Principal Advisor Cybersecurity

New Zealand Government; Wellington; On-site; NZD 141,000 - 172,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Income protection

Life insurance

Job summary

Maritime NZ is recruiting a Principal Advisor Cybersecurity to lead organisation-wide strategy and risk management in a rapidly changing digital environment.

You will oversee security frameworks, coordinate vendor-delivered services, engage with senior leaders, and embed security-by-design across systems and initiatives to protect critical maritime operations.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in cybersecurity leadership or advisory roles.
• Deep expertise across security domains (cloud, identity, network, endpoint, SIEM/SOC).
• Strong understanding of recognised security frameworks and standards.
• Experience working within vendor-delivered or outsourced models.
• Proven ability to assess and manage cybersecurity risk and incidents.
• Experience advising senior leaders and governance forums.
• Strong analytical and risk-based decision-making capability.
• Ability to translate complex technical issues into clear, actionable advice.
• High levels of judgement, integrity and professionalism.
• Relevant certifications (e.g. CISSP, CISM, CISA) or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide principal-level leadership on cybersecurity strategy, risk and assurance.
• Ensure security frameworks, policies and controls are fit for purpose and aligned to risk appetite.
• Overseeing and strengthening vendor-delivered cybersecurity services.
• Acting as the key interface with external security providers and partners.
• Supporting senior leaders with advice on cyber risk, trade-offs and priorities.
• Embedding security-by-design across systems, platforms and digital initiatives.
• Supporting response to cyber incidents and driving continuous improvement.
• Building organisational capability, awareness and a strong security culture.

Skills

Cybersecurity leadership

Advisory experience

Cloud security

Security frameworks

Vendor management

Risk assessment

Incident response

Governance communication

Translation of complex issues

Education

Relevant cybersecurity certifications

Tools

SIEM/SOC

Cloud security tools

Identity & access management

Job description

Mō mątou | About Us

Our Vision: Preventing Harm. Saving Lives. Securing our Future

We play a key role in the guardianship of New Zealand waterways. We’re bringing together our aroha, work and skills to achieve our outcomes of sustainable supply chains and sectors, safe people and operations, secure ports and ships, and clean seas and waterways.

Our values are about who we are as individuals and the behaviours we expect from each other at Maritime NZ.

• Care | Kia Tika - We care for each other and do the right thing
• Connect | Kotahitanga - We unite in a common purpose
• Courage | Kia Māia - We are brave, capable and confident

Mō ątńā Rŏul - About the team

The Digital, Data and Finance Group brings together digital capability, data insight and financial stewardship to support how Maritime NZ plans, prioritises and delivers change.

Within this, the DST Delivery and Support runs the day-to-day operation of Maritime NZ’s digital platforms, infrastructure and services.

The team is accountable for ensuring reliable, secure and high-performing systems, including business applications, cloud platforms and infrastructure are effectively delivered, supported and continuously improved.

Te tŏu | The role

Maritime NZ is undergoing a period of change to strengthen its sustainability and future focus. Following an organisational redesign, we are recruiting into a number of newly shaped roles that support our shift toward more efficient, digitally enabled ways of working, helping position us for the future.

This specialist role is responsible for leading cybersecurity strategy, risk and assurance across Maritime NZ. As the Principal Advisor Cybersecurity, you’ll provide organisation-wide leadership to ensure cybersecurity is embedded effectively, supporting safe, resilient and trusted digital services.

You’ll operate at both a strategic and hands-on level, working across a vendor-delivered environment to ensure risks are actively managed and outcomes are achieved.

Key areas of focus include:

• Providing principal-level leadership on cybersecurity strategy, risk and assurance
• Ensuring security frameworks, policies and controls are fit for purpose and aligned to risk appetite
• Overseeing and strengthening vendor-delivered cybersecurity services
• Acting as the key interface with external security providers and partners
• Supporting senior leaders with advice on cyber risk, trade-offs and priorities
• Embedding security-by-design across systems, platforms and digital initiatives
• Supporting response to cyber incidents and driving continuous improvement
• Building organisational capability, awareness and a strong security culture

NŊka te rourou | What you bring

You’re a highly experienced cybersecurity professional who can operate confidently at both strategic and technical levels. You’re trusted by senior leaders and comfortable taking ownership of complex risk environments. You will bring:

• Significant experience in cybersecurity leadership or advisory roles
• Deep expertise across security domains (cloud, identity, network, endpoint, SIEM/SOC)
• Strong understanding of recognised security frameworks and standards
• Experience working within vendor-delivered or outsourced models
• Proven ability to assess and manage cybersecurity risk and incidents
• Experience advising senior leaders and governance forums
• Strong analytical and risk-based decision-making capability
• Ability to translate complex technical issues into clear, actionable advice
• High levels of judgement, integrity and professionalism
• Relevant certifications (e.g. CISSP, CISM, CISA) or equivalent experience

Mō | For you

Maritime NZ recognises and respects te Tiriti o Waitangi and we are committed to working with Māori to build strong, meaningful and enduring relationships to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.

We aim to be a workplace where everyone feels valued, supported with a sense of belonging. We encourage our people to actively contribute to our workplace culture where we all thrive and authentically live our MNZ values.

Upon joining us you’ll receive a full range of benefits including Income Protection & Life Insurance. Check out our full range on our careers page to find out more about why we love working here.

Salary range $140,735 - $171,945 depending on skills and experience + superannuation.