About the role
We have a fixed term opportunity for a People & Culture Senior Advisor to join our Firm. The fixed term runs until end of June 2027.
The role provides generalist and project support to the People & Culture Manager across Wotton Kearney's New Zealand offices. Acting as a trusted advisor to partners, managers, and employees, this role plays a pivotal part in maintaining firm culture, supporting business growth, and ensuring seamless delivery of key strategic P&C initiatives and P&C operations during a period in which several strategic projects will be delivered.
We're open to discussing flexible working arrangements which may include part time working arrangements.
Key responsibilities
Provide meaningful, commercially astute, and accurate P&C advice and operational guidance to employees, leaders and partners
Take the lead on managing performance management and employee relations issues, providing proactive resolutions with escalation to the P&C Manager as required
Support the delivery of operational P&C processes and system improvements to enable partners and staff to practice more efficiently and effectively
Ensure alignment with Wotton Kearney's "one firm, one way" trans-Tasman approach, engaging regularly with the Australian P&C team to share best practices and standardise initiatives
Support the P&C Manager with remuneration strategy execution, benefit framework adjustments, and local market tracking
Gain an in-depth understanding of the firm's structure to assist leaders with resourcing, team design, and change management workflows
Maintain accountability for the absolute accuracy of employment agreements, formal variations, operational HR workflows, and electronic employee records
Proactively support the professional development of the P&C Advisor alongside the P&C Manager
Provide senior-level guidance and oversight on recruitment, onboarding, induction, and the Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programme
Champion an inclusive, progressive, and highly collaborative workplace culture across all New Zealand office locations
About you
Proven experience within a professional services environment—ideally law, or a similarly structured partnership
Clear understanding of partnership dynamics including utilisation, leverage, partner structures, and professional fee-earner frameworks
Solid, well-rounded experience across the full P&C generalist spectrum
Professional confidence, emotional intelligence, and interpersonal credibility required to influence, advise, and partner with senior leaders and partners effectively
Prior experience with or direct operational exposure to HRIS implementations (HiBob or similar modern cloud platforms) is highly advantageous
Hands-on, practical approach combined with a strategic mindset—someone who thrives on balancing big-picture project targets with daily tactical execution
About us
We're not your typical law firm. We are forward-thinking pioneers, creative strategists, and genuine professionals reshaping insurance law. We thrive on collaboration, bold ideas, and unwavering support. Founded in 2002 by David Kearney and Phillip Wotton, we began as a small Sydney practice with two partners, four lawyers, and big aspirations. Today, we are a team of over 1,000 professionals, including 100+ partners, across 14 offices in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Thailand. Since opening its doors in New Zealand in 2017, WK has grown from a team of six partners and 11 insurance lawyers to more than 120 professionals across five offices: Auckland, Wellington, Tauranga, Nelson, and Christchurch.