Product Owner

New Zealand Government; Wellington; On-site; NZD 126,000 - 139,000; Full time

Job summary

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children in Wellington seeks a senior Product Owner to unite the Data Team’s work. You will coordinate priorities, plan delivery across data functions, and maintain a clear quarterly workplan to maximise value from data investments.

You will partner with Data Solutions, EDAP Operations and stakeholders to translate complex needs into actionable roadmaps, balancing immediate delivery with long‑term capability.

Qualifications

• Experience in Product Ownership, Product Management, Business Analysis, Service Design or a similar delivery-focused role
• Proven ability to shape and prioritise work across multiple stakeholders, teams or portfolios
• Strong backlog management, planning and prioritisation skills
• Experience working with data, reporting, analytics, digital products or technology-enabled services
• The ability to navigate ambiguity and turn complex problems into clear, actionable plans
• Excellent relationship management and influencing skills, including working with senior leaders and technical specialists
• A collaborative and outcome-focused approach, with a passion for continuous improvement
• Experience working in agile or modern product delivery environments
• Understanding and appreciation of cross-cultural practices in particular; knowledge of tikanga Māori, and Pacific peoples’ culture

Responsibilities

• Developing and maintaining a single, prioritised Data Team workplan
• Improving visibility of work across multiple teams and initiatives
• Supporting work intake, prioritisation and backlog management
• Identifying dependencies, risks and delivery challenges early
• Providing leadership with clearer insights into priorities, capacity and delivery trade-offs
• Demonstrating the value and outcomes delivered through our data investments and products
• Translating complex business needs into clear product direction, prioritised roadmaps and achievable delivery plans
• Balancing immediate delivery requirements with long-term capability development

Skills

Product Ownership

Backlog management

Stakeholder management

Agile delivery

Data analytics

Cross-cultural collaboration

Job description

Permanent, full-time opportunity based in Wellington. Bring clarity to complexity, influence leadership, and connect people, priorities & outcomes across a dynamic environment.

Mō mātou | About us

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children has a commitment to putting tamariki and rangatahi at the heart of what we do. In our work, we aim to demonstrate these values: We put Tamariki first We believe Aroha is vital We respect the Mana of people We are Tika and Pono We value Whakapapa We recognise that Oranga is a journey We are committed to ensuring that New Zealand is the best place in the world to be a child. We are also committed to ensuring Oranga Tamariki partners with hapū, iwi and Māori organisations to find appropriate solutions for tamariki in need.

Mō te tūnga | About the role

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Product Owner to join our Data Team within the Strategy, Insights and Performance function. The Product Owner is responsible for helping the Data Team operate as one connected function by coordinating priorities, planning and delivery across multiple teams and workstreams. The role works closely with Data Solutions, EDAP Operations, Data Sharing and other stakeholders to maintain a clear, prioritised quarterly workplan, ensuring resources are focused on the highest-value outcomes and that dependencies, risks and competing demands are actively managed. This role is pivotal in helping us maximise the value we deliver through data. While supporting the ongoing needs of individual data functions, the Product Owner will also play a key role in bringing a more connected, enterprise approach to how our Data Team plans, prioritises and delivers work. Working closely with the Director Data, Data Leadership Team, technical specialists and business stakeholders, you will help shape and prioritise work that supports organisational outcomes and improves decision-making across Oranga Tamariki.

A key focus of the role will be helping the Data Team operate more effectively as one team by:

• Developing and maintaining a single, prioritised Data Team workplan
• Improving visibility of work across multiple teams and initiatives
• Supporting work intake, prioritisation and backlog management
• Identifying dependencies, risks and delivery challenges early
• Providing leadership with clearer insights into priorities, capacity and delivery trade-offs
• Demonstrating the value and outcomes delivered through our data investments and products

You will take an organisation-wide view of data opportunities and challenges, helping to translate complex business needs into clear product direction, prioritised roadmaps and achievable delivery plans. You'll balance immediate delivery requirements with long-term capability development, ensuring data products remain sustainable, scalable and aligned to organisational priorities.

Ngā pūmanawatanga ōu | What you will bring

• Experience in Product Ownership, Product Management, Business Analysis, Service Design or a similar delivery-focused role
• Proven ability to shape and prioritise work across multiple stakeholders, teams or portfolios
• Strong backlog management, planning and prioritisation skills
• Experience working with data, reporting, analytics, digital products or technology-enabled services
• The ability to navigate ambiguity and turn complex problems into clear, actionable plans
• Excellent relationship management and influencing skills, including working with senior leaders and technical specialists
• A collaborative and outcome-focused approach, with a passion for continuous improvement
• Experience working in agile or modern product delivery environments.
• Understanding and appreciation of cross-cultural practices in particular; knowledge of tikanga Māori, and Pacific peoples’ culture

Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you

Oranga Tamariki offers a step-based remuneration package, that offers progression annually for experience through tenure. Annual remuneration for this position starts between $125,926 and $139,459 dependent on experience. We also offer a vibrant and supportive team, flexible work options and a genuine commitment to wellbeing. We offer significant training and professional development so that you can thrive and grow. We welcome diversity and are committed to working in an inclusive and respectful way. This is your opportunity to apply your skills and experience to the wellbeing of tamariki and rangatahi.

To see all the benefits of working for Oranga Tamariki, please visit https://mahi.orangatamariki.govt.nz/working-with-us/employee-benefits/

Applications for this role close at midnight on 24 September. We may begin reviewing applications and inviting candidates to interview prior to the closing date, so early applications are encouraged. If you have any questions about role, please contact [e-mail]. If you are interested in any of our vacancies, please ensure that you make yourself familiar with our code of conduct as it sets out our expectations for our kaimahi and requires you to present at work free from the influences of both drugs and alcohol.