Platform Lead - Security

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency; Wellington; On-site; NZD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Five weeks’ annual leave

Income protection insurance

Critical illness insurance

Flexible working arrangements

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency seeks an experienced technology and security leader to head NZTA's security platforms and capabilities. You will own strategic roadmaps, lifecycle management, and drive continuous improvement across hybrid cloud environments.

You’ll combine deep technical credibility with strategic thinking to influence outcomes across governance and senior stakeholders, delivering security platform investments and agile improvements.

Qualifications

• Significant enterprise platform leadership experience
• Experience across multi-cloud, managed services and hybrid environments
• Knowledge of enterprise architecture principles and platform governance
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders across diverse groups
• Experience leading, mentoring and developing technical capability

Responsibilities

• Own the strategic and technical roadmaps and lifecycle of NZTA’s security platforms
• Keep security tooling reliable, scalable and fit for purpose
• Align platforms with our digital strategy and enterprise architecture
• Provide technical leadership across vendors and managed services in a multi-cloud environment
• Make platform investment decisions on cost, risk and value
• Use automation and AI to reduce manual effort across our platforms
• Deliver platform improvements iteratively using agile ways of working

Job description

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity

Lead NZTA's strategic security platforms and roadmap Drive secure, scalable platform capabilities across NZTA Influence architecture, security and technology outcomes

Location: Auckland, Wellington or Hamilton

We are looking for an experienced technology and security leader to lead NZ Transport Agency | Waka Kotahi (NZTA)'s Security platforms and capabilities. As Platform Lead, Security, you will be responsible for the technical roadmap, lifecycle management and continuous improvement of NZTA's security platforms. You’ll combine deep technical expertise with strategic thinking to keep our security tooling reliable, scalable and aligned to our enterprise architecture.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the strategic and technical roadmaps and lifecycle of NZTA’s security platforms
• Keep security tooling reliable, scalable and fit for purpose
• Align platforms with our digital strategy and enterprise architecture
• Provide technical leadership across vendors and managed services in a multi-cloud environment
• Make platform investment decisions on cost, risk and value
• Use automation and AI to reduce manual effort across our platforms
• Deliver platform improvements iteratively using agile ways of working

About you

We will be an accomplished platform or technology leader with extensive experience delivering enterprise-scale capabilities in complex environments. You will bring strong technical credibility, strategic thinking and the ability to influence outcomes across diverse stakeholder groups.

To be successful in this role, you will bring:

• Significant experience owning enterprise platforms in complex, hybrid cloud organisations
• A track record of developing and delivering platform roadmaps and strategic plans
• Experience working across multi-vendor, multi-cloud and managed service environments
• Knowledge of enterprise architecture principles and platform governance
• Ability to build trusted relationships and influence senior stakeholders
• Experience leading, mentoring and developing technical capability
• Strong programme delivery, coordination and problem-solving capability
• Relevant tertiary qualification or equivalent experience

You will demonstrate knowledge of, or a willingness to gain an understanding of, Te Ao Māori and promote tikanga and Te Reo Māori. You will also have knowledge of, or a willingness to gain an appreciation of, Te Tiriti o Waitangi as it applies in the public sector.

Mō mātou | About us

Te Aukaha | Digital provides modern, fit-for-purpose digital, information and technology solutions that support decision-making and make it easier for our people, partners and customers to work with us.

Our Security team enables NZTA to safely deliver its outcomes by reducing enterprise security risk across our people, places, information and technology.

Our Security team enables NZTA to safely deliver its outcomes by reducing enterprise security risk across our people, places, information and technology.

We’re already using AI-assisted automation across assurance, vulnerability management and SOC triage and want people who’ll push that further.

What you will get in return

This is an opportunity to shape the future of NZTA's security platforms, influence enterprise technology direction and lead critical capabilities that support a nationally significant organisation. In addition, you'll benefit from:

• Five weeks’ annual leave
• Income protection and critical illness insurance for permanent employees
• Flexible working arrangements, where appropriate for the role
• Opportunities for professional development and continued learning

Ready to take the next step in your security leadership career? We would love to hear from you.

Rā Katinga | Applications close: 18 November 2026

To be considered for this position you must have a legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

Waka Kotahi is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We recognise the importance of diversity and inclusion and are committed to providing a working environment that embraces these values.

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

Please note that we may begin shortlisting as we receive applications. We encourage early applications as we may withdraw the advertising at any time.

Ko wai mātou | About us At Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, it all starts with our people. The organisation's performance and success depends on the people who choose to make this a great place to work and make a difference for Aotearoa. Waka Kotahi has a strong future focus, understanding that new technologies and changing customer expectations mean the transport system we know today will not be the one we deliver in ten years time.