Platform Lead - Core Housing and Digital Channels

New Zealand Government; Wellington; On-site; NZD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Five weeks leave

Insurance benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

Kāinga Ora is seeking an experienced Platform Lead to own the performance, delivery and continuous improvement of our Core Housing and Digital Platforms. This leadership role oversees Platform DevOps Engineers to ensure secure, reliable, and scalable services aligned with business objectives.

You will drive operational excellence, coach high-performing teams, and translate strategy into platform roadmaps while balancing delivery with long-term sustainability.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in platform technologies with leadership in Platform/Infrastructure/DevOps.
• Hands-on expertise in supporting operating and delivering critical applications and digital services.
• Proven success in leading Platform Engineering and DevOps teams delivering reliable, scalable, secure platform services.
• Ability to lead, coach and develop high-performing teams with accountability and collaboration.
• Experience turning business strategy into platform roadmaps and delivery plans.
• Proven experience in ITSM, governance, compliance and service performance.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end platform lifecycle, including delivery, operations and continuous improvement.
• Lead an established team of Senior Platform DevOps Engineers.
• Balance delivery priorities with operational stability and long-term platform sustainability.
• Engage in technical discussions, challenge assumptions and make informed technical decisions.
• Act as primary accountability for platform outcomes and service delivery.

Skills

Leadership

Platform engineering

DevOps

ITSM

Governance

Stakeholder collaboration

Job description

• Own the end-to-end platform lifecycle, including delivery, operations, and continuous improvement
• Lead an established team of Senior DevOps Engineers
• Permanent role, 5 weeks leave + insurance benefits

Kainga Ora are looking for an experienced Platform Lead to take ownership of the performance, delivery, and continuous improvement of our Core Housing and Digital Platforms. This is a leadership role responsible for ensuring platform services are secure, reliable, scalable, and aligned with business and technology objectives.

As the Platform Lead, you will lead a team of Platform DevOps Engineers and Senior DevOps Engineers, driving a culture of operational excellence, continuous improvement, and high-quality delivery. You will balance delivery priorities, operational stability, and long-term platform sustainability, ensuring the platform continues to meet current and future organisational needs. You will act as the primary point of accountability for platform outcomes, fostering strong collaboration and enabling consistent, effective service delivery across the technology landscape.

You’ll be a proven platform leader with a strong track record of building high-performing teams and delivering secure, reliable, and scalable technology platforms that support business outcomes.

• Strong experience working with relevant platform technologies, including experience in a Platform, Infrastructure, or DevOps leadership role
• Deep technical expertise and hands‑on experience supporting, operating, and delivering business‑critical applications and digital services
• Proven success leading Platform Engineering and DevOps teams, delivering reliable, scalable, secure, and business-aligned platform services
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and develop high‑performing teams, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and servant leadership
• Experience translating business strategy and organisational priorities into platform roadmaps, delivery plans, and measurable outcomes
• Proven experience driving operational excellence through effective IT Service Management (ITSM), governance, compliance, service performance, and continuous improvement practices

We are looking for a leader with strong technical credibility who can confidently engage in technical discussions, challenge assumptions, make informed technical decisions, and is prepared to be hands‑on when needed.

What’s in it for you?

We offer competitive salaries, five weeks’ annual leave and a benefits package including a range of insurances, flexible working arrangements and career development. These benefits are described in more detail here https://careers.kaingaora.govt.nz/a-great-place-to-work/benefits

As a Kāinga Ora - Homes and Communities employee, we want to make sure that you have all the tools and support you need. We want to ensure you are healthy and have work‑life balance. We also want to support and grow your personal and career development through on-the-job learning, training courses, secondments and study opportunities.

Mō mātou - Our Organisation

At Kāinga Ora, ours is the important responsibility of transforming New Zealand’s housing choices, outcomes and the entire housing sector by creating homes and communities that allow New Zealanders to thrive.

What is exciting about working for Kāinga Ora is getting the chance to make a real and positive impact on New Zealanders’ lives. With skills, planning and purposeful action, our people are creating the homes and neighbourhoods that will build the future of Aotearoa.

We are passionate about transforming New Zealand for the better. That includes being a trusted partner for Māori and iwi, protecting and enabling their rights, interests and aspirations under the guidance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Ō tātou uara - Our values

Our values were developed by us, for us. They unite us as an organisation and guide how we work every day.

• Manaakitanga – People at the Heart
• Mahi Tahi – Better Together
• Whanake – Be Bold

Applications close Monday 21st September at 11:55pm.

We value diversity and are committed to working with each other and our customers in an inclusive and respectful way. We welcome applicants from all walks of life and appreciate the richness of experience that your point of difference brings to the organisation.