Data Platform Lead

WM; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary package

Career path and progression

Work-life balance initiatives

Professional development opportunities

Employee discounts

Job summary

WM New Zealand is seeking an experienced Data Platform Lead to own the vision and roadmap for data products, from datasets to analytical models. You will work with the data engineering team to deliver solutions using Snowflake and dbt.

You will design transformations, manage backlogs, and lead delivery ceremonies while coaching engineers on product thinking and business context to maximise value for stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Product ownership experience and proven backlog management to ship data products iteratively that deliver value.
• dbt proficiency: build and maintain transformation workflows, metrics layers, semantic models.
• Strong SQL skills for performant queries and complex business logic on large datasets.
• Snowflake experience and cloud data warehouse patterns for data product delivery.
• Dimensional modelling understanding (Kimball, star schemas) for consumption.
• Stakeholder management: balance priorities and communicate trade-offs clearly.

Responsibilities

• Own the data product vision and roadmap across curated datasets, metrics layers, and analytical outputs.
• Build data products hands-on using dbt and Snowflake; design transformations and datasets for consumption by other teams.
• Prioritise ruthlessly, translate business needs into technical specs, and allocate work across the engineering team.
• Lead day-to-day delivery: run ceremonies, unblock issues, and clarify priorities and expectations.
• Develop and manage stakeholder relationships; lead discovery sessions and manage timelines and scope.
• Coach engineers on product thinking and the business context to broaden impact.

Skills

Product ownership

Data products

Stakeholder management

Mentoring mindset

Analytical thinking

SQL

Backlog management

Tools

dbt

Snowflake

Job description

WM New Zealand is New Zealand's leading resource recovery, recycling, and waste management provider. We’re committed to safeguarding our beautiful environment through sustainable management of our valuable resources. Put simply, sustainability is what we do.

Job Description

An opportunity has arisen for an experienced Data Platform Lead. The role combines hands‑on analytics engineering with responsibility for product strategy, backlog management, and stakeholder coordination to ensure our data products deliver measurable business value.

The position involves owning the vision and roadmap for our portfolio of data products, from curated datasets and metrics layers to analytical models and self-service tools while working alongside the data engineering team to build and deliver solutions using our data stack (Snowflake, dbt).

Key responsibilities include:

• Own the product vision and roadmap: Define and evolve the strategy for data products including curated datasets, metrics layers, semantic models, and analytical outputs
• Build data products hands‑on: Design and implement transformations, metrics definitions, and consumption‑ready datasets using dbt and Snowflake
• Manage the product backlog: Prioritise ruthlessly, translate business needs into technical specifications, and allocate work across the engineering team
• Lead day‑to‑day delivery: Run ceremonies, unblock issues, and create clarity on priorities and expectations
• Drive stakeholder relationships: Become the go‑to person for data product requests, lead discovery sessions, and manage expectations on timelines and scope
• Develop team capabilities: Coach engineers on product thinking, helping them understand the \"why\" behind what they're building

The role suits someone with strong analytics engineering foundations seeking to broaden their impact through product ownership while maintaining hands‑on technical involvement.

Qualifications

• Product ownership experience: Track record of owning a backlog, defining requirements, prioritising ruthlessly, and shipping data products iteratively that deliver value.
• dbt proficiency: Experience building and maintaining transformation workflows, metrics layers, and semantic models.
• Strong SQL skills: Ability to design performant queries, model complex business logic, and work with large datasets.
• Snowflake experience: Working knowledge of cloud data warehouse patterns and data product delivery.
• Dimensional modelling: Understanding of Kimball methodology, star schemas, and designing for consumption.
• Stakeholder management: Proven ability to manage expectations, navigate competing priorities, and communicate trade-offs clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Mentoring mindset: Experience guiding and upskilling team members, particularly in product thinking and understanding business context.

Additional Information

What we offer:

• Competitive Salary Package
• Valid and rewarding career path
• Work Life Balance Initiatives
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Discounts on various products for you and your family to enjoy
• Discounts on Fuel at Z!

Please note - we do not always work to fixed closing dates and may start considering applications as they are received so we encourage you to apply early.

WM is an EEO employer and promotes drug and alcohol-free workplaces.

You must be in New Zealand and hold a current work visa / residency or NZ citizenship.