Legal Services Advisor (Senior) – Research Operations

About the role

Massey University is seeking a Legal Services Advisor or Senior Legal Services Advisor to join its Research Operations legal team. The role provides pragmatic, solutions‑focused legal advice to researchers and professional staff across the university’s research and enterprise portfolios.

Key responsibilities

• Provide trusted legal advice on research funding, collaborations, and commercialisation.
• Negotiate, draft and review a wide range of agreements, balancing legal risk with strategic objectives.
• Advise on intellectual property matters, including ownership, licensing, trademarks, copyright and patents.
• Support privacy, publication and related commercial issues.
• Build trusted relationships with academic and non‑legal stakeholders and communicate complex legal concepts clearly.

Required profile

• Qualified lawyer with an LLB or equivalent recognised law degree.
• Current New Zealand practising certificate, or ability to obtain one.
• Experience advising in commercial, government, tertiary or research environments.
• Proven ability to draft, review and negotiate agreements and identify key risks.
• Strong analytical skills, attention to detail and ability to manage competing priorities.
• Excellent communication skills with both legal and non‑legal audiences.

Required skills

• Legal drafting
• Contract negotiation
• Intellectual property law
• Privacy law
• Commercial law

What we offer

• Opportunity to work in a small, in‑house legal team supporting high‑impact research.
• Intellectually stimulating and varied legal work.
• Full‑time permanent position on one of the Palmerston North, Auckland or Wellington campuses.