We believe Aroha is vital We respect the Mana of people We are Tika and Pono We value Whakapapa We recognise that Oranga is a journey We are committed to ensuring that New Zealand is the best place in the world to be a child. We are also committed to ensuring Oranga Tamariki partners with hapū, iwi and Māori organisations to find appropriate solutions for tamariki in need. Mō te tūnga | About the role This is a rare opportunity to lead a highly respected regional legal function that covers all of New Zealand at a pivotal time for Oranga Tamariki. Reporting to the Chief Legal Officer, the Director Regional Legal Services provides strategic and operational leadership across our regional legal teams, ensuring high-quality, nationally consistent legal services that supports safe, lawful and child-centred decision making. The role leads Regional Legal Managers, Litigation Support and a Youth Justice function and plays a key part in shaping legal strategy, managing significant legal risk, strengthening legal practice and supporting organisational improvement initiatives. You'll be stepping into a function with strong foundations and an experienced leadership team. The opportunity now is to take that success to the next level. Through strategic leadership, capability development, continuous improvement and influential relationship management, you'll help shape the future direction of regional legal services and ensure they remain responsive to the evolving needs of tamariki, whānau, communities and the wider justice sector. Success in this role will come from your ability to balance strategic thinking with operational leadership, while building strong partnerships across the Ministry, the judiciary, justice sector agencies, iwi and Māori partners, and external legal stakeholders. You'll be comfortable navigating complexity, leading through change, and providing leadership on high-profile, sensitive and legally significant matters. Key areas of focus include: Leading and developing a geographically dispersed team of legal leaders and professionals. Driving consistency, quality assurance and continuous improvement across regional legal services. Building strong strategic relationships across the legal and justice sectors. Providing leadership on complex, urgent and high-risk legal matters. Strengthening capability, performance and wellbeing across the legal function. Supporting the ongoing development of a one legal team approach across Oranga Tamariki. Ngā pūmanawatanga ōu | What you will bring We're looking for an accomplished legal leader who thrives in complex environments and enjoys building high-performing teams. You will bring: Significant senior legal leadership experience within the public sector, justice, regulatory, social services or similarly complex environment. Proven success leading leaders and geographically dispersed professional teams through growth, change and continuous improvement. Deep understanding of public law, statutory decision-making, litigation and court processes. Exceptional relationship management skills and the ability to influence across senior leadership, government agencies, courts, iwi and Māori partners, and external stakeholders. Strong strategic capability, with the ability to identify opportunities, manage risk and translate complex legal issues into practical solutions. Highly developed judgement, political awareness and resilience when navigating sensitive or high-profile matters. A commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and culturally safe, mana-enhancing practice. Outstanding communication skills and the ability to build trust, credibility and alignment across diverse stakeholder groups. Most importantly, you'll be a leader who can build on an already strong team culture, inspire excellence, and create the conditions for people to perform at their best while delivering exceptional legal services to support better outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi. Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you We offer a vibrant and supportive team, flexible work options and a genuine commitment to wellbeing. We offer significant training and professional development so that you can thrive and grow. We welcome diversity and are committed to working in an inclusive and respectful way. This is an opportunity to influence legal practice and service delivery at a national level while contributing to better outcomes for tamariki, rangatahi and whānau across Aotearoa New Zealand. To see all the benefits of working for Oranga Tamariki, please visit Employee Benefits. Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to Apply Apply online with your CV and Cover Letter. If you are an Oranga Tamariki employee already, please ensure you apply using your Oranga Tamariki email address. If you have any questions about the role, please don't hesitate to contact our Chief Legal Officer - Emily.Hockly@ot.govt.nz Applications close at midnight on Thursday 15th October 2026. If you are interested in any of our vacancies, please ensure that you make yourself familiar with our Code of Conduct, which sets out expectations for all kaimahi and requires employees to present at work free from the influence of drugs and alcohol.
