Business Risk Manager

Auckland Council; Auckland; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Auckland Council, based in Auckland, New Zealand, is seeking an experienced Business Risk Manager to lead first-line risk management across Technology Services. You will partner with senior leaders to embed practical risk management, strengthen controls, and enhance organisational resilience while enabling innovation and change.

Reporting to the Head of Business Operations, you will drive risk maturity across technology operations, delivery, engineering, and business management functions,

Qualifications

• Proven experience in risk management, assurance, audit, or control design within a large, complex organisation.
• Demonstrated technology sector exposure with understanding of ICT risk environments.
• Strong knowledge of enterprise risk frameworks, controls and governance practices.
• Experience supporting audit programmes, assurance activities, and remediation initiatives.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to influence outcomes without direct authority and coach others in risk management.

Responsibilities

• Leading and evolving first-line technology and business risk management practices across Technology Services.
• Owning and maintaining the Technology Services risk register and reporting framework.
• Designing and embedding effective control frameworks and assurance activities.
• Partnering with and coaching leaders to integrate risk management into operational and strategic decision-making.
• Coordinating internal and external audits, remediation activities, and assurance reporting.
• Providing actionable risk insights that support organisational priorities and outcomes.
• Working closely with cybersecurity, delivery, operations, and leadership teams to strengthen resilience and governance.

Skills

Risk management

Assurance & audit

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical thinking

Coaching & influence

Governance experience

Education

Relevant tertiary qualification

Job description

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• Lead technology risk and assurance across one of New Zealand's largest and most complex ICT environments.
• Partner with senior leaders to strengthen resilience, governance, and business performance.
• Make a meaningful impact for Aucklanders while shaping the future of technology services

Technology is transforming how Auckland Council serves its communities. We're looking for an experienced Business Risk Manager to help ensure our Technology Services function delivers resilient, secure, and trusted services while enabling innovation and change.

This is a unique opportunity to lead first-line risk management across a large and complex technology environment, partnering with senior leaders to embed practical risk management, strengthen controls, and enhance organisational resilience. You'll play a pivotal role in ensuring risks are effectively identified, managed, and communicated to support informed decision-making across the business

Why this role?

Reporting to the Head of Business Operations within Technology Services, you'll be the trusted first-line risk advisor driving risk maturity across technology operations, delivery, engineering, and business management functions. Through practical guidance, education, coaching, and support, you'll help leaders and teams understand and own their risks, building a strong risk-aware culture while ensuring risk and assurance activities add value, not bureaucracy.

What You'll Be Responsible For

• Leading and evolving first-line technology and business risk management practices across Technology Services.
• Owning and maintaining the Technology Services risk register and reporting framework.
• Designing and embedding effective control frameworks and assurance activities.
• Partnering with and coaching leaders to integrate risk management into operational and strategic decision-making.
• Coordinating internal and external audits, remediation activities, and assurance reporting.
• Providing actionable risk insights that support organisational priorities and outcomes.
• Working closely with cybersecurity, delivery, operations, and leadership teams to strengthen resilience and governance

You’ll be an influential risk professional who can build credibility quickly and translate complex frameworks into practical business outcomes. You’re comfortable engaging senior stakeholders, providing constructive challenge, and driving continuous improvement across a dynamic technology environment.

• Proven experience in risk management, assurance, audit, or control design within a large, complex organisation.
• Demonstrated technology sector experience or exposure, with an understanding of technology services, digital delivery, operational technology, cybersecurity, or ICT risk environments.
• Strong understanding of enterprise risk frameworks, controls, and governance practices.
• Experience supporting audit programmes, assurance activities, and remediation initiatives.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• The ability to influence outcomes without direct authority, coach others in practical risk management, and build strong collaborative relationships across technical and non-technical teams.
• A relevant tertiary qualification in risk, business, finance, technology, audit, or a related discipline.

Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou: What we offer

Auckland Council is the largest local government council across Oceania, serving over 1.7 million people and contributing towards making Tāmaki Makaurau a world-class city.
We offer a range of employee benefits and proudly support flexible working options where possible.

As part of our organisation, you’ll have access to a range of fantastic Auckland Council benefits, EAP services, an Oranga Day and discounted Leisure Centre membership and a range of other partnership discounts! View a snapshot of some of our employee benefits here:benefits

We are a diverse organisation – we value diversity in our thinking, and we can only achieve that with a diverse team!

For a confidential discussion or for more information please get in touch with Rennie Sharma, Talent Acquisition Business Partner [e-mail]

Auckland Council is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) and we are committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of application to assist you through the recruitment process.