Security & Resilience Adviser

Security and Resilience Adviser

• Permanent opportunity, Wellington CBD based
• Deliver first line security and resilience services in NZ and offshore
• Contribute to Aotearoa’s safety at home and offshore

Provide a key service at MFAT, ensuring the safety and security of our globally-based people.

About the role - Kōrero mō te tūranga

Our Security and Resilience Advisers are key to ensuring that new and emerging threats are well understood, and appropriate actions taken to keep our people safe wherever they are in the world.  Our team work collaboratively across a range of areas and are responsible for delivering threat and risk assessments and security and resilience training, providing crisis management advice, and implementing travel risk management and personnel and asset security. 

Key accountabilities for the role include:

• Advise and support the Ministry’s network of Posts on security or resilience matters
• Provide key practical support to specific regions, particularly for our people in complex environments
• Work alongside leaders to ensure they understand their security and resilience risks and how to manage them effectively
• Analyse security and access data and use it to create useful reports and continuous improvement opportunities
• Provide auditing and review of key operational processes.

For more detail you can view a copy of the position description here.

The full salary range for this role is $78,043 - $105,587 total remuneration including 3.5% employer contribution to Kiwisaver. The midpoint is $91,815. We expect to appoint depending on your level of experience.

Who are we looking for? - Mā‎ wai te mahi nei?

• Experience in risk management
• Passionate about helping people stay safe and an interest in advancing your security, continuity and risk management career
• Proven experience building, maintaining and leveraging relationships
• Demonstrated integrity, discretion and an ethical approach
• Very confident with technology and able to quickly learn and operate different systems
• Strong qualitative and analytical skills
• Sound understanding of tikanga and Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles.

Why MFAT? - Ngā hua o te mahi i te Manatū Aorere

We are committed to a focus on leadership, talent, training and development, and flexible work options consistent with guidance from the Public Service Commission.  Check out our benefits page to find out more about why we love working here.

MFAT is Rainbow Tick accredited. We value diversity and are committed to providing an inclusive culture where everyone feels supported, valued, and a sense of belonging.  We welcome applications from people from a diverse range of backgrounds. 

About us - Mō mātou

Our people represent New Zealand on and offshore, and in doing so make New Zealanders safer and more prosperous.  By building connections with and influencing other countries and international institutions, we advance New Zealand’s interests and pursue New Zealand's values.  We provide advice to the Government on the implications for New Zealand of what is happening in the world. 

To Apply/Interested? - Me pēhea te tuku tono

Apply today with your CV and cover letter.

For a confidential discussion please call Jeff McDonald, Security and Resilience Operations Unit Manager on 021 846 312.

To be considered for this position at Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade you must be a NZ citizen, or Permanent Resident. 

You must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance. Ordinarily, to obtain this level of clearance candidates must have sufficient checkable background in countries where meaningful and reliable checks can be undertaken. Where requisite checks are unable to be made, the candidate application may not be able to be progressed.

Use this online tool to self-check your eligibility for a Top Secret clearance. Please note that this tool is not part of the formal security clearance process: http://www.protectivesecurity.govt.nz/eligibility-tool.

Please let us know if you need any support or have any access requirements that will help you through the recruitment process.

Applications close at 11:59pm, Tuesday, 23 June 2026.    

Please note: This is not a Foreign Policy/diplomatic role.  This is a ‘Corporate’ role (known here as a specialist role based in central Wellington, NZ.  

While it is not usual for specialist staff to be ‘posted’ outside of NZ, from time to time a specialist role overseas becomes available at one of our embassies, high commissions, missions or consulates. To be considered for one of these positions you would need to apply and be considered via a competitive recruitment process.

If you do have an interest in an MFAT foreign policy/diplomatic career, you would be welcome to apply for this either via our graduate recruitment or mid-level foreign policy recruitment campaigns.