Job description
- Join one of New Zealand’s leading cybersecurity companies, driving meaningful and innovative delivery that protect organisations nationwide.
- Be a part of a proactive, high-performing, and deeply collaborative team who lead with purpose and precision.
- Play a key role in shaping how DEFEND continuously improves the customer journey – influencing internal change, delivery standards, and future frameworks.
- Shape project delivery outcomes and uplift delivery excellence across the full customer journey.
- Location - Open to anywhere in New Zealand. We have offices in Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch.
About the Role
As a Portfolio Manager at DEFEND, you’ll be a strategic driver and trusted leader in how we deliver exceptional service across high-stakes customer projects. You will lead through insight, clarity, and cross-functional collaboration. Whether it’s resolving escalations, reporting delivery performance to leadership, or shaping how we evolve the customer journey – you play a vital part in what world-class delivery looks like at DEFEND.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Lead the end to end delivery of high-impact customer engagements – ensuring alignment, clarity, and quality at every stage.
- Take ownership of customer engagements from kick-off to close-out.
- Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.
- Represent delivery and champion operational excellence across the business.
What You’ll Bring
- Proven experience leading complex engagements in a fast-paced environment.
- The ability to navigate ambiguity and drive clarity across diverse teams.
- Strength and stakeholder management – you bring calm, confidence and credibility under pressure.
- Experience reporting on project performance and delivery KPI’s at a senior level.
- A delivery-first mindset, paired with a collaborative, people-centric approach.
- Excellent written and verbal communication for all audiences.
- A genuine interest in improving how things work and making the business more successful.
Specific Requirements
- 5+ years’ experience in project management.
- Proficiency with tools such as project, resource and service management platforms.
- Project management certification (PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent).
About DEFEND:
We’re a business-centric cybersecurity organisation founded by a team of passionate cybersecurity experts whose mission is to - BUILD A CYBER RESILIENT WORLD. Over the last five years, we’ve experienced phenomenal growth, working with a wide variety of customers in New Zealand and across 66 countries and winning several industry awards, including Microsoft’s 2022 New Zealand Partner of the year!
Each customer we work with is different. Our dedicated approach is to help organisations progress on their cyber resilience journey by delivering outstanding industry services with the highest level of professionalism and care.
We hold ourselves accountable by our core values. Our People First culture sets us apart, and we believe working with DEFEND will be a time in your life you will look back on and truly believe you made a real difference.
What’s great about working for DEFEND?
By joining our innovative and creative team you will have the opportunity to contribute a variety of cybersecurity outcomes, from culture & awareness of cyber resilience, through to offensive & defensive security, developing yourself in technology and digital delivery across multiple sectors.
Work life balance:
- With a national focus throughout New Zealand, our team is made up of skilled individuals at different stages in their careers, therefore we can offer flexibility in base location, as well as embracing remote working
- Flexible working arrangements are available to suit your lifestyle
Career / Professional Development:
We will build on your learning to solve our customers most complex business challenges in the digital age, whilst developing commercial and business skills, along with:
- Continuous learning: You’ll develop the mindset and skills to navigate whatever comes next
- Success as defined by you: We’ll provide the tools and flexibility, so you can make a meaningful impact, your way
- Mentors: You’ll be joining a team of truly passionate and highly skilled individuals who are at the top of their game and who enjoy imparting their knowledge and experience to others
- Opportunity: Progress into other exciting roles across DEFEND
Diversity & Inclusion:
We’re committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Our goal is to be recognised as an employer of choice for all, irrespective of gender, ethnicity, generation, flexible work status, family circumstances, sexual orientation, or disability. Each addition to our team is an opportunity to grow and diversify our ideas, experiences, and viewpoints.
Privacy:
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