Data Platform Lead

New Zealand Government Joba; Wellington; On-site; NZD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional development

Job summary

Inland Revenue Te Tari Taake is seeking an experienced Data Platform Lead to provide technical leadership for the enterprise data and analytics platform during an interim period. Wellington-based with open location options, you will align work with business and technology teams and guide delivery with sound judgement.

You will lead data platform stability, governance, and collaboration with vendors and internal teams, coaching others and ensuring delivery confidence during the interim period.

Qualifications

• Senior experience in enterprise data, analytics, or data engineering.
• Proven ability to lead data platform environments.
• Strong communication with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Good judgement and risk management capabilities.
• Experience coaching and developing others.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership across the data platform.
• Support stability, service continuity, and delivery confidence.
• Clarify priorities with customer leaders and teams.
• Manage dependencies and surface risks early.
• Lead and assemble internal and vendor resources into teams.
• Coordinate handover to future technical leadership.
• Coach and develop others to lift performance.

Skills

Data platform leadership

Enterprise data

Stakeholder management

Problem solving

Decision support

Coaching

Tools

Snowflake

Power BI

SAS

Posit

dbt

Airflow

Python

Job description

Wellington based preferred but open to all IR locations18-month fixed-term/secondment opportunityBring your technical expertise, sound judgement and leadership experience to an established environmentThe opportunity - Ara whiwhi mahiWe are looking for an experienced Data Platform Lead, internally known as Domain Lead L1, to provide technical leadership and support the stability, continuity and delivery of our enterprise data and analytics platform during an interim period.This is an opportunity to bring your technical expertise, sound judgement and leadership experience to an established environment. You'll work collaboratively across business and technology teams, providing clear direction, supporting effective decision-making and ensuring our people remain focused on the right priorities.You'll quickly build an understanding of the existing environment, establish credibility with key stakeholders and provide steady leadership while supporting our teams to deliver with confidence.In this role, you will:provide practical technical leadership across the data platform environment, helping teams stay focused, aligned, and movingsupport operational stability, service continuity, and delivery confidence throughout the interim periodwork with customer leaders, delivery teams, and vendor stakeholders to clarify priorities, manage dependencies, and keep effort focused on agreed outcomessurface risks, technical trade-offs, and decision points early, and support timely resolution through the right governance channelsbring permanent staff, contractors, and vendor resources together as one joined-up delivery teamsupport transition and handover to the customer's future permanent technical leadership role where requiredlead, coach and develop others to build capability and strengthen quality of advice and decision-making.About you - MouTo be successful in this role, you will have:substantial senior experience in enterprise data, analytics, engineering, platform, technology, or service delivery environmentsstrong experience leading or supporting enterprise data platform environmentsa clear, balanced communication style that works well with technical and non-technical stakeholdersgood judgement, maturity, and the ability to work constructively with established teamsa practical approach to problem solving, prioritisation, risk management, and decision supportconfidence working autonomously while staying aligned with customer direction and professional services accountabilitiesstrong awareness of confidentiality, privacy, information security, and the appropriate handling of sensitive customer dataan inclusive working style that supports a diverse team environmentexperience coaching and developing others, building capability and lifting performance.It would be an advantage if you also have:experience working in environments comprising both internal teams and external technology partners or vendorsexperience with Snowflake, Power BI, SAS, Posit, dbt, Airflow and Python, or comparable enterprise data and analytics technologiesexperience working across multidisciplinary teams including platform and data engineers, analysts, architects and service delivery professionals.About the roleThis role is focused on providing stability, technical leadership and delivery confidence, rather than undertaking a major redesign or transformation of the existing platform.You'll work across a range of stakeholders and technology specialists to ensure priorities are clear, risks are visible and teams have the support and direction they need to deliver effectively.Your ability to build trusted relationships, navigate complexity and bring people together will be key to your success.You'll be a pragmatic and respected technical leader who is comfortable stepping into an established environment. You'll listen and understand before acting, bring clarity where it is needed and Work constructively with the people and processes already in place, while supporting a culture of continuous improvement.Most importantly, you'll balance strong technical leadership with a collaborative approach, helping our people succeed while leaving the data platform capability stronger for the future.About us - Mo matouAt Inland Revenue Te Tari Taake we're passionate about Aotearoa New Zealand being a great place to live and work. We're making it simpler for everyone to pay tax that pays for things like health care, education and protecting the environment.We are committed to keeping to the Treaty of Waitangi's guiding principles in our work for and with Maori customers and our employees, their whanau, hapu and iwi.We are committed to building an inclusive workplace free from inequalities, where all our people are valued, respected and feel supported to reach their full potential.Apply here - Tono maiPlease outline in your application how your skills and experience align with the advert and role description. For more information about the role and to request a copy of the role description, please contact [e-mail] recognise that AI tools can support application preparation. Just make sure your responses reflect your own experience. We're keen to get to know the real you and what you can bring to the role.Applications close, 5pm Sunday 11th October 2026.Please note, we'll review applications as they come in and you may hear from us before advertising closes.