Operations Coordinator at Government Communications Security Bureau, Wellington

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Join our diverse and talented people and work at the heart of national security, providing essential intelligence to the New Zealand government to protect New Zealand and its people.

About us

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is the heart of Aotearoa New Zealand’s cyber defence. We fulfil the cyber security responsibilities of the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) | Te Tira Tiaki, to detect and disrupt high-impact cyber threats for nationally significant organisations.

The role

• Work at the heart of New Zealand’s cyber defence.
• Contribute to high‑impact operations that counter the nation’s most serious cyber threats.
• Collaborate with senior leaders, government agencies, international partners, and industry.

What you’ll do

Operational planning

• Develop proposals for defensive cyber operations.
• Identify risks, resource needs and coordination points with other NCSC teams, NZ government agencies and international partners.

Operational leadership & coordination

• Co-ordinate the delivery of NCSC‑wide defensive operations.
• Represent NCSC in inter‑agency and multilateral forums, including during national‑security events.
• Track operational objectives, manage security/legal compliance risks and brief senior leadership.

Routine activity support

• Keep abreast of day‑to‑day NCSC work and the wider cyber‑threat environment.
• Assist teams with planning, prioritisation and execution of routine tasks; advise on legal and policy requirements.

Strategic & process development

• Contribute to long‑term operational strategy and capability development.
• Help create and refine decision‑making, information‑sharing and post‑operation review processes.

Stakeholder engagement

• Build and maintain relationships with legal, compliance, risk and intelligence units, senior NCSC staff, other NZ agencies, international partners and industry bodies.
• Communicate clearly with technical, legal and executive audiences.

Who you are

Experience: Proven leader who guides peers without formal authority, excels at planning and coordinating high‑stakes operations under tight deadlines, and engages senior executives and international partners.

Skills and behaviours: Translates complex technical issues into clear briefings, builds strategic relationships, exercises sound judgement in ambiguous, high‑risk environments, and remains detail‑oriented, resilient and collaborative.

Qualifications: tertiary degree or equivalent experience.

Why work for us?

Alongside getting to work with our talented people, we also offer a range of comprehensive benefits which include:

• Medical insurance and Vision Care packages
• Enhanced employer contributions to your KiwiSaver
• Generous Leave benefits, including additional paid days off and enhanced sick leave and parental leave
• Childcare allowance for your pre-schoolers
• Flexible working options and great work-life balance
• Opportunities for personal and professional growth with career pathways across the Intelligence Community

Before you apply

Working within our unique environment means we must 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) clearance
  • Ordinarily this means you will 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 F&Qs here https://beyondordinary.nzic.govt.nz/how-to-apply-for-a-job-with-us/the-security-clearance-process