Principal Experience Designer: Flexible CX Transformation

nztagovtnz; Auckland; On-site; NZD 134,000 - 148,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

5 weeks annual leave

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi in New Zealand is seeking a senior UX lead to drive human-centred design across a broad digital transformation programme. You will guide research from discovery through to concept ideation, validation and detailed product design, ensuring evidence-based decisions across channels and touchpoints.

This fixed-term role supports parental leave until end of April 2027 and offers a salary from 133632 to 148480 NZD, plus five weeks’ annual leave and flexible working

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading human-centred design for products and/or services, with a background in design thinking, product design, customer experience and research.
• Demonstrated expertise in product strategy, helping shape roadmaps and deliver meaningful customer experiences.
• Strong communication skills to articulate design decisions confidently and influence senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor others, enhance internal capabilities, and foster a customer-focused culture.
• Proven experience in leading, influencing and building credibility with stakeholders, internal users and external customers.
• Proven experience of navigating ambiguous environments, including adapting to new challenges and working styles.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and pieces of work in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong experience working in agile environments, integrating research and design seamlessly within the product development lifecycle.
• Proven experience in leading design operations to enable efficiency (e.g. design systems, libraries and templates).
• Strong proficiency in research and design tools, such as Askable, Miro, Figma, and Adobe Creative Cloud.

Responsibilities

• Lead human-centred design across a range of connected initiatives, from research and discovery through concept ideation, validation and detailed digital product design.
• Bring clarity to ambiguity, identify improvements across channels and touchpoints, and ensure solutions are grounded in evidence and aligned with business and technology direction.
• Influence at a high level by partnering with leaders, stakeholders and cross-functional teams to understand legislative changes and design recommendations.
• Provide design direction across delivery squads to help teams make informed decisions while maintaining end-to-end customer experience.
• Contribute to the evolution of the Design System, Human-Centred Design Centre of Excellence and Design Community of Practice.
• Mentor and coach others to lift design capability across the organisation.

Skills

Human-centered design

CX UX design

Product strategy

Stakeholder influence

Agile methodologies

Research tools

Figma

Miro

Askable

Adobe Creative Cloud

Tools

Figma

Miro

Askable

Adobe Creative Cloud

Job description

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi in New Zealand is seeking a senior UX lead to drive human-centred design across a broad digital transformation programme. You will guide research from discovery through to concept ideation, validation and detailed product design, ensuring evidence-based decisions across channels and touchpoints.

This fixed-term role supports parental leave until end of April 2027 and offers a salary from 133632 to 148480 NZD, plus five weeks’ annual leave and flexible working