Senior Legal Counsel

Rabobank

Senior Legal Counsel supporting Rabobank’s New Zealand agribusiness banking operations. Advising on secured lending, financial services regulation, contracts, policies, and strategic business initiatives.

Posted 8/5/2026full-timeHamilton • 🇳🇿 New ZealandSeniorWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates extensive legal expertise in agribusiness banking, secured lending transactions, and New Zealand financial services legislation, while ensuring regulatory compliance and providing strategic legal support to business initiatives. Capable of building trusted relationships and influencing decision-making at all organizational levels.

Highest-signal resume keywords

7+ Years Post-Qualification ExperienceSecured Lending TransactionsNew Zealand Financial Services LegislationRegulatory ComplianceCommercial Acumen

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Legal SupportRegulatory Change AdvisoryProduct DevelopmentPolicy ReviewContract Review

Soft Skills

Solutions-FocusedRelationship BuildingPragmatic JudgementInfluencing SkillsPositive Attitude

Industry Keywords

Agribusiness BankingFinancial Services SectorNew Zealand BanksOperational SuccessStrategic Decision-Making

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Provide legal support to the agribusiness banking team on transactional and non-transactional work.
Advise on regulatory change affecting the financial services sector.
Provide legal support in product development and projects/business initiatives.
Review internal policies and procedures.
Review marketing materials, external communications, sponsorship agreements, and non-transactional contracts.
Provide legal support and advice to all areas of Rabobank.
Bring strategic legal expertise and commercial acumen to business-critical decision-making.
Ensure regulatory compliance and support operational and strategic success.
Work with exposure to the RNZL Board and Hamilton-based Leadership Team.
Report to the Head of Legal and Company Secretary.

Requirements

What you’ll need

At least 7 years’ post-qualification experience within a law firm, financial institution, or regulatory agency.
Extensive experience with secured lending and advising on secured lending transactions.
Extensive knowledge of New Zealand financial services legislation and other legislation affecting New Zealand banks.
Knowledge of the regulatory regime affecting New Zealand banks.
Solutions-focused legal professional able to build trusted relationships and solve complex challenges.
Positive can-do attitude.
Ability to build trust and maintain strong working relationships from the frontline up to the Board.
Pragmatic judgement and commercial acumen across a wide range of legal matters.
Ability to influence at all levels of the organisation.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Access to and eligibility for the Bank’s annual variable remuneration incentive scheme.
Wellbeing benefits including free Flu vaccinations, 2 days wellbeing leave, wellbeing webinars and Employee Assistance Programme.
Fully paid Income Protection, Life and Total Disability insurance.
Annual leave plus eligibility for an extra week of bonus leave.
Option to purchase up to two extra weeks of leave a year.
Professional development and training.
Access to 26 weeks fully paid parental leave for new parents.
Continued payment of the employer KiwiSaver contribution for 52 weeks.
Active employee social club and fun activities throughout the year.
Paid Community Leave Day for volunteer work.