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Posted 20 July, 2026

Operational Capability Development and Engineering Manager

New Zealand Intelligence Community
Wellington, WGN, NZ Full Time
Reference: 5876f781a95f9924

Job Description

Operational Capability Development and Engineering Manager Join our diverse and talented people and work at the heart of national security, providing essential intelligence to the NZ government to protect New Zealand and its people. 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 and analyse intelligence and security concerns to protect New Zealand from threats such as foreign interference, espionage and terrorism. The role: This role is about leading a team that is responsible for the development, research and delivery of intelligence capabilities to ensure NZSIS has the right intelligence capabilities to deploy at the right time to collect covert intelligence that achieves our Missions. While the role will have a heavy focus on technical and digital capabilities through engineering, you will also operate across a range of intelligence capabilities critical to NZSIS. This is a people leadership role where you will be required to deliver through others noting technical and engineering experience alongside project management skills will be an advantage. You’ll be instrumental indrivingcollaboration and innovation to advance our intelligence capability. You will define the standards required to deploy kit into the field and produce, through others, a plan to ensure our solutions are entered into production in a sustainable and effective way. Your excellent relationship management skills will enable you to collaborate and build strong partnerships with a range of stakeholders to drive change, achieve successful outcomes and implement strategic plans. We’re looking for someone who can: Providing leadership and guidance to direct reports, including effective management of their development and performance; Providing technical guidance and mentoring to their direct reports to ensure successfully delivery of technical solutions; Delivering prioritised development and engineering projects that will advance NZSIS operational capability, in-line with the Intelligence Capability Framework. This will include ensuring technical project stage move through the project management lifecycle from innovation to successful delivery into operations; Strong relationship skills with experience working alongside and influencing those within the agency, partner agencies, industry and internationally; Ability to develop and drive and innovative and outcomes focussed team culture; A passion for the critical intelligence Missions NZSIS achieves. This is a role in auniqueand excitingwhere you will have direct exposure to intelligence operations including the methods and tactics NZSIS use to collect intelligence covertly. If you’re looking to work in this type of environment,where you’llhave the opportunity tobecreativeand drive innovative ways of working,we would love to hear from you. Benefits of working for us Alongside getting to work with other 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 and parental leave Childcare allowance for your preschoolers Opportunities for personal and professional growth and career pathways across the intelligence community The expected appointing range for this position is $120,358 - $128,383 per annum. 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. 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. Salary Band I $120,358 (90%) - $153,791 (115%) #J-18808-Ljbffr

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