Principal Advisor - Risk and Assurance

• Provide expert risk and assurance advice that influences executive-level decision making • Support enterprise risk and assurance management and strengthen organisational maturity
• Help shape the direction of risk and assurance across Kāinga Ora Te whiwhinga mahi - Our opportunity
We’re looking for a Principal Advisor – Risk and Assurance to join our People and Assurance group in a pivotal role helping shape how risk, assurance, and compliance support strategic decision making across Kāinga Ora. This is your opportunity to influence how risk and assurance is embedded across the organisation, supporting strong governance, informed decision-making, and long-term success.
You’ll lead high-priority initiatives that strengthen enterprise-wide risk capability and assurance maturity, working across risk management, internal audit, privacy, and integrity services to support strong governance and informed decision-making. From shaping policy and frameworks to guiding complex risk and assurance conversations, your work will ensure Kāinga Ora continues to operate with integrity, accountability and confidence.
This role offers the chance to:
• Apply your risk and assurance expertise to complex organisational challenges to influence decision-making and strengthen organisational capability
• Shape and continuously improve enterprise compliance framework to strengthen oversight of organisational regulatory obligations • Provide high-quality strategic advice to Executive Leadership teams, Board, and Risk Committees to support decision-making
• Contribute to critical organisational initiatives, including Technology Modernisation and Data Governance programmes, ensuring risk and assurance practices are embedded into key decision making
• Strengthen connections across risk, internal audit, privacy and integrity services to support a more integrated enterprise-wide approach to risk and assurance
Ngā pūmanawatanga ōu - What you will bring
You are an experienced and credible risk and assurance professional who thrives in complex environments and can influence at the highest levels.
You will bring:
• Demonstrated enterprise-wide expertise in assurance, and compliance within large or highly regulated public sector environments
• Proven expertise in influencing strategic decision-making and driving organisational risk and assurance maturity
• Recognised experience in the developing and enhancing enterprise-wide frameworks, policies and guidance that support effective governance and assurance outcomes
• Exceptional strategic thinking, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills, including a proven ability to prepare high-quality governance papers, policies, briefings, and executive-level advice • Strong understanding of enterprise risk management, assurance, privacy and integrity functions and how these work together to support organisational risk and assurance management • The ability to provide clear, actionable advice on complex risk and assurance issues to a wide range of stakeholders
• Sound understanding of public sector governance, accountability, and regulatory standards (e.g. ISO 31000, Privacy Act, OIA, PSC) Nōu te rourou - What's in it for you? We offer competitive salaries, five weeks' annual leave and a benefits package including a range of insurances, flexible working arrangements and career development. These benefits are described in more detail here https://careers.kaingaora.govt.nz/a-great-place-to-work/benefits
As a Kāinga Ora - Homes and Communities employee, we want to make sure that you have all the tools and support you need. We want to ensure you are healthy and have work-life balance. We also want to support and grow your personal and career development through on-the-job learning, training courses, secondments and study opportunities. Mō mātou - Our Organisation
At Kāinga Ora, ours is the important responsibility of transforming New Zealand’s housing choices, outcomes and the entire housing sector by creating homes and communities that allow New Zealanders to thrive.
What is exciting about working for Kāinga Ora is getting the chance to make a real and positive impact on New Zealanders’ lives. With skills, planning and purposeful action, our people are creating the homes and neighbourhoods that will build the future of Aotearoa.
We are passionate about transforming New Zealand for the better. That includes being a trusted partner for Māori and iwi, protecting and enabling their rights, interests and aspirations under the guidance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Ō tātou uara - Our values Our values were developed by us, for us. They unite us as an organisation and guide how we work every day. Our values are:
• Manaakitanga – People at the Heart
• Mahi Tahi – Better Together
• Whanake – Be Bold
Tūhono mai - Join us
To view the position description and apply for this role, please follow the online process via http://careers.kaingaora.govt.nz. Please note: all applicants, including existing employees, need to follow this process.
If you have any questions about this role, please contact [email protected] Applications close on Sunday 26th July 2026 at 11:55pm. We value diversity and are committed to working with each other and our customers in an inclusive and respectful way. We welcome applicants from all walks of life and appreciate the richness of experience that your point of difference brings to the organisation.
If you don’t tick all the boxes in this listing but think that you could be a great fit based on your unique background and skillset, we would welcome an application from you.