Lead Technology Security Specialist
Date: 4 Nov 2026
Location: Wellington, NZ
Company: Ministry of Social Development
- Diverse range of technologies and a new cloud first approach
- Work in a large, complex organisation with a huge internet facing presence
- Join the MSD Technology Security team and make a meaningful difference by helping New Zealanders build safe, strong, and independent lives
- Two 18 month fixed-term positions & one permanent position - all roles based in Wellington
About our team | Mō te tīma
At MSD, we foster a culture of innovation and collaboration where your ideas and contribution matter. You will join a dynamic team and a supportive work environment that encourages personal growth and professional development.
Working across MSD’s transformation programmes and strategic investments, the Lead Technology Security Specialist influences the design and delivery of future-state technology platforms, ensuring security considerations are embedded into organisational decision making from strategy through to implementation.
About the role | Mō te tūnga
As a Lead Technology Security Specialist, you will be accountable for providing specialist, enterprise-wide direction and authoritative advice to ensure MSD’s technology, security and architectural strategies deliver secure, resilient and trusted digital services.
The Lead Technology Security Specialist serves as a recognised subject-matter authority, providing independent challenge, oversight and assurance on complex technology initiatives, security risks and architectural decisions. The role leads the development of enterprise security patterns, promotes innovations, and influences security strategy across government and industry stakeholder networks to strengthen MSD’s security maturity and resilience. Additionally, you’ll also:
- Provide enterprise-wide advice on technology security architecture, security-by-design and cyber resilience outcomes
- Shape MSD's strategic technology security roadmaps, capability investment priorities, frameworks and architectural direction while contributing to solution architecture and technology designs and patterns, providing assurance for technology investments and transformation initiatives to ensure alignment with organisational objectives and risk appetite
- Influence senior leaders and programme-level decisions on significant technology investments, transformation initiatives and security risk acceptance
- Lead the assessment and resolution of MSD's most complex and strategically significant technology security challenges
- Drive the adoption of innovative security capabilities and approaches that strengthen MSD's long-term security posture and organisational resilience
- Engage proactively across the delivery lifecycle to identify, assess, and communicate security risks early, providing risk-based advice that enables informed decision-making and minimises downstream remediation and assurance issues
- Mentor and develop security professionals and architects, uplifting organisational capability and promoting technical excellence across the Ministry.
What you bring | Ōu pūmanawatanga
- Demonstrated success shaping security outcomes for large-scale transformation programmes, enterprise platforms and critical business services
- Proven ability to influence technology, architecture and security decisions across diverse stakeholder groups in complex environments with competing priorities
- Extensive knowledge of current and emerging security technologies, including cloud security, identity and access management, security monitoring, integration security, API security, data protection and AI security
- Deep expertise in security architecture, threat identification, risk management and the application of security-by-design principles across complex technologies ecosystems
- Subject matter expert level knowledge and understanding of industry cyber security frameworks and standards such as the NZISM, NIST and ISO-27000 (or equivalent)
- Excellent communication and engagement skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear business impacts and recommendations, patterns and roadmaps that inform organisational decision-making and technology investment.
Position Description | He Whakaahuatanga Tūnga
Click here to view the position description.
Salary | Utu-ā-tau: $163,784.00 - $203,820.00
Applications close | Ka kati ngā tono hei te: Tuesday 17th November
About us | Mō mātou
The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) is a people-centred organisation. We’re in communities across the motu, working with partners to help New Zealanders be safe, strong and independent.
We provide social policy advice to government, and assistance including income, employment and housing support to people of all ages, families, whānau and communities.
As a Te Tiriti o Waitangi partner, we are committed to supporting and enabling Māori, whānau, hapū, Iwi and communities to realise their own potential and aspirations.
Our people are as diverse as the communities we serve. We care about the wellbeing and success of our people and provide a supportive and inclusive working environment where people can thrive and be who they are.
How to apply | Me pēhea te tuku tono
Before you submit your application, please take a moment to review our guidance to understand how AI can best support your application. Candidate Guidance - Responsible AI use in recruitment.
To apply, click the 'Apply Now' button to upload your CV, cover letter and complete the online application form.
Note: Your cover letter will be a key part of our assessment process. Please highlight how your skills and experience relate to the key responsibilities listed in the position description and job advertisement.
All applications must be made online. If this is not possible or if you have any queries, please contact us at jobs@msd.govt.nz.
Internal MSD Employees – please apply through your myHR portal at work. This will ensure that your myHR employee profile is visible as internal candidate.
Joining us | Ko te hono mai
Joining MSD means being part of a whānau that celebrates the diversity each individual represents.
We show manaaki, we care about the wellbeing and success of people and want everyone to thrive and be who they are in a supportive and inclusive working environment. We work together to make a difference for communities while doing the right thing with integrity. You can find out more about our values here.
If you have any support or accessibility requirements, we encourage you to tell us when you apply so we can assist you through the recruitment process.
