Senior Legal Counsel

Senior Legal Counsel

Fiji Airways is seeking an experienced and strategically minded Senior Legal Counsel to join our Legal Department. Reporting directly to the Chief Legal Officer & Company Secretary and based at the Fiji Airways Head Office in Nadi, Fiji, you will provide commercially pragmatic legal support on complex legal and commercial matters across Fiji Airways Group companies. This role contributes to the strategic direction of our legal function.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work closely with and provide proactive support to the Chief Legal Officer & Company Secretary on strategic legal, governance, regulatory and compliance priorities.
• Provide timely, commercially focused legal advice across aviation, commercial, regulatory, corporate governance, employment/industrial relations, litigation, insurance, finance and general corporate matters relevant to Fiji Airways Group companies.
• Draft, review and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements, including aviation services, procurement, engineering, technology, finance/security, insurance, partnership, supply and service contracts.
• Identify, assess and escalate legal, regulatory and reputational risks, and recommend practical mitigations aligned with business objectives and Company policies.
• Manage complex legal matters independently, coordinating with internal stakeholders, external counsel and regulators as required.
• Support board, committee and company secretarial processes, including preparation and review of papers, resolutions, minutes, delegations, statutory filings and governance documentation.
• Manage litigation, disputes, investigations and claims, including instructing external counsel and appearing in routine court/tribunal matters where appropriate.
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments in Fiji, the South Pacific and relevant international jurisdictions, and provide legal updates and training to the business.
• Lead, mentor and support the Legal Counsel and Legal Administrator in developing their legal expertise, commercial acumen and professional capabilities.
• Help develop legal templates, playbooks and internal resources to improve consistency and efficiency across the legal function.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Law degree with strong academic results and a current Fijian practising certificate, or current practising certificate in another common law jurisdiction with eligibility to practise in Fiji as required.
• Minimum 10 years' post-qualification experience, preferably including in-house or law firm experience advising a regulated, commercial or transport-related business.
• Strong commercial contracting experience; aviation experience is highly desirable.
• Preferred experience includes aviation/regulatory, corporate governance and company secretarial support, litigation/dispute resolution, banking and finance, engineering, technology, insurance, employment/industrial relations, procurement and general corporate matters.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to translate complex legal issues into clear, practical advice for the business.
• Strong legal drafting, contract review, negotiation, research and analytical skills, with meticulous attention to detail and sound judgement.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, sensitive matters and tight deadlines independently, while escalating material risks and issues appropriately.
• Confidence to appear in routine court/tribunal matters and to manage external counsel effectively on disputes, claims and specialist matters.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate constructively with commercial, operational and corporate teams to achieve outcomes that are legally sound and commercially practical.
• Ability to build trusted relationships with internal service clients, senior management and external stakeholders across Fiji, the South Pacific and international markets.
• Strong interpersonal skills and willingness to lead, mentor and support junior legal team members.
• Service-oriented, discreet and resilient, with a growth mindset and commitment to continuous improvement of the legal function.