About the role
We’re seeking a commercially driven and relationship-focused Programme Development Manager to lead the growth and development in our Continued Legal Education division, (CLE).
This is a high-impact role at the intersection of commercial growth, product development, and stakeholder engagement, where you’ll take ownership of our learning portfolio. Combining strategic thinking with strong business development expertise and a demonstrated track record of delivering revenue growth, you’ll identify new market opportunities, build strategic partnerships, and develop learning solutions that deliver value to the profession while driving engagement, expand market reach, and achieving sustainable and profitable commercial outcomes.
You’ll take ownership for the product portfolio, ensuring our learning offerings remain relevant, commercially viable, and aligned with the evolving needs of the profession. Drawing on market insights and industry trends, you’ll identify growth opportunities and emerging areas of demand. With a strong commercial mindset, you’ll maximise product portfolio performance, generate new income streams, optimise profitability, and support long-term revenue growth
You will build and maintain a strong network of trusted partners across the legal and professional services sectors, developing meaningful relationships that create long-term value. Success in this role will rely on your ability to identify new revenue streams, engage, influence, and collaborate with a diverse range of stakeholders, fostering strong partnerships built on trust, credibility, and mutual benefit. With excellent communication and relationship management skills, you’ll be confident connecting people, identifying new opportunities, and nurturing networks that support strategic and commercial objectives, whilst strengthen our position as the leading provider of professional learning for the legal profession.
This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in shaping the future of our education offering within a supportive, high-performing environment. Your contribution will have a direct and meaningful impact on the success of our programme and its value to the wider legal profession.
You will be a valued member of the team, with the opportunity to embed yourself in the legal community, shape industry conversations, and build a market-leading education offering. You will have the autonomy to innovate and the platform to develop meaningful, long-term partnerships.
Our ideal applicant will have:
- Experience within the legal sector or a professional services environment
- Background in business development, client growth and acquisition, and product development
- Proven ability to drive results and deliver against KPIs
- Strong relationship management experience
- A natural networker who is confident engaging senior stakeholders
- Commercially astute, with the ability to identify opportunities and build products that sell
- Highly organised, proactive, and comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment
- Curious and informed – you will need to stay across industry trends, legislative updates, and market shifts
We are looking for candidates who share our purpose of Kaitiaki of an exemplary legal professional in Aotearoa and understand how our values of Kaitiakitanga – tāria te wā, Manaakitanga and Pono underpin the work we do at New Zealand Law Society.
What we can offer
Join us and become part of an exceptional team within a dynamic organisation, where the work is challenging and rewarding. We offer a cohesive workplace culture across our organisation with a number of social activities to come together across teams to connect and collaborate with colleagues. Your development and growth will be nurtured, and your work recognised and valued.
It is important that the Law Society can attract, support, and retain quality staff and one of the ways we can achieve this is by offering employees some flexibility to manage their work/life balance. We embrace flexible working to support our staff to deliver their best and achieve a good work-life balance and to connect and collaborate with others by providing a hybrid approach sharing your time between the office and home.
Other benefits of working at the Law Society include:
- Three days Special Leave to use during our annual close-down period between Christmas and the new year
- Discounts and benefits as part of our membership Partner Programme
- Competitive remuneration
Diversity and inclusion are important to us, and the Law Society is keen to ensure that appointments reflect Aotearoa New Zealand’s multicultural society. Applications from a diverse range of backgrounds are encouraged.
About the Law Society
The New Zealand Law Society Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa is the professional body for barristers and solicitors in New Zealand. The Law Society regulates all lawyers practising in New Zealand and is the membership organisation for practising lawyers. With 13 branches throughout the country, the Law Society is the Kaitiaki (guardian) of the practice of law in Aotearoa New Zealand and the consumers of legal services.
How to apply
If you would like to apply, please submit your CV and cover letter through Seek.
Applications close 5pm, 23 June 2026.
Shortlisting may occur whilst the advertisement is open, so we encourage you to make an early application.
For a confidential discussion and additional information, including the position description, please contact the People and Culture team at human.resources@lawsociety.org.nz
Applicants for this position must have NZ residency or a valid NZ work visa.
