Principal Advisor Risk

About Us

He aha te mea nui o tēnei ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata. What is the most important thing in the world, it is people, it is people, it is people.

WorkSafe New Zealand/ Mahi Haumaru Aotearoa, is the primary workplace health and safety regulator - our vision is that everyone who goes to mahi (work) comes home healthy and safe. Our kaimahi (employees) are passionate about our vision and embrace and demonstrate our Mātāpono WorkSafe Values through the mahi they do:

• Whakakotahi - we're united in a strong purpose
• Kōrero mai - we engage meaningfully
• Tiakina mai - we're entrusted with a duty of care.

We offer a range of benefits including:

• 15 days sick leave
• Learning and professional development opportunities
• Growing number of employee led networks to promote the goals and needs of our diverse communities

About your team / Ko te tīma

The Risk and Assurance team plays a vital role in supporting WorkSafe's daily operations. By providing expert advice and assurance processes, the team helps ensure compliance with legal obligations and Crown Entity expectations. Their work underpins the organisation's ability to meet its goals with confidence and integrity.

About the role / Ō te tūranga

We are looking for a Principal Advisor - Risk who can support the demonstrable uplift of risk and compliance maturity across diverse groups and stakeholders. You will facilitate the identification, capture, and assessment of the effectiveness of controls that manage both obligations and risks, and lead the delivery and implementation of the control monitoring and testing approach.

This is a 6-month fixed term contract.

What You'll Do/ Ko tōu ake mahi

• Lead the design and delivery of initiatives to strengthen risk, and compliance maturity.
• Review the obligations register and risk ratings to ensure applicability, accuracy and completeness.
• Provide expert advice, challenge, and oversight to senior leaders, fostering continuous improvement.
• Prepare and present high-quality insights and reports for governance groups
• Collaborate with key stakeholders to ensure a joined-up approach to risk and compliance across WorkSafe.
• Help lift the risk culture across WorkSafe.
• Develop and maintain policies, processes, and systems that keep our  frameworks fit for purpose.

What You'll Bring / Ko ngā pukenga ōu

• Deep expertise in compliance and risk, ideally in a regulated environment.
• Proven ability to apply standards such as ISO 31000, ISO 22301.
• Strong experience implementing frameworks and uplifting capability in low-maturity settings.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder engagement skills, including influencing at senior levels.
• Solid analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills with a proactive, resilient approach.
• Ability to work at pace in an agile environment, navigate ambiguity, prioritise effectively, and deliver under pressure.
• Ability to translate legislation into clear, meaningful, and practical business processes.
• Knowledge of continuity and security would be advantageous.

With your food basket and my food basket the people will thrive.

Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi.

Salary range / Awhe utu

As part of our remuneration framework the full salary range for the position is from $129,038 to $170,159, and our expected starting base salary for the right person is from $129,038 to $142,745.  Note: KiwiSaver/SSRSS employer contribution is additional to/on top of your base salary.

How to apply / Me pēhea te tono -

Click the apply link, complete an application form and submit a copy of your CV and cover letter. For further information please contact  with any queries, or to find out more about working for us, go to Careers | WorkSafe.

WorkSafe Mahi Haumaru is an equal opportunity employer.  We value diversity and welcome and encourage applicants from all walks of life.  We value the experience your point of difference could bring to us.

Please let us know if there is any support we can provide to ensure the recruitment process is accessible to you. We look forward to reviewing your application and getting to know more about you. 

Applications close on 15 January 2026. 

This role will remain open for applications throughout the Christmas and New Year period and we'll begin reviewing and contacting candidates after the application close date.

Thank you for your patience, and we wish you a safe and happy holiday season