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Corporate Counsel - Mainland Dairy

General Information

Date Published
11-Feb-2026
Advertising Ends
25-Feb-2026
ID#
14887
Role Type
Legal
Work Type
Permanent Full-Time
Workplace Type
Hybrid
Country
New Zealand
Location
Auckland

Position Description

  • Be the trusted advisor shaping decisions across a global, FMCG business
  • Join a collaborative, high performing Legal team with real opportunity for growth
  • Work on varied, complex, and meaningful work that spans APAC and the Middle East

Iconic dairy brands, exciting dairy future! 
Mainland Dairy is entering a bold, new chapter. Evolving from our roots with Fonterra, we are set to become a part of the Lactalis Group, the world’s largest dairy company known for its firm belief in the future of dairy and rapid, consumer-driven growth.  

We’re looking for highly skilled and knowledgeable people who are energised by the opportunity, a change that is slated for the first quarter of 2026 (pending sale conditions) but starting as soon as the right candidate is identified and available. 

At Mainland Dairy, we believe that from Goodness comes Greatness, and we’re excited by our future. Come join us and help shape a consumer-focused future to be proud of.

About the Opportunity
Join a close knit, high performing Legal team where you’ll play a pivotal role in supporting a dynamic, fast paced commercial business operating across APAC and the Middle East. This is a role with real scope to influence decision making, shape strategic outcomes, and deliver pragmatic, business focused legal advice across a diverse range of activities. Reporting to the General Counsel – Mainland Dairy, you will:

  • Provide high quality, practical legal counsel to Mainland Dairy business units, acting as a trusted advisor and influencing key decisions
  • Lead and support governance, compliance, and company secretarial obligations across the business
  • Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, including sales, supply, distribution, and procurement contracts
  • Advise on commercial and strategic initiatives, ensuring alignment with legal, regulatory, and business priorities
  • Support dispute management, external counsel engagement, and privacy compliance, including responding to privacy enquiries and requests

About You
You’re a commercially minded, proactive lawyer who thrives in environments where no two days look the same. With a pragmatic approach and a strong service ethic, you enjoy partnering with stakeholders, simplifying complexity, and providing clear, actionable advice that supports both opportunity and risk. In addition to this, you will bring:

  • Bachelor of Laws and 3 - 8 years PQE, with a current New Zealand practising certificate (or ability to obtain)
  • Experience in general commercial law, consumer law, procurement, and ideally exposure to FMCG or international operating environments
  • Strong drafting, reviewing, and negotiation capability – you focus on what matters and don’t sweat the small stuff
  • A solutions oriented mindset with the confidence to make decisions, manage risk appropriately, and operate independently when needed
  • Excellent communication and relationship building skills, personable working style, and the ability to engage and influence across all levels

Be Part of Dairy’s Future
Great people continue to power this business forward. Our people thrive within a positive working environment, a collaborative and caring culture and leadership that continues to inspire.

Based at our Fanshawe Street office, this role offers excellent career development and internal mobility pathways as well as flexible ways of working and a hybrid structure, that allows a balance of in-office collaboration with some working from home. 

We believe in you bringing your best and most authentic self to work and we want you to succeed in a way that allows you to win, in every aspect of your life. We strongly encourage applications from individuals of diverse cultural, linguistic, and social backgrounds. Our team is dedicated to supporting your professional development and personal wellbeing. 

We welcome your application and look forward to the possibility of you joining our inclusive team.

Please note that applicants must have full working rights in New Zealand. 

Let’s make this your best move yet. Apply now!

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