Senior Manager Cyber Security Operations

• Lead cyber security operations through meaningful transformation

• Strengthen threat-informed defence, identity, data protection and resilience

• Guide a specialist team and manage critical security service partners

Partners Life is one of New Zealand’s largest life and health insurance companies. As part of the Daiichi Life Group, a leading global insurance provider, we are writing our next chapter of growth and opportunity.

We know the industry needs bold thinkers and passionate people to help reshape the future of insurance, and that is exactly who we are looking for. We are committed to doing things differently, lifting industry standards, challenging the status quo, and delivering real value through innovation and personalised advice.

If you are looking to join a company that’s redefining the insurance landscape and backed by the strength of a global group, Partners Life is the place to grow your career and make a real impact.

About the opportunity

We are delighted to announce a new opportunity for a hands-on Senior Manager Cyber Security Operations within our busy Cyber Security team. In this high impact leadership role, you will lead a small specialist team across security operations, identity (IAM) and data protection, while providing strong oversight of externally delivered security software solutions and partner delivered security services.

You will help ensure our controls, platforms and services are effectively configured. From monitoring and detection through to vulnerability management, incident response and recovery, you will bring the technical leadership and operational discipline needed to turn strategy into sustainable day to day practice.

Working across Technology and the wider business, you will provide clear advice, challenge service performance and help new capabilities transition securely into BAU.

Reporting to the Head of Cyber Security, you will be responsible for

• Leading a cyber security operations capability with clear priorities, ownership and delivery expectations.

• Overseeing threat informed monitoring, detection and response across internal teams and managed security service partners.

• Overseeing externally delivered security software solutions and engineering partners, ensuring secure-by-design practices across cloud, platforms and infrastructure.

• Strengthening vulnerability and exposure management, asset visibility, secure configuration and technical assurance.

• Providing leadership and oversight across identity, privileged access and data protection capabilities.

• Supporting and, where appropriate, leading cyber incident coordination, investigation, containment, recovery and lessons learned.

• Ensuring new services have clear ownership, monitoring, recovery, documentation and support arrangements before moving into BAU.

• Developing team capability and building effective relationships with senior technology, business and risk stakeholders.

About you

You are an experienced cyber security leader who combines strong technical depth with calm, practical leadership. You know how to challenge providers, improve operational performance and translate threat and control information into clear priorities and decisions for senior stakeholders.

You will bring people leadership, coaching and performance management experience, along with strong communication & interpersonal skills that enable you to build trusted relationships across technical and non-technical teams.

• Experience leading cyber security operations, including managed security services and critical suppliers.

• Relevant Tertiary qualification and/or certifications such as CISSP, CISM, CCSP or GIAC, desirable

• Hands-on knowledge of cyber defence tools such as CrowdStrike, Zscaler, Tenable and MS Sentinel.

• Proven success in establishing operational processes, service measures and escalation pathways across internal teams and external providers.

• Demonstrated people leadership, coaching and performance management experience.

• Proven experience in Cloud security, preferably MS Azure and/or AWS, in an environment handling sensitive personal information.

• Experience leading material cyber incidents, from investigation and containment through to recovery and improvement.

• Strong knowledge of threat-informed detection and response, vulnerability management, identity and privileged access, and data protection.

What we offer

At Partners Life, we believe our people are our greatest asset and are proud to invest in their growth, wellbeing and success. As part of our team, you’ll have access to a range of benefits, with eligibility varying by benefit and employment type:

• Comprehensive training and ongoing support

• Genuine learning and development opportunities

• Participation in our discretionary bonus scheme after 12 months’ service

• Life insurance and income protection covers at our cost, plus discounted medical insurance

• Birthday leave (where eligible)

• Long service leave

• Parental leave salary top-up, reduced hours options and secondary parental leave

• Flexible hybrid working arrangements (where eligible)

• A modern office with stunning views in the heart of Takapuna

Apply now!

If this sounds like the opportunity you’ve been waiting for, APPLY online with your CV and cover letter (optional) highlighting your relevant skills and experience.

To be eligible to apply for this role, you must have the legal right to work in New Zealand.

We are not engaging recruitment agencies for this role.