Cyber Incident Manager

New Zealand Government; Wellington; On-site; NZD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life insurance

Critical illness protection

Discounted insurances

Free will services

Defence community savings schemes

Job summary

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) seeks an experienced Cyber Incident Manager to coordinate incident response activities within the Information Command (INFOCOM). You will work with technical specialists, leaders and external partners to strengthen cyber resilience and report on incidents for governance forums.

You will contribute to preparedness exercises, drive continuous improvement, and support escalation and on-call duties.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in cyber security, cyber operations or incident response environments.
• Experience coordinating or supporting responses to cyber incidents.
• Strong understanding of cyber threats, attack methodologies and response frameworks.
• Knowledge of cyber security governance, risk management and resilience practices.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Relevant cyber security qualifications and certifications desirable.

Responsibilities

• Support cyber response activities during cyber security incidents.
• Work with technical response teams and stakeholders during incidents.
• Support cyber preparedness through exercises, simulations and response planning.
• Conduct cyber-focused problem management and continuous improvement activities.
• Produce cyber incident reporting and resilience insights for governance forums.
• Build effective relationships across Defence, government agencies and external partners.

Skills

Cyber security

Incident response

Cyber operations

Coordination

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

Governance and risk management

Education

Relevant cyber security qualifications/certifications

Job description

Mo te tunga | About the roleThe Service Management function leads service integration and management practices across Information Command (INFOCOM), helping ensure NZDF information services remain secure, resilient and fit for operational purpose.As Cyber Incident Manager, you will play a key role in supporting cyber incident response activities and strengthening organisational cyber resilience. Working alongside technical specialists, senior leaders and external partners, you will help coordinate responses to cyber incidents, support preparedness activities and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.This is an exciting opportunity to apply your cyber security expertise within a complex operational environment while contributing to the security and resilience of the NZDF Information Environment.You will support the coordination of cyber incident response activities, cyber preparedness initiatives, and the implementation of lessons identified through incident response and review activities. You will also contribute to reporting and situational awareness products that support informed decision making during cyber incidents.This will include:Supporting the coordination of cyber response activities during cyber security incidentsWorking with technical response teams and key stakeholders during cyber incident response activitiesSupporting cyber preparedness through exercises, simulations and response planningConducting cyber focused problem management and continuous improvement activitiesProducing cyber incident reporting and resilience insights for governance forumsBuilding effective relationships across Defence, government agencies and external partners.This position participates in an on-call roster, you will be required to support the coordination of cyber incident response activities outside normal business hours. For which you will be compensated.Applications may be reviewed upon receipt. It is advised to apply early to avoid disappointment, as this role may close ahead of time due to a high volume of applicants.Please note: As this role requires a high level of security clearance, you will need to be / have been a NZ, UK, Australian, Canadian or USA citizen for a minimum of 15 years to be eligible for this role. The successful candidate is required to undergo a psychological assessment as part of the pre-employment security vetting process.Nga pukenga me nga wheako | Skills and ExperienceThis is an excellent opportunity for an experienced cyber security professional to contribute to NZDF's cyber resilience and incident response capability.You will be a strategic and collaborative professional with experience coordinating or supporting cyber incident response activities and operating effectively in complex environments. You will be comfortable balancing operational and organisational priorities while maintaining a focus on preparedness, resilience and continuous improvement.You will bring:Significant experience in cyber security, cyber operations or incident response environmentsExperience coordinating or supporting responses to cyber incidentsStrong understanding of cyber threats, attack methodologies and response frameworksExperience engaging with technical specialists, senior leaders and external stakeholdersKnowledge of cyber security governance, risk management and resilience practicesStrong analytical, problem solving and decision making skillsExcellent verbal and written communication skillsRelevant cyber security qualifications and certifications desirableNo candidate is expected to meet every desired skill or experience listed. If your background differs from what we've outlined but you believe you can contribute to the role, we encourage you to apply.This role will require domestic travel to support NZDF business requirements. You will need to have a Class 1 Full Driver's Licence.Nou te rourou | What's in it for youSafeguard your loved ones with a fully funded life cover of up to $300,000 and critical illness protection. Other benefits include discounted additional insurances, free will services and savings schemes for the Defence community. Get expert financial guidance and mortgage broker services. Find all our benefits and more on the Force 4 Families website.NZDF champions diversity and inclusivity, valuing every member and fuelling their success. We embrace uniqueness, understanding that diverse teams drive creativity, innovation, and excellence. With an open door to all - irrespective of gender, ethnicity, ability, age, or family dynamics - NZDF offers a flexible, empowering work environment. Join us in shaping a brighter future, where everyone thrives.Me pehea te tuku tono | How to ApplyApplications close on Wednesday 4 November 2026.Use the links on this page where you'll be directed to the Defence Careers website.Please Note:All applications must be made online, via the Defence Careers website. Each listing contains the Position Description.Your cover letter will be a key part of our selection process, so please highlight how your experience relates to the key activities outlined in the Advert and Position Description.Applicants will be required to undergo a pre-employment drug-screening test prior to any offer of employment being made.NZDF Employees/Members - please apply internally via the HR Toolkit; this will ensure that you are visible as an internal candidate.NZDF Contractors - please apply via the Defence Careers website.NZDF Reserves - please apply via the Defence Careers website if you cannot access the HR Toolkit.Please Note:To be eligible for the required level of government security clearance with the NZ Defence Force, you need to meet certain citizenship and residency criteria. Here's what you need to know:Higher Level Security ClearanceYou must be a New Zealand Citizen for at least the last ten (10) years.At minimum, you must hold New Zealand Permanent Residence or have a current New Zealand Residency Class Visa, and you must be a citizen of and have lived in Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, United States of America or New Zealand continuously for the last ten (10) years.To obtain this level of clearance, you must have a background history of fifteen (15) years that can be verified and assessed appropriately by the NZ Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) to determine if you are suitable for a security clearance at this level.If you do not meet the minimum criteria, unfortunately, your application will not be accepted. We do welcome your application at a time when you will meet the requirements.