New Zealand Cricket Players Association
Description
Join the New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association Supporting Players and Advancing Professional Cricket
In-house Legal Opportunity
Seeking 2-3 year lawyers for full time or more experienced lawyers for part time
The New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association supports around 800 current and past, international and domestic cricket players across the women’s and men’s game, to thrive during and following their professional playing careers. For nearly 25 years, the Association has represented and advocated for players and the advancement of the professional cricket environment and game, and importantly, the prioritisation of players on and off-field development.
Why join us?
This is a key role within a high performing, collaborative, dedicated team of 12. Its primary focus is being part of the team negotiating the collective agreement with New Zealand cricket and the Major Associations, managing individual player contracts and issues, and overseeing the Association’s governance, compliance and ethical integrity.
You’ll benefit from the infrastructure – relationships, processes and practices – put in place by previous incumbents, while being encouraged to develop the role alongside the trajectory of professional sport. If you’re ambitious and already thinking about your development and future opportunities, there is scope for succeeding to the Association’s non-legal leadership roles, working with other sports/player organisations in New Zealand and offshore, and continually increasing your sports law experience.
To enjoy and excel in this role, you’ll need around 2-3 years’ legal experience, or if you have more experience, this role can be done part-time among your other commitments. You may come either from the advisory or disputes sides of private practice, or a legal advisory role in a corporate. Exposure to governance, contract and employment law, negotiation and advocacy skills will be advantageous. You might be thinking about making a career change or this could be an alternative to going overseas. Regardless of where you are at in your career, you’ll probably love competition and sport (bonus if you love cricket) and you’ll be drawn toward being part of a purpose driven organisation, helping shape lives and sport.
What you’ll do
You’ll combine your legal expertise, with commercial thinking, pragmatism and strong self-awareness and people skills to:
· Assist with negotiating and managing the players’ collective agreement with New Zealand Cricket and the Major Associations;
· Support and advise individual players with agent, cricket and non-sport contracts and issues in New Zealand and offshore, as well as represent players in on-field code of conduct matters;
· Assist with arranging player insurance, and manage injuries and claims;
· Manage anti-corruption education and any issues;
· Work with the World Cricketers’ Association, to manage contractual and administrative matters relating to player participation in international events;
· Advise the Board and Chief Executive on legal, health, safety and risk, ensure appropriate standards, processes and documentation are in place and being observed, to mitigate risk and be compliant, legally and ethically;
· Manage the Association’s membership (players) – its database, onboarding, communication and events; and
· Support the team in their roles, and with special projects and events.
No two days will be the same in this hands-on role, as you span such things as engaging with CEOs and top athletes, to maintaining the player database, event and travel checklists, and ensuring match grounds meet the requisite standards.
What you’ll bring
Being successful in this role, requires your:
· self-management – your ownership, proactivity and energy;
· interest in and ability to build productive relationships with a wide range of people; and
· your focus on solving problems along with achieving results.
You’ll be supported by the Head of Player Services whom this role reports to, as well as being able to access experienced lawyers in the Association’s immediate network. You’ll be a good listener and influencer, unflappable, sensible and resourceful, and guided by a strong moral compass. Enthusiasm for learning and actively seeking feedback will drive you. As player needs, especially in a scheduled and global setting, sometimes can’t be met within office hours, you’ll be willing to be responsive when required, with similar flexibility offered in return.
This role is based at the Association’s office in Eden Park Auckland and there will be some travel around the country to meet players and build other key relationships.
Why not?
This is an outstanding opportunity to build a unique career blending law, sport and leadership, within a highly collegial, capable and inspiring team. If you’re ready to bring your legal skills, relationship orientation and results focus to a role with variety, purpose and impact and you love the prospect of supporting some of New Zealand’s top sportswomen and men, then we would love to hear from you.
Next Steps
If you have questions, please telephone Victoria Fletcher on 021 300 982. Otherwise please apply via Seek.
Applications close on Wednesday 17 September. Interviews will be held shortly afterward with a view to securing someone to start asap.
You’ll need a law degree with at least 2-3 years’ experience which means we cannot consider graduate candidates. You’ll hold or be able to obtain a practising certificate, be able to satisfy a Police check, and be eligible to work in New Zealand, as well as travel overseas, if required.