Compliance Manager

New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade; Wellington; On-site; NZD 130,000 - 153,000; Full time

Job summary

New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade seeks an experienced Compliance Manager to lead asset compliance, safety and assurance across a global portfolio of embassies, residences and facilities. You will translate regulatory requirements into practical standards and tools to support better decisions and outcomes.

You will influence investment choices, strengthen assurance and embed continuous improvement while partnering with stakeholders across NZ and overseas.

Qualifications

• Experience in compliance, assurance, health and safety, facilities or asset management environments.
• Strong understanding of regulatory, compliance or risk management frameworks.
• Experience advising senior managers and governance groups.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to translate complex requirements into practical solutions.
• Excellent stakeholder management across diverse audiences.
• Understanding of Te Tiriti/Waitangi would be beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Lead asset compliance, safety and assurance programmes across MFAT's global property portfolio.
• Shape and continuously improve compliance frameworks, standards and governance practices.
• Provide strategic advice on compliance obligations, risk trends and emerging issues.
• Deliver assurance insights and reporting that support effective decision-making and investment planning.
• Build organisational capability through practical guidance, tools and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Partner with stakeholders across New Zealand and overseas to embed a proactive, risk-informed approach to compliance and asset performance.

Skills

Compliance management

Regulatory risk frameworks

Executive advisory

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder management

Te Tiriti knowledge

Job description

• Lead building compliance across a global portfolio
• Strengthen safety, assurance and resilience
• Influence decisions that shape investment outcomes
• Wellington based, permanent full time

Champion the compliance, safety and assurance frameworks that support one of New Zealand's most unique international property portfolios.

About the role – Kōrero mō te tūranga

Help shape the standards, assurance and risk frameworks that protect one of New Zealand's most unique international property portfolios. Working across embassies, residences and specialist facilities around the world, you'll influence investment choices, strengthen organisational capability and ensure our assets remain safe, resilient and fit for purpose.

The Compliance Manager plays a critical role in helping MFAT manage risk, improve performance and ensure its global property portfolio remains safe, resilient and fit for purpose. Reporting to the Strategy, Planning and Performance Manager, you'll lead the development of asset compliance, safety and assurance approaches across a diverse international portfolio spanning diplomatic missions, residences and specialised facilities around the world.

Working closely with technical specialists, project teams and senior stakeholders, you'll translate complex regulatory and technical requirements into practical frameworks, standards and tools that support better decisions and stronger outcomes. You'll provide expert guidance on compliance risks and obligations while identifying opportunities to improve capability, strengthen assurance and embed continuous improvement across the organisation.

This is a highly influential role that sits at the intersection of property strategy, risk management and organisational performance. It offers the opportunity to shape how MFAT protects its people, assets and investments across one of New Zealand's most unique and globally dispersed property portfolios.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead asset compliance, safety and assurance programmes across MFAT's global property portfolio.
• Shape and continuously improve compliance frameworks, standards and governance practices.
• Provide strategic advice on compliance obligations, risk trends and emerging issues.
• Deliver assurance insights and reporting that support effective decision-making and investment planning.
• Build organisational capability through practical guidance, tools and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Partner with stakeholders across New Zealand and overseas to embed a proactive, risk-informed approach to compliance and asset performance

For more detail you can view a copy of the position description here.

The salary range for this role is $129,965 to midpoint $152,900 total remuneration, inclusive of our KiwiSaver employer contribution. We expect to appoint depending on your level of skills and experience.

Who are we looking for? – Mā wai te mahi nei?

As an experienced compliance, assurance or safety professional who can combine technical expertise with influence, judgement and strategic thinking you bring:

• Experience in compliance, assurance, health and safety, facilities or asset management environments
• Strong understanding of regulatory, compliance or risk management frameworks
• Experience providing advice and assurance to senior managers and governance groups
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to translate complex requirements into practical solutions
• Excellent stakeholder management skills and the ability to influence outcomes across a diverse range of audiences.
• Understanding of The Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti, Te Reo Māori and Māori customs and protocols would be beneficial.

Why MFAT? – Ngā hua o te mahi i te Manatū Aorere

We are committed to a focus on leadership, talent, training and development, and flexible work options consistent with guidance from the Public Service Commission. Check out our benefits page to find out more about why we love working here.

MFAT is Rainbow Tick accredited. We value diversity and are committed to providing an inclusive culture where everyone feels supported, valued, and a sense of belonging. We welcome applications from people from a diverse range of backgrounds.

About us - Mō mātou

Our people represent New Zealand on and offshore, and in doing so make New Zealanders safer and more prosperous. By building connections with and influencing other countries and international institutions, we advance New Zealand’s interests and pursue New Zealand's values. We provide advice to the Government on the implications for New Zealand of what is happening in the world.

To be considered for this position at Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade you must be a NZ citizen or Permanent Resident.

You must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance. Ordinarily, to obtain this level of clearance candidates must have sufficient checkable background in countries where meaningful and reliable checks can be undertaken. Where requisite checks are unable to be made, the candidate application may not be able to be progressed.

Use this online tool to self-check your eligibility for a Top Secret clearance. Please note that this tool is not part of the formal security clearance process: http://www.protectivesecurity.govt.nz/eligibility-tool

Please let us know if you need any support or have any access requirements that will help you through the recruitment process.

Applications close at midnight on Tuesday, 3 November 2026.

Please note: This is not a Foreign Policy/diplomatic role. This is a ‘Corporate’ role (known here as a specialist role based in central Wellington, NZ.

While it is not usual for specialist staff to be ‘posted’ outside of NZ, from time to time a specialist role overseas becomes available at one of our embassies, high commissions, missions or consulates. To be considered for one of these positions you would need to apply and be considered via a competitive recruitment process.

If you do have an interest in an MFAT foreign policy/diplomatic career, you would be welcome to apply for this either via our graduate recruitment or mid-level foreign policy recruitment campaigns.