Operations Manager, Security Services

New Zealand Defence Force; Auckland; On-site; NZD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life cover up to $300,000

Discounted insurances

Free will services

Defence community savings schemes

Job summary

New Zealand Defence Force – Auckland, North Island. You’ll lead the security operation at Devonport Naval Base, and guide a 24/7 roster while developing four team leaders to perform at a high level.

You’ll shape culture, drive change and ensure accountability across the site, acting as the security voice with Navy and NZDF staff. The role carries a salary around $85,000 inclusive of a 4% superannuation contribution.

Qualifications

• Real leadership of a large team (around 20 or more people) and ability to lead through challenging situations.
• Track record of developing people with concrete examples you can point to.
• Experience leading through change and managing resistance.
• Judgement to make calls under pressure and explain decisions afterwards.
• Full NZ Class 1 driver licence.
• Reasonable physical fitness and ability to respond in emergencies.

Responsibilities

• Lead a 24/7 security operation, including rosters and coverage.
• Develop and backstop four team leaders, with tough conversations when needed.
• Shape culture and raise performance across the team.
• Own the site: track incidents, reporting, and continuous improvement.
• Be the security voice in the room with Navy and NZDF staff at all levels.
• Respond to changes in policy, standards, and assurance testing.

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

New Zealand Defence Force – Auckland, North Island

You’ll lead the security operation at Devonport Naval Base, and you’ll do it in the middle of the biggest change the Security Guard Force has been through in years.

• Leading four team leaders. Developing them, reviewing them, backing them, and having the hard conversation when it’s needed.
• Building the culture. Twenty‑four people who know their job. Your task is to lift how they do it, and to make the standard hold when nobody’s watching.
• Taking them through change. New framework, new standards, new assurance testing. Some of it will land well and some of it won’t. Leading that is most of this role.
• Running the operation. A 24/7 roster, leave, sickness, short notice, kept covered without burning your people out.
• Owning what happens at your site. What occurred, what was done, what gets reported, and what changes as a result.
• Being the security voice in the room with Navy and NZDF staff at every level, including when the answer they want isn’t the answer they get.

You can work around the traffic, school hours – flexible start and ends times to suit.

About The team

We can’t say enough about our security guards or the contribution they make. They’re permanent NZDF staff, not contractors, and many have been here a long time. You’ll inherit real institutional knowledge and a team that’s used to doing things a certain way. That’s the opportunity and the challenge in one sentence.

Coming from outside security? If you’ve run a 24/7 operation somewhere else, logistics, facilities, aviation, healthcare, corrections, and you can lead people, we want to hear from you.

The salary for this role sits around $85,000 inclusive of a 4% superannuation contribution. Appointments within this range are based on skills and experience.

Please Note: The formal title for this role within NZDF is Site Supervisor, Security Guard Force.

You must have:

• Real leadership of a team, around 20 or more people, or a smaller team through something difficult.
• A track record of developing people. Not attending courses about it. Actually doing it, with names you can point to.
• Experience leading through change, including where people were unconvinced.
• The judgement to make a call under pressure and the confidence to explain it afterwards.
• A full Class 1 New Zealand driver licence.
• A reasonable level of physical fitness, you may be required to walk long distances, climb stairs, stand for long periods, and respond physically in an emergency.

We’d like you to have, and will help you build:

• Experience in security, defence, emergency services, corrections or other controlled or compliance related environment.
• Knowledge of NZDF and the National Protective Security Requirements (PSR).
• Public or state sector experience.
• Experience with performance and employment processes.
• A current First Aid certificate — if you don’t have one, we’ll arrange it.

Nōu te rourou | What’s in it for you

Safeguard 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.

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 Clearance

• You must be a New Zealand citizen or you must hold New Zealand Permanent Residence or have a current New Zealand Residency Class Visa.
• 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.
• You must have a ten (10) year background history 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.