General Manager, Platforms

New Zealand Government; Wellington; On-site; NZD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ministry of Education is seeking an experienced General Manager, Platforms to lead Te Pou Kōrero | Digital and Data. You will oversee the Ministry's digital and data platforms, ensuring reliability, security, and scalability while shaping the platform strategy and roadmap.

You will lead a large multidisciplinary team, build strong stakeholder relationships, and drive governance, investment planning, and continuous improvement to deliver platform capability that supports equitable educational

Qualifications

• Experience leading platform management in large organisations.
• Proven ability to define platform strategy and roadmaps.
• Strong governance and investment planning experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and optimise digital and data platforms to ensure reliability, security and scalability.
• Define and maintain platform strategy and roadmap aligned with priorities.
• Lead a large, multidisciplinary team of platform managers and specialists.
• Partner with Practice Centres and senior leaders to ensure platforms are governed as strategic assets.

Skills

Platform management

Cloud operations

Governance & investment planning

Stakeholder influence

Leadership of multidisciplinary teams

Tools

Cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP)

Job description

Help shape the future of education in New Zealand

Strengthening Education

The Ministry of Education plays a critical role in shaping New Zealand's education system to deliver equitable and excellent outcomes for all learners.

We are reshaping how the Ministry is organised to sharpen our focus on core priorities, be outward-facing and evidence-led, and build a strong organisational culture.

We are seeking exceptional leaders who can navigate complexity, lead change, and deliver meaningful outcomes for learners and educators across Aotearoa.

About this role | Mō tēnei tūranga

The General Manager, Platforms is a senior leadership role within Te Pou Kōrero | Digital and Data, reporting to the Deputy Secretary.

You will be responsible for the oversight, maintenance, and optimisation of the Ministry's digital and data platforms, ensuring these environments are reliable, secure, scalable, and aligned to organisational needs.

You will define and maintain the platform strategy and roadmap, influencing investment decisions to build sustainable, secure, and scalable platform capability.

You will oversee cloud platform operations and infrastructure management, drive monitoring, incident management, and continuous improvement, and ensure platforms meet required security, privacy, compliance, and business continuity standards.

As a member of the Te Pou Kōrero senior leadership team, you will lead and develop a large, multidisciplinary team of platform managers and specialists, building capability and a high-performing, collaborative culture.

You will work closely with Practice Centres to prioritise and deliver platform enhancements and maintenance, and build strong relationships with senior leaders and business stakeholders to ensure platforms are governed and managed as strategic assets.

About you | Mōhou ake

• You are an experienced platform, cloud operations, or infrastructure leader who thrives in large, complex organisations, combining strategic direction-setting with the operational discipline to deliver reliable, secure, cost-effective platform environments.
• You will bring: Extensive experience in platform management, cloud operations, or infrastructure leadership within large and complex organisations.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing large-scale platform environments, including service operations, incident management and continuous improvement.
• Experience leading and developing large, multidisciplinary teams, building capability and a high-performing culture.
• Experience in governance, investment planning and operational oversight to ensure platform sustainability and value delivery.
• Proven ability to develop platform strategies and roadmaps aligned with organisational priorities.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and align platform capabilities with business priorities.
• A detailed understanding of Data environments and how to create modern Data platforms that can help the Ministry to leverage emerging technologies such as AI.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage risk and make data-informed decisions.
• An understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and a commitment to upholding the Public Service Standards of Integrity and Conduct.

About the group | Mātau rōpū ake

This role sits within Te Pou Kōrero | Digital and Data, the Ministry's business group responsible for the digital and data capability that underpins the education system.

As a member of the group's senior leadership team, you will help shape how digital products and platforms are delivered across the Ministry.

Ready to make a difference? | Kua rite koe mō tēnei mahi?

Applications close Thursday 1 October 2026.

We want our candidates to feel valued for their unique qualities and have a sense of belonging. If you require assistance or adjustments to fully participate in the recruitment process, please let us know.