Security Operations Specialist

Company Description

Ko wai mātou | About us

At Contact, we believe home is the most important place in the world. It's all part of our vision to leave Aotearoa better than we found it. We’re a power, mobile, and broadband company, but we’re so much more than that. We are transforming the ways we mahi, and how Aotearoa is powered, leading the charge on renewable energy and digitising customer journeys in ways not yet seen here. A team of 1000+ from all walks of life who love what we do, look out for each other, and learn from one another every day, we’re stoked to be guided by our tikanga: we touch lives to make life better.

We’re not just powering homes and businesses - we’re helping power a better future for Aotearoa. As we move boldly into the next phase of our Contact26 strategy and start getting the wheels in motion for Contact31, technology is at the heart of how we’ll get there. That’s where you come in.

Imagine a role where your expertise in security operations isn’t just valued – it’s essential to how we keep the lights on, the data safe, and the business moving forward. Here, you’ll be a go-to person for all things security, working shoulder-to-shoulder with all business units. Every day is different, and every challenge is an opportunity to make a real impact.

You’ll be part of a close-knit team that thrives on collaboration, quick thinking, and a genuine passion for learning. With a leader at the helm who’s all about people, not micromanagement - you’ll have the support to grow, the freedom to bring your ideas to the table, and the chance to shape how security is done at Contact.

Job Description

Kōrero mō te tūranga | About the role

What your days might look like:

• Delivering security expertise to projects, BAU tasks, and incident response – you’ll get your hands on everything from vulnerability management to security approvals and investigations.
• Jumping into a variety of tools (think MS Sentinel, Netskope, CrowdStrike – but if you’ve used similar, we’re happy to cross-train).
• Creating and updating documentation, running security awareness training, and helping Contact stay ahead of threats.
• Working on exciting projects like the email gateway replacement, vulnerability management, and identity security enhancement.
• Being a trusted advisor, helping teams across the business understand and manage risk, and making sure security is baked into everything we do.

What makes this opportunity unique?

• All-access pass: You’ll work with every part of the business, gaining exposure to a huge range of specialisms, challenges, and people.
• No two days the same: Forget sitting at a dashboard all day – you’ll be hands-on, solving real problems and learning as you go.
• Growth on your terms: Contact invests in your development – if there’s a tool or skill you want to master, and it’s relevant to your role, we’ll support your training.
• Flexible working: Hybrid is the norm, with the balance driven by what works for you and the team.

Qualifications

Ko wai koe | About you

You’re a team player, a quick learner, and someone who enjoys variety. You’re comfortable with ambiguity, happy to pitch in on everything from the big projects to the “basic stuff”, and you don’t mind answering the odd “dumb question”. You’re curious, resilient, and ready to help Contact do security better, every day.

We’Re Looking For:

• Experience in Security Operations (SecOps) – ideally 2-3+ years
• Strong understanding of information security principles and practices.
• Integrity, high personal and professional standards, and the ability to communicate complex ideas simply.
• Experience with MS Sentinel, Netskope, CrowdStrike, SIEM/SOAR environments, or similar tools.
• Professional certifications (Security+, CISSP, GIAC, etc.).
• Broad IT security knowledge – networks, cloud, APIs, firewalls, cryptography, incident management.
• Familiarity with agile practices (Scrum, Kanban, Lean).

Additional Information

The Fine Print

• This is a permanent opportunity that’s being advertised until Tuesday 4 November.
• We'd ideally like someone based in Auckland or Wellington, but this role can be fully remote and we're open to applications from all over Aotearoa.
• You’ll be joining a team that gets on well, supports each other, and loves a challenge.
• The role is broad – you’ll need to be comfortable juggling priorities and sometimes learning on the fly.
• There’s not a lot of capacity for hand-holding, so being able to hit the ground running is a plus.
• You’ll report to our Chapter Lead – Security & Network Ops, with support from the wider team and regular check-ins.
• There are a bunch of perks to being a permanent Contact kaimahi. Along with great leadership, teammates, development, and growth and progression opportunities, you’ll enjoy flexible working, free health insurance cover, 4% KiwiSaver, access to Contact Shares, a ‘Good to be Home’ annual payment toward your home set up & wellbeing, a trail-blazing parental leave policy, discounts on Contact Energy products, and more.

Ready to put your energy where it matters? Apply now - we can’t wait to see what you’ll bring to the team.

Here at Contact Energy (Te Mata Hiko), we know our strength lies in developing a sense of belonging - one that helps us attract and retain people with a broad range of perspectives and experiences.

We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to bring their whole selves to work. Our goal is to reflect the diversity of our customers and communities to help build a better Aotearoa New Zealand.

We have a rich community of talented people that we support to thrive at Contact.

Our inclusive hiring process is designed to embrace the diversity of Aotearoa New Zealand, ensuring a wide range of perspectives are included in our decision-making and helping reduce bias along the way.

The wellbeing of our kaimahi is super important to us.

We use employee insights to offer a range of initiatives and resources to support physical, mental, financial and emotional wellbeing – including flexible working arrangements, employee network groups and a market-leading parental leave policy.

At Te Mata Hiko, we want everyone to thrive. We welcome applicants far and wide - of every age, stage, background, and pride. Join us and be part of a team that values your passion and attitude just as much as your experience and skills.

Please note, only candidates with the right to live and work in New Zealand will be considered for this role.

Research shows that while men apply to jobs where they meet 60% of the criteria, women and those in underrepresented groups tend to only apply if they tick every box. We're not about box ticking, so if you think you have what it takes but don't meet everything stated above, please still get in touch. We'd love to kōrero.

Te Mata Hiko (Contact Energy) does not accept any CVs received from recruitment agencies where a formal engagement has not been confirmed and agreed to with our Talent team. In the event that unsolicited CVs are submitted by recruitment agencies, Te Mata Hiko (Contact Energy) reserves the right to contact these candidates directly and consider them for current/future vacancies without any financial obligation to the recruitment agency in question. This will also apply to any CVs sent directly to line managers.