Senior Risk Advisor - SouthPAN

About this role

Kōrero mō te tūranga - About the role

The title of Senior Risk Advisor – SouthPAN says it all. The role is responsible for leading the delivery of good risk management practice for the SouthPAN programme of work, which is one of our most diverse and interesting projects. SouthPAN (Southern Positioning Augmentation Network) will improve the accuracy and reliability of satellite-based positioning systems in New Zealand and Australia. If you have an interest in space-based trans-Tasman projects, then this is one of the most appealing projects to be on.

This role will report to the Head of Risk and Assurance, and it sits within our Organisational Effectiveness business unit. On a day-to-day basis you will predominantly work within LINZ's SouthPAN project team. The wider project team is geographically dispersed, and you'll be engaging regularly with key stakeholders virtually who are based in Geoscience Australia. In addition, you'll collaborate with multiple stakeholders located in Australia, US, Spain and the UK.  So, flexibility to collaborate across different time zones will be important. Beyond your work in SouthPAN, you will also assist the Risk and Assurance team with their wider LINZ work program.

Your background will ideally include demonstrated success in managing relationships effectively, and applying change management practices (risk and assurance done right are all about influencing others to do things differently), and you will have familiarity and experience with risk and assurance frameworks, methodologies, tools and techniques, to work in partnership with stakeholders, organisation wide.

You will be a trusted influencer, providing expert advice and evidence-based insights to senior managers and staff, including analysis of risk trends and themes. This will help them identify and manage their risks, improving the quality of organisational risk information and performance.

In this position you will:

• Facilitate risk workshops,
• Provide assurance to the project and organisations that risks are controlled and objectives are well supported,
• Recommend risk treatment plans,
• Contribute to a strong risk-aware culture, through influence and integrity,
• Support the development and implementation of risk and assurance frameworks, policies, tools and guidance to lift our risk management capability,
• Lead/project manage risk and assurance activities.

He pūkenga tou - Skills & Experience

• Demonstrated experience in good practice risk management and assurance, including relevant frameworks, processes, methodologies, tools and techniques,
• Relevant tertiary and professional qualifications are preferred,
• Demonstrated ability to quickly establish and build strong working relationships and gain trust and credibility with stakeholders at all levels across an organisation,
• Ability to quickly assimilate and interrogate new information, forming an understanding of unfamiliar/complex concepts and environments,
• Critically think, assess, collate, and analyse information to consider the impact on performance and outcomes,
• Experience implementing and supporting risk, assurance and change in large and complex environments, programmes and projects,
• An understanding of systems development life cycles and systems engineering methodologies would be useful.

The annual full-time salary range for this role is between $120,000 - $140,000 depending on skills and experience.

Ngā mea e tukuna ana e tātau – What we offer our employees 

• Interesting work which impacts Aotearoa as we care for whenua, moana and arawai.
• Eye & ear care reimbursements
• Annual Flu Vaccinations
• Reduced Health Insurance Premiums
• Diverse groups and networks
• If eligible for paid parental leave, you will be entitled to a top up payment for the first 18 weeks of the 26 weeks.
• A minimum of four weeks and three days annual leave

Te Tākinatanga - Our Story

Toitū Te Whenua plays a vital role in understanding, developing, and caring for New Zealand's whenua, moana and arawai (land, sea and waterways). Whether you're developing our products and services to support our customers, managing the Crown estate, engaging with our iwi partners, or helping us be an effective regulator, your contribution can make a difference. Our mahi helps New Zealanders have confidence that the development of our land, communities and country is being planned from an informed and expert position that balances environmental, social, cultural, and economic considerations, now and for future generations.

Our Kia Toipoto Intentions - Public Service Gender, Māori, Pacific and Ethnic Pay Gap Action Plan

Toitū Te Whenua is a diverse team of individuals with different experience and perspectives. This drives our culture and high performance.  We know that people from underrepresented groups and women in particular don't apply for roles if they're not a 100% match, but we're not looking for perfection, we're looking for potential.  As an inclusive and supportive employer, we value difference and want to encourage anyone interested to apply, regardless of whether you tick all the boxes or not. As an organisation we embrace diversity, encourage work life balance and have a flexible approach to the way we work which means you will quickly feel connected and valued.

Tono mai - How to Apply

If you're eyeing up this role and believe you've got what it takes, please apply, or get in touch with the team. 

To apply, please click “Apply Online.” You'll be taken through to our Toitū Te Whenua Careers Centre where you'll be able to review further information about the responsibilities and accountabilities of this role in the Position Description. You'll be able to complete your online application form and upload a copy of your CV/Cover Letter. 

Please note, while applications close on 19 September 2025, we may be reviewing applications as they are received and may progress with suitable applicants prior to the application closing date. Therefore, please apply as soon as possible if you are interested in this position.

For tracking and evaluation purposes, all applications must be submitted via our on-line process. You must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand to be eligible for this position. 

You may notice that the Position Description title for this role (Business Partner Level Rua/2) doesn't match the advertised title.  At Toitū Te Whenua we design our roles around shared capabilities (rather than focusing on tasks). This means our position descriptions are broad, one position description can cover many roles, this is known as Broad Based Role (BBR). Using BBR allows us to be responsive to our customers and to strengthen the connections across our organisation. It also gives us the flexibility to provide wider opportunities to our people, to further their careers.

If you have any questions about this role or working at Toitū Te Whenua, please email opportunities@linz.govt.nz  and our People Services Team will be in touch with you.