Senior Solicitor

• Influence complex regulatory and public law decisions
• Provide trusted advice across a nationally significant regulator
• Permanent position based in Wellington

About the Role

As a Senior Solicitor, you'll play a key role in supporting CAA's regulatory functions by providing expert legal advice across aviation, regulatory and public law matters.

Working closely with senior leaders, managers and specialist teams, you'll help ensure robust statutory decision-making, manage legal risk, and support the effective delivery of aviation safety and security outcomes for New Zealand.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide expert legal advice across aviation, regulatory and public law matters
• Support statutory decision-making and the exercise of regulatory powers
• Identify legal and governance risks and recommend practical solutions
• Advise on investigations, enforcement action and prosecution decisions
• Review and interpret legislation, policies and regulatory requirements
• Partner with senior leaders to provide timely and trusted legal guidance
• Contribute to organisational capability through legal training and workshops
• Prepare legal advice, briefings and responses to complex public sector matters
• Support the consistent delivery of high-quality legal services across the organisation

The salary band for this role is $115,536 - $141,751. Starting salaries are based on knowledge, skills and experience the successful candidate brings to the role, as well as internal relativities.

For more information on the role please view the position description.

What You'll Bring

You'll be an experienced lawyer who enjoys working in a complex regulatory environment and providing practical, solutions-focused advice. You'll be confident engaging with senior stakeholders, comfortable navigating ambiguity, and motivated by work that contributes to public safety and good regulatory practice.

To succeed in this role, you'll demonstrate:

• Significant post-admission legal experience, ideally within the public sector or a regulated environment
• Strong capability in public law, regulatory law, administrative decision-making or related areas
• The ability to provide clear, pragmatic legal advice on complex issues
• Confidence influencing and advising senior leaders and decision-makers
• Sound judgement and a balanced approach to legal risk management
• Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills
• The ability to simplify technical legal concepts for diverse audiences
• Experience coaching, mentoring or supporting the development of others
• A collaborative, adaptable and professional approach to delivering results

You’ll also be a qualified solicitor with an LLB or equivalent legal qualification and currently hold, or ability to obtain, a New Zealand practising certificate.

About Us

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is New Zealand’s aviation safety and security regulator. We play a critical role in protecting the travelling public, supporting the aviation sector, and strengthening New Zealand’s international reputation.

Our vision is simple and powerful: A safe and secure aviation system – so people are safe, and feel safe when they fly.

Our values — Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Transparency, and Collaboration — guide everything we do. We’re committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and supportive environment where everyone feels respected, safe, and valued. Our people are central to our success.

Why Join Us?

• 5 weeks annual leave,
• Sick leave entitlements from day 1
• Matching KiwiSaver contributions up to 4%
• Vision assistance
• Flu vaccinations
• Employee Assistance Programme

Ready to Apply?

If your looking for a unique opportunity to provide trusted legal advice within a nationally significant regulator and help deliver safe and secure aviation outcomes for New Zealand, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply directly by completing the online application form and submitting your CV and cover letter. Your cover letter will be a key part of our assessment process, so please highlight how your experience aligns with the requirements of this role.

We want to ensure accessibility needs are well supported, so the recruitment process is fair and equitable for all. Please let us know if there is any support we can provide to ensure the recruitment process is fully accessible to you.

If you have any questions about the role or application process, contact the Recruitment team at recruitment@caa.govt.nz.

Applications close: Tuesday 1 September 2026

Please be aware that we may start shortlisting as applications come in. We encourage early applications, as the advertisement may close sooner than stated.