Digital Risk Lead

Ratonga Matihiko | Digital Services

Located in Ōtautahi | Christchurch, Aotearoa | New Zealand
- Full-time (37.5 hours per week)
- Permanent position
- Generous annual leave provisions and professional development opportunities
- Kia hiwa rā, kia hiwa rā_
- He hiahia, he pūkenga nōu ki te mahi a te Digital Risk Lead? Nāia te pōwhiri nā Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha kia tono mai i te tūranga nei._

Do you have a passion for digital risk and the strategic insight to influence change across a leading university? Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC) is looking for a Digital Risk Lead to drive our digital risk strategy, influence decision-makers, and safeguard the integrity of our digital operations.

**Āu Mahi | What You Will Do**

As the Digital Risk Lead, you'll be UC's go-to expert in identifying, assessing, and mitigating digital and technology risk. You will guide our teams to make informed, risk-aware decisions that support UC's mission to empower learners and researchers.

This is a high-impact role where your insights will shape not only digital practices but the way UC plans for resilience, innovation, and security. You will bring expertise to the role by:

- Leading and evolving UC's digital risk strategy and frameworks
- Influencing and engaging senior leadership across the University
- Embedding risk-aware thinking into organisational culture and processes
- Strengthening our resilience through business continuity and crisis planning
- Collaborating across digital, academic, and operational domains
- Aligning risk practices with governance, compliance, and strategic direction
- Monitoring and advising on emerging threats and opportunities in the tech risk landscape.

**Mōu | Who You Are**

You're not just a risk practitioner — you're a strategic leader with a strong technical foundation with at 7+ years of experience in IT Risk or Digital Risk or Cyber Risk Management. To be successful in this role, you will bring:

- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
- A balance of strategic vision and practical implementation
- Proficiency in risk assessment tools and methodologies
- Familiarity with security frameworks and regulatory compliance
- Strong stakeholder engagement, project/change management, and communication skills
- Experience working in complex organisational environments
- Relevant Industry certifications.

**Mahi Ngātahi | Who You Will Work With**

You'll join our Digital Security and Risk Team — a close-knit group of passionate professionals who thrive on collaboration, creativity, and making a real difference. We're not just here to tick boxes; we push boundaries, challenge the status quo, and innovate to create smarter, safer, and more resilient digital experiences for our staff, students, and community. People are at the heart of what we do. We believe great digital solutions start with listening, understanding, and working alongside those we serve.

You'll also be part of our wider Digital Services whānau — a large, dynamic team committed to building world-class digital capability. We're creating a modern, flexible foundation that enables the University to explore new business models, adopt better ways of working, and transform the way we connect, learn, and grow.

Together, we're shaping a digital future where technology empowers people, and people inspire technology.

**Ngā Painga o UC | Why UC**

Ngā Uara | Our Values of manaakitanga, whanaungatanga and tiakitanga guide our decisions and behaviour and provide a roadmap for how we do things at UC, affirming our commitment to pastoral care and support for our ākonga and staff. They challenge and inspire us to be the best we can, and make UC a great place to work and study. For more info on Ngā Uara | Our Values visit us here.

We are committed to accessible higher education, service to the community and the encouragement of talent without barriers of distance, wealth, class, gender or ethnicity. The University explicitly aims to produce graduates and support staff who are engaged with their communities, empowered to act for good and determined to make a difference in the world.

**The closing date for this position is: 24 August 2025 (midnight, NZ time)**

Salary offered will based on skills and experience.

**Pēhea te tono mai | How You Apply**

Applications for this position must be submitted via our careers website and should include a cover letter and resume.

You must have Aotearoa New Zealand or Australian citizenship/permanent residency or hold a valid NZ work visa to be considered for this role.

LI-DNI

**Job Details**:

- Reference #
- 28565
- Posted on
- 11 Aug 2025
- Closes on
- 24 Aug 2025 23:55
- Location(s)
- Christchurch
- Expertise
- Information Technology
- Job level(s)
- Experienced
- Work type(s)
- Continuing (Permanent) full-time