Senior Data & AI Governance Architect

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency; Wellington, Auckland, Palmerston North; Remote; NZD 148,000 - 176,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

5 weeks annual leave

Flexible working arrangements

Life, Income Protection and Critical

Insurance for permanent employees

Job summary

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency seeks a Principal Data & AI Governance Advisor to set the enterprise governance strategy and lead the way in responsible innovation across NZTA. You will shape policies, ownership, stewardship and oversight for data and AI, embedding Māori data sovereignty and partnering with senior leaders.

This role influences major programmes and platforms, building robust governance settings that are practical, scalable and trusted.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading Data Governance or Data & AI Governance in a complex organisation.
• Experience developing and embedding enterprise governance strategies, frameworks and operating models.
• Strong knowledge of responsible AI, data stewardship, metadata, lineage and data quality.
• A sound understanding of privacy, security, compliance, assurance and risk management.
• Proven ability to influence executive stakeholders and drive organisation-wide change.

Responsibilities

• Set the enterprise Data & AI governance strategy and target state.
• Shape policies, standards, controls and operating models that enable responsible innovation.
• Establish clear accountability for data ownership, stewardship and AI oversight.
• Embed Māori data sovereignty principles into governance frameworks and decision-making.
• Influence major programmes, platforms, digital products and AI-enabled initiatives.
• Strengthen governance maturity, assurance, risk management and organisational capability.

Skills

Data governance

Enterprise governance

Privacy & security

Māori data sovereignty

Stakeholder influence

Risk management

Data stewardship

Metadata & lineage

Governance tooling

AI governance

Tools

Governance tooling

Job description

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency seeks a Principal Data & AI Governance Advisor to set the enterprise governance strategy and lead the way in responsible innovation across NZTA. You will shape policies, ownership, stewardship and oversight for data and AI, embedding Māori data sovereignty and partnering with senior leaders.

This role influences major programmes and platforms, building robust governance settings that are practical, scalable and trusted.