Chief Assurance Officer

Jobtailor; Wellington; On-site; NZD 100,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

DOC is seeking a senior leader to head its enterprise risk, assurance, integrity and compliance functions in Wellington. The role provides strategic advice to executives and governance forums, overseeing audit, investigations and protected disclosures while strengthening controls and governance across the organisation.

You will lead a small, high‑performing team, influence senior stakeholders, and help navigate risks associated with digital transformation and AI.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading enterprise risk, assurance, governance, integrity or compliance in a large, complex organisation.
• Strong knowledge of enterprise risk management, audit and assurance frameworks.
• Experience overseeing investigations, protected disclosures, integrity matters or compliance activities.
• Proven ability to influence senior leaders, executives and governance bodies.
• Experience leading organisational change, capability uplift or maturity improvement initiatives.
• Excellent communication, including executive reporting and stakeholder engagement.
• Experience in a large operational, regulatory or public sector environment.
• Understanding of AI governance, data privacy and regulatory stewardship (desirable).
• Knowledge of or experience in the public service and large operational organisations (desirable).
• Top secret clearance is required.
• Eligibility to work in New Zealand with a valid work visa for the full period of employment.
• CV and cover letter required.

Responsibilities

• Lead DOC's enterprise risk, assurance, integrity and compliance functions.
• Provide strategic advice and independent insight to executives and governance forums.
• Oversee audit, investigations, compliance and protected disclosure activities.
• Strengthen organisational controls, accountability and assurance practices.
• Support organisational modernisation through effective risk management and governance.
• Lead a small, high-performing team and build strong relationships across DOC.
• Help DOC navigate opportunities and risks associated with digital transformation, automation and AI.

Skills

Enterprise Risk Management

Governance

Investigations

Compliance Activities

Stakeholder Engagement

Executive Reporting

Change Management

Data Privacy Understanding

AI Governance

Top Secret Clearance

Job description

• Lead DOC's enterprise risk, assurance, integrity and compliance functions
• Provide strategic advice and independent insight to executives and governance forums
• Oversee audit, investigations, compliance and protected disclosure activities
• Strengthen organisational controls, accountability and assurance practices
• Support organisational modernisation through effective risk management and governance
• Lead a small, high-performing team and build strong relationships across DOC
• Help DOC navigate emerging opportunities and risks associated with digital transformation, automation and AI

Requirements

• Significant experience leading enterprise risk, assurance, governance, integrity or compliance functions within a large and complex organisation
• Strong knowledge of enterprise risk management, audit and assurance frameworks
• Experience overseeing investigations, protected disclosures, integrity matters or organisational compliance activities
• Demonstrated success influencing senior leaders, executives and governance bodies
• Experience leading organisational change, capability uplift or maturity improvement initiatives
• Excellent communication skills, including executive reporting, facilitation and stakeholder engagement
• Experience working within a large operational, regulatory or public sector environment
• Understanding of emerging governance and assurance issues, including AI, data privacy and regulatory stewardship (desirable)
• Knowledge of, or experience within, the public service and within a large operational organisation (desirable)
• Top secret clearance required
• Eligibility to work in New Zealand is mandatory, including a valid work visa covering the whole period of employment
• CV and cover letter required

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in leading enterprise risk, assurance, and compliance functions while effectively managing organisational change and governance. Proven ability to influence senior leaders and navigate complex regulatory environments.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Enterprise Risk Management
• Audit And Assurance Frameworks
• Investigations And Compliance Activities
• Executive Communication And Reporting
• Top Secret Clearance

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Enterprise Risk Management
• Audit Frameworks
• Assurance Frameworks
• Compliance Activities
• Investigations
• Organisational Change Management
• Capability Uplift Initiatives
• Governance Practices
• Data Privacy Understanding
• Regulatory Stewardship

Soft Skills

• Influencing Senior Leaders
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Facilitation Skills
• Relationship Building
• Communication Skills

Certifications & Qualifications

• Top Secret Clearance

Industry Keywords

• Public Sector
• Operational Environment
• Regulatory Environment
• Digital Transformation
• AI Governance