Data Product Owner – Strategy & Delivery

New Zealand Government; Wellington; On-site; NZD 126,000 - 139,000; Full time

Job summary

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children in Wellington seeks a senior Product Owner to unite the Data Team’s work. You will coordinate priorities, plan delivery across data functions, and maintain a clear quarterly workplan to maximise value from data investments.

You will partner with Data Solutions, EDAP Operations and stakeholders to translate complex needs into actionable roadmaps, balancing immediate delivery with long‑term capability.

Qualifications

• Experience in Product Ownership, Product Management, Business Analysis, Service Design or a similar delivery-focused role
• Proven ability to shape and prioritise work across multiple stakeholders, teams or portfolios
• Strong backlog management, planning and prioritisation skills
• Experience working with data, reporting, analytics, digital products or technology-enabled services
• The ability to navigate ambiguity and turn complex problems into clear, actionable plans
• Excellent relationship management and influencing skills, including working with senior leaders and technical specialists
• A collaborative and outcome-focused approach, with a passion for continuous improvement
• Experience working in agile or modern product delivery environments
• Understanding and appreciation of cross-cultural practices in particular; knowledge of tikanga Māori, and Pacific peoples’ culture

Responsibilities

• Developing and maintaining a single, prioritised Data Team workplan
• Improving visibility of work across multiple teams and initiatives
• Supporting work intake, prioritisation and backlog management
• Identifying dependencies, risks and delivery challenges early
• Providing leadership with clearer insights into priorities, capacity and delivery trade-offs
• Demonstrating the value and outcomes delivered through our data investments and products
• Translating complex business needs into clear product direction, prioritised roadmaps and achievable delivery plans
• Balancing immediate delivery requirements with long-term capability development

Skills

Product Ownership

Backlog management

Stakeholder management

Agile delivery

Data analytics

Cross-cultural collaboration

Job description

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children in Wellington seeks a senior Product Owner to unite the Data Team’s work. You will coordinate priorities, plan delivery across data functions, and maintain a clear quarterly workplan to maximise value from data investments.

You will partner with Data Solutions, EDAP Operations and stakeholders to translate complex needs into actionable roadmaps, balancing immediate delivery with long‑term capability.