Principal Advisor Cybersecurity

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

Benefits offered by this job

Income protection

Life insurance

Superannuation

Job summary

Maritime NZ is seeking a Principal Advisor Cybersecurity to lead our cybersecurity strategy, risk and assurance across our digital services. You will operate at both strategic and hands-on levels, shaping policy, standards and secure architectures.

You will collaborate with executive leaders and external providers to drive risk-informed decisions, embedding security-by-design and guiding incident response and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading cybersecurity programs and advisory work.
• Ability to translate risk into clear, actionable guidance for senior leaders.
• Deep knowledge of cloud, identity, network and endpoint security, SIEM/SOC.
• Experience with vendor-delivered or outsourced security services.

Responsibilities

• Lead cybersecurity strategy, risk and assurance across Maritime NZ.
• Develop and maintain security policies, frameworks and controls.
• Embed security-by-design across systems and digital initiatives.
• Oversee vendor-delivered security services and incident response.

Skills

Cybersecurity leadership

Security risk assessment

Threat & incident response

Governance & advisory

Vendor management

Security frameworks

Executive communication

Certifications (CISSP/CISM/CISA)

Tools

SIEM/SOC

Job description

Mo m tou | About UsOur Vision: Preventing Harm. Saving Lives. Securing our FutureWe play a key role in the guardianship of New Zealand waterways. Were 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 thingConnect | Kotahitanga - We unite in a common purposeCourage | Kia M ia - We are brave, capable and confidentMo to m tou Ropu - About the teamThe 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 NZs 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 tunga | The roleMaritime 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, youll provide organisation-wide leadership to ensure cybersecurity is embedded effectively, supporting safe, resilient and trusted digital services.Youll 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 assuranceEnsuring security frameworks, policies and controls are fit for purpose and aligned to risk appetiteOverseeing and strengthening vendor-delivered cybersecurity servicesActing as the key interface with external security providers and partnersSupporting senior leaders with advice on cyber risk, trade-offs and prioritiesEmbedding security-by-design across systems, platforms and digital initiativesSupporting response to cyber incidents and driving continuous improvementBuilding organisational capability, awareness and a strong security cultureThis role is critical to ensuring Maritime NZs digital environment is secure, resilient and able to support modern service delivery.Nou te rourou | What you bringYoure a highly experienced cybersecurity professional who can operate confidently at both strategic and technical levels. Youre trusted by senior leaders and comfortable taking ownership of complex risk environments.You will bring:Significant experience in cybersecurity leadership or advisory rolesDeep expertise across security domains (cloud, identity, network, endpoint, SIEM/SOC)Strong understanding of recognised security frameworks and standardsExperience working within vendor-delivered or outsourced modelsProven ability to assess and manage cybersecurity risk and incidentsExperience advising senior leaders and governance forumsStrong analytical and risk-based decision-making capabilityAbility to translate complex technical issues into clear, actionable adviceHigh levels of judgement, integrity and professionalismRelevant certifications (e.g. CISSP, CISM, CISA) or equivalent experienceMou | For youMaritime NZ recognises and respects te Tiriti o Waitangi and we are committed to working with M ori 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 youll 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.Me pehea te tuku tono | How to applyWe are unable to accept applications via email. Please click the apply button to submit your application.We're committed to ensuring our application process is accessible to everyone. Please reach out to our recruitment team below if there is any support we can provide to ensure the process is accessible to you.Applications for this role close October 4th 2026. Please also note that you must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand to be considered for this role.If you have any questions please e-mail [e-mail]