Senior Information Security Advisor - Public Sector Assurance

New Zealand Government Joba; Canterbury; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) is seeking a Senior Information Security Advisor to lead critical work supporting the Service for the Future programme. You will provide expert advice on information security, collaborate with IPS, and design risk-based assurance activities to protect sensitive information and enable secure public services.

Join a forward-thinking, collaborative team within MSD's Organisational Assurance and Communications Group, with a focus on integrity and risk

Qualifications

• Demonstrated expertise in information security with NZISM/PSR knowledge.
• Experience in risk management, policy development and compliance assurance.
• Able to handle complexity and ambiguity and deliver outcomes.
• Strong communication and relationship-building with stakeholders at all levels.
• Collaborative and strategic thinker who can connect advice across contexts.
• Ability to mentor and lift capability within a team.
• Public sector experience is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert security advice on MSD systems, practices and initiatives including C&A assessments.
• Collaborate with IPS information management and privacy colleagues to identify and mitigate information risks.
• Design and implement risk-based information assurance activities aligned with national security requirements.
• Develop and lead training materials to embed information responsibility across the organisation.
• Build strong internal and external relationships, including cross‑agency collaboration.
• Lead assurance reporting and provide data-informed recommendations to raise security maturity.

Skills

Information security

NZISM knowledge

Risk management

Policy development

Compliance assurance

Stakeholder engagement

Mentoring

Job description

The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) is seeking a Senior Information Security Advisor to lead critical work supporting the Service for the Future programme. You will provide expert advice on information security, collaborate with IPS, and design risk-based assurance activities to protect sensitive information and enable secure public services.

Join a forward-thinking, collaborative team within MSD's Organisational Assurance and Communications Group, with a focus on integrity and risk