It Security Analyst - Fixed-Term

New Zealand Government; Wellington; On-site; NZD 104,000 - 126,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) in Wellington seeks a Senior IT Security Analyst to strengthen its Security Operations team. You will monitor threats, triage incidents, advise on projects, and help implement SOPs and staff awareness.

The role offers 24x7 exposure, professional development, and a chance to contribute to safer public services in New Zealand. Join a busy team partnering with IT and governance units, driving security across platforms, and delivering monthly security

Qualifications

• Previous experience as a junior IT security analyst or similar
• Organised with strong communication and stakeholder skills
• Strong knowledge of IT security terminology, platforms, penetration testing, and threats
• Knowledge of vulnerability management processes and tools
• Experience identifying, evaluating, and mitigating IT security risks; familiarity with security frameworks
• Experience fostering collaborative relationships across organisations
• Proven ability to implement security measures, translate policies into standards, drive initiatives
• Self-starter able to propose and lead change
• Ability to produce formal reports for technical and non-technical audiences
• Strong analytical mindset with proactive approach

Responsibilities

• Understand and prevent the ever-changing threats to our services through monitoring for anomalous systems and staff behaviour
• Triage and analyse IT security incidents
• Engage with specific projects, offer advice, and help with the delivery of solutions
• Help to support and implement standard operating procedures, and awareness / educational material for staff
• Build strong working relationships across MSD and the IT community including the CISO team
• Manage and support our security products ensuring that they are up-to-date and working optimally
• Develop and deliver reporting as required regarding events, issues, and monthly updates

Skills

IT security

Stakeholder skills

Threat knowledge

Vulnerability management

Security risk

Collaborative relations

Policy to standards

Analytical mindset

Report writing

Job description

• Gain valuable experience working alongside project teams, building your stakeholder engagement and IT security expertise while helping to coordinate and facilitate security testing activities
• Varied work in a busy team, helping us with our Transformation programme
• Wellington based – fixed-term opportunity

Build trust into every solution. Strengthen communities. Join MSD.

About our team | Mō te tīma

If you want to be part of a team that is all about helping to build successful individuals, and in turn building strong, healthy families and communities then we would love to hear from you. MSD is transforming how services are designed and delivered, with technology playing a key role in creating simpler, more connected experiences for New Zealanders. The Ministry of Social Development has one of the largest government department groups in the country. This leads to a wide range of challenges in IT Security, and we are seeking a Senior IT Security Analyst to join our busy Security Operations team and IT Security Programme to help keep the Ministry safe.

About the role | Mō te tūnga

Do the challenges of IT Security excite you? Do you have a technical background in IT Security with an interest in problem solving? Can you provide thought, technical and people leadership. Then you may be the kind of person we are looking for. Our team works closely with both the Information Technology and Governance Risk and Compliance teams to ensure the Ministry has a secure technical infrastructure and information controls. This means you'll have a wide range of platforms and technologies to learn, monitor and provide security guidance to secure. It's a challenging, varied, fast-paced work environment, with on-going professional development.

• Understand and prevent the ever-changing theats to our services through monitoring for anomalous systems and staff behaviour
• Triage and analyse IT security incidents
• Engage with specific projects, offer advice, and help with the delivery of solutions
• Help to support and implement standard operating procedures, and awareness / educational material for staff
• Build strong working relationships across MSD and the IT community including the CISO team
• Manage and support our security products ensuring that they are up-to-date and working optimally
• Develop and deliver reporting as required regarding events, issues, and monthly updates

This is a hands-on technical role working in a 24x7 environment. The role includes being part of an on-call roster afterhours / weekends and public holidays. The position offers a challenging, varied, fast paced work environment, on-going professional development, and the opportunity to work for an organisation that makes a difference in the lives of New Zealanders.

What you bring | Ōu pūmanawatanga

• Previous experience as a Junior IT Security Analyst or similar looking to specialise further within in security
• An organised approach, with strong communication and stakeholder skills
• Strong knowledge of IT security terminology, platforms, penetration testing, and common security threats
• Knowledge in vulnerability management processes and tools
• Experience in identifying, evaluating, and mitigating IT security risks and a familiarity with security framework and best practices for compliance
• Previous experience fostering collaborative relationships across organisations
• A proven ability to implement security measures, translate policies into documented standards, and drive security initiatives to completion
• A self-starting approach, able to see where improvements are needed, and propose, lead, and implement change
• Ability to produce formal reports for both technical and non-technical audiences
• A strong analytical mindset with a proactive approach to tackling complex security challenges and delivering effective solutions

We value diversity and encourage and welcome applications from people who have different life experiences. Your perspective could help us make better security decisions!

Position Description | He Whakaahuatanga Tūnga

The Position Description for this role can be found here : Position Description.

Salary | Utu-ā-tau : $103,846.00 - $125,998.00

Applications close | Ka kati ngā tono hei te : Tuesday 3rd November

About us | Mō mātou

The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) is a people‑centred organisation. We're in communities across the motu, working with partners to help New Zealanders be safe, strong and independent. We provide social policy advice to government, and assistance including income, employment and housing support to people of all ages, families, whānau and communities. As a Te Tiriti o Waitangi partner, we are committed to supporting and enabling Māori, whānau, hapū, Iwi and communities to realise their own potential and aspirations. Our people are as diverse as the communities we serve. We care about the wellbeing and success of our people and provide a supportive and inclusive working environment where people can thrive and be who they are.

Joining us | Ko te hono mai

Joining MSD means being part of a whānau that celebrates the diversity each individual represents. We show manaaki, we care about the wellbeing and success of people and want everyone to thrive and be who they are in a supportive and inclusive working environment. We work together to make a difference for communities while doing the right thing with integrity. You can find out more about our values here. If you have any support or accessibility requirements, we encourage you to tell us when you apply so we can assist you through the recruitment process.