Senior Policy Advisor - Protective Security Requirements (PSR)

New Zealand Security Intelligence Service; Wellington; On-site; NZD 103,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) in Wellington seeks a Senior Policy Advisor on Protective Security Requirements to shape policy, drive governance, and improve assurance reporting.

You will translate complex intelligence data into clear policy options, work with partners like NCSC and central agencies, and mentor staff while keeping information secure.

Qualifications

• Policy development and analysis experience within government or security sectors.
• Strong written communication and ability to present complex issues clearly.
• Comfort working with data, trends, and cross-agency stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Drive policy excellence: Lead the development and implementation of PSR policy.
• Master the data: Own the annual assurance reporting process using Power BI.
• Support governance: Help manage the work programme and mentor staff.
• Build alliances: Collaborate with NCSC, international partners, and central agencies.

Skills

Policy analysis

Data interpretation

Report writing

Stakeholder engagement

Ambiguity management

Tools

Power BI

Excel

Job description

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Senior Policy Advisor - Protective Security Requirements (PSR)

New Zealand Security Intelligence Service – Wellington Central, North Island

At the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) | Te Pā Whakamarumaru, we are dedicated to our mission of keeping Aotearoa New Zealand and our people safe and secure. We collect, analyse and assess intelligence to protect New Zealand from threats such as foreign interference, espionage and terrorism.

Help us to protect the information and assets that protect New Zealand.

The Protective Security Requirements (PSR) are the gold standard for safeguarding the New Zealand government’s most valuable and sensitive information and assets.

We’re looking for a Senior Policy Advisor – in fact, possibly two of them – to help us evolve the PSR in the face of rapidly evolving threats including espionage and foreign interference. We need a sharp analytical mind to help keep the PSR clear and fit for purpose, to bridge the gap between complex intelligence data and policy options, and to turn structured reporting into sound strategic insights.

The challenge

• Drive policy excellence: Lead the development and implementation of PSR policy, ensuring it remains agile and intuitive for agencies across the public sector.
• Master the data: Own the annual assurance reporting process, using tools like Power BI to extract trends and communicate system-level risks to senior leaders.
• Support us to govern, mentor, and lead: Support management of our overall work programme, including in the Pacific, help grow junior staff, and provide high-level governance support.
• Build alliances: Collaborate with the National Cyber Security Centre, international partners, and central agencies to keep New Zealand aligned with global security standards.

Who you are:

You are a policy professional who thrives in ambiguity and has an eye for fine detail. You have a natural ability to break down and communicate complex problems, a crisp writing style, comfort working with data, and the people skills to influence effectively both up and across. You are well-organised and able to support managers to ensure work is delivered to time and to quality. Whether you come from a security background or from somewhere else, you’re driven by a "team-first" mentality and motivated by our mission of keeping New Zealand and New Zealanders safe.

Interested?

We’d love to get an application from you, even if you don’t fit every single one of the requirements in the position description. Just tell us in your application letter which requirements you meet already and which you think you might need our support to grow into.

The expected appointing range for this role is $103,009 - $109,876.

Before you apply

Working within our unique environment means we have to ensure you're eligible for employment.

You must:

• Have been a New Zealand Citizen for at least 10 years

OR

Hold a current NZ Residency Class Visa and ideally have been a citizen of the UK, USA, Canada or Australia for at least 10 years

• Be eligible to obtain a Top Secret Special (TSS) security clearance
  • Ordinarily, this means you'll have a 15 year checkable background in countries NZSIS Vetting can make meaningful and reliable checks.

Still unsure? Use this online tool to self-check your eligibility for a TSS security clearance:http://www.protectivesecurity.govt.nz/eligibility-tool

The NZIC treats all applications for employment in the strictest confidence and we expect that you maintain a similar level of confidentiality during the recruitment process and throughout your career.

We'll provide you with information and tips throughout the recruitment process, but in the meantime check out some of our Security FAQs here The security clearance process | Beyond Ordinary Careers

You can also learn more about our work and understand our areas of focus by readingNew Zealand's Security Threat Environment | New Zealand Security Intelligence Service