Head of Legal

At Halter, we’re on a mission to enable farmers and graziers to run the most productive and sustainable operations. Our customers are using Halter to break free from the time-intensive constraints of conventional practices. Imagine watching 500 cattle stand up and walk calmly towards their next break? No quad bikes, no dogs, no fences. Just a group of cattle walking at their own pace. People say it looks like magic. Our customers are revolutionizing grazing with Halter. It's changing lives and transforming an industry. People join Halter to do meaningful work. By joining us you’ll be solving challenging problems within a talented team and a culture built for high performance. Our team out-think, out-work and out-care. We’re committed to delivering real change in the world - this isn’t easy, and in truth, we love that it’s hard.

We’re backed to deliver on a mission that matters by Tier 1 investors including Founders Fund, Bessemer Venture Partners, BOND, DCVC, Blackbird, Promus Ventures, Rocket Lab’s Peter Beck and Icehouse ventures.

To find out more, visit our LinkedIn & Instagram.

Halter is flipping the livestock world on its head. We’re scaling fast across NZ, Aus, and the US, lining up multiple new international markets, and the stakes are high.We are looking for a Head of Legal to establish and lead our in-house legal function. As our first legal hire, you won't just be "the lawyer", we are looking for a commercial weapon and strategic architect to build the commercial frameworks that enable us to win. We need someone who uses the law to accelerate growth, not just manage risk. You will be a key member of our Senior Leadership team, reporting to the CFO, and working shoulder-to-shoulder with the Executive and the business to clear the path for expansion.This is a builder’s role with a massive global trajectory. You won't be a cog in a machine; you will architect the legal engine for a global technology company growing rapidly. This is a rare opportunity to gain exposure to complex, cross-border strategic challenges and accelerate your career with unique and valuable experience in a high-performance environment.

• Enable pace through pragmatic risk. You are comfortable navigating ambiguity and taking risks to enable pace. We are here to win, which means embracing discomfort and making big calls with imperfect information. You prioritize commercial wins over theoretical safety, knowing which risks kill companies and which ones flip industries.

• Strategic Transactions (M&A & Fundraising). You will drive the legal agenda on fundraising and M&A. You must have the experience to run due diligence, partner in negotiations, and execute deals that fuel our long-term strategy.

• Supply Chain & Global Operations. Partner with Operations to navigate our complex supply chain (China, Thailand, global). You will negotiate critical agreements with component suppliers and contract manufacturers, ensuring robust quality, warranty, and financial terms.

• Legal Operations, Spend & ROI. Manage external counsel like an investment, not a cost center. Actively reduce reliance on outsourcing by building in-house context and adopting our risk tolerance. Manage our global portfolio (D&O, Cyber, Product Liability), ensuring coverage scales with our US expansion and hardware risks. Embrace AI to accelerate impact. Implement tools to streamline routine work (e.g. Contract Management System).

• Corporate Governance & Compliance. Act as Company Secretary and manage entity structures across NZ, Aus, US, and Asia. Own regulatory compliance (FCC, electrical, animal welfare) and Health & Safety governance to protect our Directors and operations.  Treat data as a critical asset. Ensure our strategy is compliant and managed to safely unlock value creation through AI.

• Value protection and creation. Work with our Head of IP to protect our portfolio. IP is a strategic asset, so we operate on the front foot, actively identifying ways to enhance and extend our claims, and defend our portfolio. You will be the legal expert on our Employee Share Option Program, managing and advising as required to ensure ongoing compliance.

• You don't use the law as a shield to stop ideas; you use it as a tool to find the path to "Yes."

• You are first and foremost a business enabler who happens to be a great lawyer.

• You embody our 'roll up your sleeves' ethos.

• You constantly zoom in on the detail that matters, have no issue diving into the weeds of a contract, and zoom back out to shape high-level strategy.

• You can manage multiple high-stakes projects simultaneously without breaking a sweat.

• Your ability to context-switch - from M&A diligence to IP strategy to an urgent employment matter - is second to none.

