Senior Product Owner

Candidate Experience Site - Department of Internal Affairs; Wellington; On-site; NZD 118,000 - 147,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Internal Affairs is seeking a Senior Product Owner to lead strategic and operational management of digital products within Regulatory Services. You will drive roadmaps, engage stakeholders, and collaborate with delivery teams and vendors to ensure value and user satisfaction.

You will balance customer needs with technology opportunities and organisational priorities in a dynamic regulatory environment, advancing continuous improvement and shaping future product direction.

Qualifications

• Experience leading digital products from strategy and planning through delivery.
• Strong stakeholder engagement across a range of audiences.
• Experience delivering user-centred solutions that improve outcomes.
• Solid understanding of Agile delivery in multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent relationship management with vendors and technology partners.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability in complex environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic and operational management of digital products to deliver value for regulators and citizens.
• Drive product roadmaps, balance user needs with technology opportunities and priorities.
• Collaborate with business, delivery teams and vendors to ensure solutions meet objectives and timelines.
• Champion continuous improvement and shape future product direction.

Skills

Digital product leadership

Stakeholder engagement

User-centered design

Agile delivery

Vendor relations

Analytical problem-solving

Job description

About Us | Mō mātou

The Regulatory and Identity Services Taituarā branch shapes systems and services that touch on the lives of almost every New Zealander. Within this, the Regulatory Services Group has oversight of three significant regulatory systems: Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT), Gambling, and Charities.

Within Engagement Data and Innovation, the Regulatory Systems and Data Analytics team is responsible for the strategic direction and day-to-day tactical management of the regulatory products.

We're a collaborative and forward-thinking group focused on enabling effective regulatory services that support public trust and confidence. Our work combines policy, operations, data, technology and customer insights to ensure New Zealand's regulatory systems remain fit for purpose and responsive to changing needs.

The role | Te tūnga

As a Senior Product Owner, you will lead the strategic and operational management of digital products that support Regulatory Services. Working closely with business stakeholders, users, product owners, delivery teams and vendors, you'll ensure products deliver value, meet user needs and align with business objectives.

You’ll drive product roadmaps, champion continuous improvement and help shape future product direction, balancing customer needs, technology opportunities and organisational priorities in a dynamic environment.

The appointing range for this role is $117,734 - $146,513.

What you bring | Nōu te rourou

• Experience leading digital products, from strategy and planning through to delivery and ongoing improvement
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence and build credibility across a range of audiences
• Experience delivering user-centred solutions that improve business outcomes and customer experience
• Strong understanding of Agile delivery practices and working within multidisciplinary teams
• Excellent relationship management skills, including experience working with vendors and technology partners
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability, with the ability to navigate complexity and competing priorities

For you | Mōu

At the Department of Internal Affairs, we are committed to offering a collaborative and innovative culture where your perspective and ideas will be welcomed. We want our people to thrive within a culture of best practice, while being able to set and achieve goals and being encouraged to challenge the status quo.

To learn more about the diverse, important mahi we do at the Department and see why we’re a great place to work check out our website https://www.dia.govt.nz/

Benefits - About Internal Affairs - Careers with us - Benefits - dia.govt.nz

Applications for this role close 5pm, Friday 30 October 2026.

you must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand to be considered for this role.