Product Manager

Auckland Council; Auckland; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Auckland Council is seeking an experienced Product Manager to provide strategic product leadership within our Technology Services function. This is a key leadership role within an Agile Release Train (ART), collaborating with Product Owners, delivery leaders, architects and senior stakeholders to shape priorities and deliver outcomes for Aucklanders.

You will establish product vision, strategy and roadmaps aligned to council objectives, balancing customer needs and long-term value across a

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading product strategy, roadmaps and investment decisions.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders across business and technology.
• Experience delivering customer-facing digital products and services.

Responsibilities

• Lead prioritisation across the ART to maximise value.
• Collaborate with Product Owners, architects and delivery teams.
• Translate customer insights into strategic product decisions.

Skills

Product management

Stakeholder leadership

Agile/SAFe

Strategic thinking

Digital products

Education

Tertiary qualifications or equivalent industry experience

Job description

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Auckland Council is seeking an experienced Product Manager to provide strategic product leadership within our Technology Services function.

This is a key leadership role within an Agile Release Train (ART), working closely with Product Owners, delivery leaders, architects and senior stakeholders to shape priorities, guide investment decisions and deliver meaningful outcomes for Aucklanders.

You will establish product vision, strategy and roadmaps, ensuring priorities align with organisational objectives, customer needs and long-term value. Working across a diverse portfolio of products and services, you will balance competing demands, make informed trade-offs and provide clear direction in a complex environment.

You will play a critical role in connecting business strategy, customer outcomes and technology delivery, ensuring the right work is prioritised and delivers measurable value.

You are an experienced Product Manager with a track record of leading products, services or portfolios within a large and complex organisation.

You combine strategic thinking, commercial awareness and strong stakeholder leadership with the ability to navigate ambiguity and competing priorities. You are comfortable making difficult prioritisation decisions, influencing senior leaders and bringing people together around a shared direction.

You have a strong focus on outcomes and value, using customer insights, organisational priorities and evidence to shape product decisions and guide investment.

To be successful in this role, you will bring:

• Extensive Product Management experience within a large or complex organisation
• Demonstrated experience developing product strategies, roadmaps and long-term plans
• Strong experience prioritising investment, initiatives and competing demands
• Proven ability to influence and engage senior stakeholders across business and technology
• Experience using customer insights and data to inform decision making
• Strong commercial, analytical and problem-solving capability
• Experience working across product, architecture, technology and delivery teams
• Experience operating within Agile environments, including Scrum, Kanban or SAFe
• Strong understanding of technology platforms and architectural considerations
• Experience with customer-facing digital products and services, such as websites, eCommerce, online transactions or digital customer experiences would be advantageous
• Highly developed communication, facilitation and stakeholder management skills
• Relevant tertiary qualifications or equivalent industry experience

Certification or demonstrated capability in Product Management, Agile, Scrum, SAFe or Design Thinking would be advantageous.

As Product Manager, you will establish and maintain product strategies, visions and roadmaps aligned to portfolio priorities and organisational outcomes.

You will lead prioritisation across the ART, ensuring investment decisions, initiatives and product backlogs are focused on delivering maximum value. Working closely with stakeholders, Product Owners, architects and delivery teams, you will balance customer needs, business priorities and technical considerations.

You will develop a deep understanding of customers and users, applying research, insights and discovery practices to inform strategic direction and decision making.

You will provide leadership throughout planning and delivery, ensuring products and services remain aligned to agreed outcomes, deliver measurable benefits and continue to evolve over time.

You will also contribute to strengthening product management capability and practice across the organisation.

This is an opportunity to take on a significant Product Management leadership role within one of New Zealand's largest and most complex organisations.

You will work across a broad portfolio of products and services, partnering with stakeholders across Auckland Council to shape solutions that support our communities and the future of Tāmaki Makaurau.

You'll join an organisation committed to improving customer outcomes, growing product management capability and delivering meaningful value through technology.

Auckland Council offers a range of employee benefits, professional development opportunities and the chance to contribute to work that makes a real difference for Auckland.