Product Manager

Hard Problems; Wellington; On-site; NZD 109,000 - 146,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Conservation, Te Papa Atawhai (DOC) in Wellington, NZ, seeks an experienced Product Manager to lead one or more product portfolios within its digital product function. You will guide direction, influence investment, and prioritise work with business leaders, delivery teams, and technical experts.

You will own end-to-end product performance, ensure outcomes are measurable, and continuously improve products through data, research and stakeholder feedback.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in product management across lifecycle.
• Strong ability to use data, research and metrics to inform decisions.
• Ability to influence and collaborate with business, technology and leadership groups.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain product strategies, roadmaps, and priorities aligned with organisational objectives.
• Lead prioritisation and decision-making across product portfolios balancing needs and constraints.
• Own end-to-end product performance with measurable outcomes using data and feedback.
• Monitor product performance and evolve products based on data and changing needs.
• Build relationships with business owners, stakeholders, delivery teams, and external partners.
• Champion user-centered product management practices and collaborative delivery.

Skills

Product management

Agile / Lean / Scrum

Data-informed decisions

Stakeholder engagement

Cross-functional leadership

Critical thinking

Influence / negotiation

Education

Relevant tertiary qualification in business or information technology

Job description

The Department of Conservation, Te Papa Atawhai (DOC), is New Zealand's government agency for protecting and restoring nature across Aotearoa. Its people care for land, water, and native species, spanning frontline rangers, technical experts, and support teams. DOC's digital products support services such as hunting permits, fishing licences, hut bookings, and Great Walks reservations.

The role

This is one of two permanent full-time Product Manager positions based at Wellington Conservation House. The role sits within DOC's digital product function and leads a portfolio of products across one or more product domains. It provides product leadership through collaboration and influence rather than formal people management. You would work closely with business leaders, delivery teams, and technical experts to guide product direction and influence investment and prioritisation decisions.

What you would do

• Develop and maintain product strategies, roadmaps, and priorities that align with DOC's organisational objectives and user needs.
• Lead prioritisation and decision‑making across assigned product portfolios, balancing user needs, operational requirements, risks, opportunities, and technology constraints.
• Own end‑to‑end product performance, ensuring products deliver measurable outcomes and are continuously improved using data, research, and feedback.
• Monitor product performance and ensure products evolve based on data, research, feedback, and changing business needs.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with business owners, stakeholders, senior leaders, project and product delivery teams, technical experts, vendors, and external partners.
• Champion user‑centred product management practices and work collaboratively across teams to deliver sustainable, high‑quality digital products and services.

What they are looking for

• Proven experience in product management, including product planning, prioritisation, and managing products throughout their lifecycle.
• Strong knowledge of product management approaches and frameworks such as Agile, Lean, or Scrum.
• Experience working across multiple products, services, or complex multi‑product portfolio environments while balancing competing priorities and stakeholder needs.
• Demonstrated ability to use data, user research, customer insights, and performance metrics to inform product decisions and drive continuous improvement.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement, communication, and influencing skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships across business, technology, operational, and leadership groups.
• Experience leading cross‑functional teams and achieving outcomes through collaboration, facilitation, and influence.
• Strong critical‑thinking, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills, with the ability to balance short‑term needs with long‑term value.
• A relevant tertiary qualification in business, information technology, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• An understanding of government, public sector, or complex organisational environments is advantageous.
• Knowledge of biodiversity, conservation management, or DOC's services (hunting permits, fishing licences, hut bookings, Great Walks reservations) is advantageous.
• A commitment to Treaty partnership, with an appreciation of te ao Māori, tikanga Māori, and the Māori-Crown relationship.

Working arrangements

The role is based at Wellington Conservation House, Wellington, New Zealand. Flexible working arrangements are supported and considered based on the role and in discussion with your leader. You must hold a valid NZ work visa that covers the duration of employment.

Pay and benefits

NZD 108,946 - NZD 146,203 per year, depending on skills and experience.