Lead - Technology Risk

New Zealand Government; Wellington; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Five weeks annual leave

Insurance benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Career development

Job summary

Kāinga Ora is seeking an experienced Lead – Technology Risk to establish and lead our enterprise technology risk management capability across Digital IT in Wellington. You will drive governance, reporting, and oversight to proactively identify and manage technology risks and enable informed decision-making.

As service owner for technology risk management, you will lead a small team and collaborate with risk owners, security professionals, and delivery teams to embed risk management practices

Qualifications

• Significant experience in technology risk management within a large organisation.
• Proven ability to develop and implement risk frameworks, governance, and reporting.
• Strong knowledge of cybersecurity, data governance, and third-party risk.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and implementation of the technology risk management framework.
• Own governance, reporting, and oversight across Digital IT for technology risk.
• Lead a small team of Risk Specialists and collaborate with risk owners and delivery teams.

Skills

Technology risk

Cybersecurity governance

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Risk governance

Job description

Help shape a strong risk‑aware culture and safeguard the future of Digital IT. Lead the development and implementation of Kāinga Ora's technology risk management framework. Wellington-based permanent role, five weeks leave and insurance benefits.

Our opportunity

Kāinga Ora is seeking an experienced and strategic Lead – Technology Risk to establish, lead, and continuously improve our enterprise technology risk management capability. This is a pivotal role responsible for ensuring technology‑related risks are proactively identified, assessed, managed, and monitored across Digital IT. You will drive a consistent and effective approach to technology risk governance, working closely with leaders, risk owners, security professionals, and delivery teams to strengthen organisational resilience and support informed decision‑making. As the service owner for technology risk management, governance, reporting, and oversight, you will play a key role in embedding risk management practices that support the delivery of secure, reliable, and sustainable technology outcomes. You will provide oversight across a broad range of technology risks, including cybersecurity, operational resilience, data management, compliance, project delivery, third‑party services, and emerging technology risks. Through effective governance, reporting, and stakeholder engagement, you’ll help build a proactive and accountable risk culture across Digital IT. The Lead – Technology Risk will also lead a team of two Risk Specialists.

What you will bring

• Significant experience in technology risk management, enterprise risk, cybersecurity governance, or related disciplines within a large and complex organisation.
• Proven experience developing and implementing risk management frameworks, governance processes, and reporting practices.
• Strong understanding of technology, cyber security, operational resilience, data governance, compliance, and third‑party risk management.
• Experience providing risk oversight and influencing risk management outcomes across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Strong knowledge of governance, risk management, and assurance principles.
• Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to assess complex risks and communicate insights clearly to both technical and business audiences.
• Demonstrated experience engaging with senior leaders and supporting executive‑level decision‑making.
• Exceptional communication, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills.
• A proactive and collaborative leadership style, with a passion for continuous improvement and organisational capability uplift.

What's in it for you?

We offer competitive salaries, five weeks' annual leave and a benefits package including a range of insurances, flexible working arrangements and career development. These benefits are described in more detail here: https://careers.kaingaora.govt.nz/a-great-place-to-work/benefits. As a Kāinga Ora - Homes and Communities employee, we want to make sure that you have all the tools and support you need. We want to ensure you are healthy and have work‑life balance. We also want to support and grow your personal and career development through on‑the‑job learning, training courses, secondments and study opportunities.

Our organisation

At Kāinga Ora, ours is the important responsibility of transforming New Zealand’s housing choices, outcomes and the entire housing sector by creating homes and communities that allow New Zealanders to thrive. What is exciting about working for Kāinga Ora is getting the chance to make a real and positive impact on New Zealanders’ lives. With skills, planning and purposeful action, our people are creating the homes and neighbourhoods that will build the future of Aotearoa. We are passionate about transforming New Zealand for the better. That includes being a trusted partner for Māori and iwi, protecting and enabling their rights, interests and aspirations under the guidance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Our values

• Manaakitanga – People at the Heart
• Mahi Tahi – Better Together
• Whanake – Be Bold

Applications close on Sunday 27th September at 11:55pm.

We value diversity and are committed to working with each other and our customers in an inclusive and respectful way. We welcome applicants from all walks of life and appreciate the richness of experience that your point of difference brings to the organisation.