• You make calls on regulatory compliance, legal spend, and complex litigation without needing your hand held.

• You thrive in the ambiguity that comes with scaling a global, multibillion-dollar business.

• Seasoned Leader: 8+ years experience, ideally a mix of top-tier firm and in-house high-growth tech.

• Scale-up DNA: You have cut your teeth in a fast-paced environment. You understand "scalable speed" vs "corporate process."

• M&A Experience: You have run deal processes and know how to structure transactions.

• ESOP Expertise: Strong preference for experience managing equity incentive schemes.

• Tech Fluency: Deep knowledge of software agreements, IP law, and SaaS/hardware regulations.

• International Experience: International experience, in particular exposure to the US, will be a significant bonus.
  

• State-of-the-art, dog-friendly office that’s been thoughtfully designed right in the heart of Auckland city.

• Healthy body, healthy mind. We’re partnered with Southern Cross Health Insurance to support your well-being.

• We offer 6 months of fully paid parental leave for primary caregivers, 4 weeks of fully paid secondary caregiver leave and many other parental benefits that support you and your family.

• Our personal growth is important. Halter offers an annual $1000 self-development budget to be used for anything that fuels personal growth.

• Our time to recharge is valued, we’re offered wellness leave and unlimited paid annual leave.

• We offer an inclusive and attractive remuneration package made up of salary, benefits and an employee stock ownership plan.

• Delicious snacks and drinks are available for your daily flow.

There’s a reason you visit your friends in person, live with your family and don’t do dinners over Zoom. Humans are wired for connection. We believe a world-class, in-person office culture is the best way for high-performing teams.
Being office first is a core pillar of our culture. We believe in-person connections are key to driving your own growth, learning, impact, and building genuine long-lasting relationships. Strong relationships make it easier to disagree, give feedback, and do meaningful and aligned work. We don’t like having heaps of rules or policies, but this means having strong, trusted relationships is critical.
We’re office first, not office only. This means working from the office everyday is our default setting, but we flex when we need to. We have a high-trust culture, so everyone is trusted to do what’s best for Halter.
Our office vibe is something special, it’s hard to describe until you’re here, but people at Halter who have come from fully remote or hybrid companies say they could never go back - the high energy and spectacular people they are now surrounded by everyday makes work so enjoyable. Your growth, your learning and your impact is truly unlimited here, and a big part of that comes from being together solving problems, innovating, building context, and constantly learning from each other.

Halter is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace — a place where we can each be ourselves and do the best work of our lives. Research shows that while men apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the requirements, women and under-represented groups of candidates tend to only apply when they meet every requirement. If you think you have what it takes but don’t necessarily tick every requirement on this job description, please still get in touch and apply to Halter. We’d love to chat to see if you’ll be an epic fit!

If this opportunity sounds like you, please apply below by sending through your cover letter explaining why you’re excited about this role and working at Halter, along with your CV, and we’ll be in touch!

Please also feel free to check out the careers page for more information on working at Halter and don't forget to follow us on LinkedIn & Instagram.

• Work that genuinely matters. Every now and again a company comes along that transforms an entire industry and leaves the world in a better place. Our team gets to be part of something truly meaningful, helping farmers improve their livelihoods, spend more time with their families, and build more sustainable operations.

• Spectacular people solving hard problems. Our culture is designed for talented people to do work that changes lives. The team is filled with diverse, kind, and driven people who push each other to do their best work. You'll be thrown into the deep end, tackling complex challenges and building something tangible that solves real problems.

• You'll grow here. Autonomy, mastery, and learning define how we work. You'll have the freedom to work on interesting problems, master new skills, and continuously develop yourself, both through your role and our $1,000 personal growth fund.

• This isn't easy, and we love that it's hard. Working at Halter will be the most rewarding and the most challenging work of your life. We move fast, take bold bets, and work hard to reshape an entire industry. As one team member put it: "Joining Halter is a bit like strapping yourself to a rocket ship, but it's an epic journey to be a part of!"