Lead Advisor Personnel Security

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE

• Join a high-performing, collaborative Protective Security team
• Contribute to building a trusted and security‑minded workforce
• Permanent, full-time | Wellington based
• $118,390 – $143,639 + KiwiSaver + wellness benefits.

About the Role - Tēnei tūranga:

Join our dynamic team as a Lead Advisor Personnel Security, where you'll help shape how MBIE identifies and manages people-related security risks, strengthening organisational resilience and supporting a trusted workforce (refer here ) 

You'll be a trusted advisor on complex personnel security matters, helping leaders navigate issues relating to suitability, security clearances, insider risk and people-related security concerns. You'll also play a key role in shaping MBIE's personnel security framework, influencing how the organisation identifies, manages and responds to personnel security risks across the employment lifecycle.

Working alongside People and Culture, managers, security practitioners and external partners, you'll contribute to lifting personnel security capability across MBIE while supporting a practical, risk-based approach that enables business outcomes.

This is an opportunity to apply your expertise in a complex and varied environment where your advice, judgement and influence will have organisation-wide impact.
Flexible working with one-two days per week, and in the office three-four days per week.

Skills and Experience Required - Ngā pukenga me ngā wheako e hiahiatia ana

• A thorough understanding of the Government’s Protective Security Requirements, particularly relating to personnel security ( refer here )
• Significant experience in personnel security, vetting, integrity, investigations, personnel assurance, or a closely related discipline.
• Experience advising on security vetting and clearance requirements, including suitability assessments and ongoing monitoring.
• Experience managing or contributing to the response to personnel security incidents, concerns or insider risk matters.
• Experience developing and implementing personnel security policies, procedures and guidance in a complex organisation.
• Strong understanding of the employment lifecycle and the intersection between HR practices, integrity practices and security risk.
• Credibility when engaging with business owners, managers and senior leaders.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to quickly establish and maintain trusted relationships.
• Experience providing subject matter expertise during sensitive or high-risk matters requiring sound judgement and discretion.
• Flexibility to adapt quickly to changing business and risk environments.
• We’re keen to hear from you if you have the knowledge, skills and experience outlined above, particularly experience applying Government-mandated Protective Security Requirements in a personnel security context. 
• You must be able to obtain and maintain a high level security clearance.
  
  

You must have:

• The legal right to live and work in NZ,
• The ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret national security clearance. Employment requires the candidate to be:
• A New Zealand citizen or resident who has resided continuously in this country of 10 years, or
• A citizen of Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom or the United States of America, and have resided continuously in one or more of these countries for the last 10 years (refer here ) 

About MBIE - Ētahi kōrero mō MBIE:

MBIE's goal is to create a resilient and high-performing economy that delivers real and ongoing quality of life for all New Zealanders.

We do this by working with others to create an environment that supports businesses to be more productive and internationally competitive, enables all New Zealanders to participate in the economy through improved job opportunities and by working to ensure quality housing is more affordable.

People are at the heart of our mahi, our way of working is guided by our values which shape our behaviours.

• Mahi Tahi – Better Together
• Māia – Bold and brave
• Pae Kahurangi – Build our Future
• Pono Me Te Tika – Own It

Our aspirations are echoed in our Māori identity – Hīkina Whakatutuki – which broadly means ‘lifting to make successful'.

MBIE recognises the partnership founded under Te Tiriti o Waitangi between Māori and the Crown and is committed to giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We will do this through enduring, meaningful and effective partnerships with iwi, Māori, other Māori groups/organisations and the Crown, as this is critical to enable economic and social development, both for Māori and for wider Aotearoa New Zealand. We are committed to continuing to partner with iwi in order to find new sustainable solutions to address long standing systemic and cross-cutting issues facing Māori and wider Aotearoa New Zealand and we are also committed to identifying opportunities for iwi to lead and creating an enabling environment for iwi to leverage these opportunities.

E mōhio ana a Hīkina Whakatutuki i puea ake te kōtuinga I waenganui i a ngāi Māori me te Karauna i Te Tiriti o Waitangi, ā, kei te whai ia ki te whakaū ake i Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Mā te whai kiko o ngā kōtuinga ahunga roa o ngā iwi, o ngāi Māori, me ētahi atu rōpū Māori ki te Karauna, ka tutuki tēnei. He āhuatanga nui tēnei e āhei ai ngā mahi whanaketanga ā-ohanga, ā-pāpori hoki ki a ngāi Māori me Aotearoa whānui. E whai tonu ana mātou ki te kōtui atu ki ngā iwi mō te rapu huarahi hou ki te whakaara i ngā kaupapa kua roa nei e tāmi ana i a ngāi Māori me Aotearoa whānui, ā, e whai ana hoki ki te tautohu i ngā āheinga kōkiritanga mā ngā iwi, me te tautoko i ngā iwi kia whai mana ake ai ēnei āheinga.

How to Apply - Me pēhea te tono:

Click here to view a position description. 

When you are ready to apply please send a CV and cover letter telling us why you're the perfect fit for this role.

All applications must be submitted via our online process.

We can't wait to hear from you!

Email Jess Dalbeth at jess.dalbeth@mbie.govt.nz quoting ref MBIE/19838 if you have any further questions.

Applications close 29 July 2026