Technical Lead

AA New Zealand; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free AA Membership

Birthday leave

Hybrid working arrangement

Career development

Discounted insurance

Job summary

AA New Zealand is seeking a skilled Vehicle Testing Officer to join our Motoring Services team. You will lead technical governance of mobility inspection and certification services, ensuring compliance with NZTA requirements and delivering high-quality inspections across our national network.

You’ll build strong relationships with regulators and operational teams, provide expert guidance on WoF, CoF, and entry certification, and lead a team of specialists to drive continuous improvement and

Qualifications

• Experience in vehicle inspection, certification, or compliance environments.
• Proven ability to lead teams and manage stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of WoF, CoF, NZTA requirements.
• Ability to translate regulations into practical guidance.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical governance of Mobility inspection and certification services.
• Act as primary technical liaison with NZTA and regulators.
• Provide expert guidance on WoF, CoF, entry certification and related services.
• Lead and develop a team of technical, quality, and training specialists.
• Oversee training frameworks and ensure frontline capability.
• Partner with operations and product teams to embed new services and changes.
• Use audit outcomes to identify risks and drive improvements.
• Champion continuous improvement across operations and customer experience.

Skills

Vehicle inspection

Regulatory compliance

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Quality management

Job description

Working with the AA | Me mahi tahi tatou ki AA

For over 120 years the AA have been helping Kiwis on their adventures! Today, we're one of New Zealand's most respected and trusted brands. From our humble beginnings as a motoring enthusiast's club, the New Zealand AA (Automobile Association) has grown into a large, dynamic organisation offering many services and products to more than a million Members.

And now, we’re building the organisation of the future – more connected, modern, and purpose-driven. We are a business in transformation, with opportunities to work cross-functionally, grow new skills, and make a meaningful impact. We’re investing in our people, platforms, and ways of working to stay ahead of what our Members and customers need.

We’re looking for a skilled and customer‑focused Vehicle Testing Officer to join our passionate Motoring Services team. If you’re committed to vehicle safety, enjoy working with people, and take pride in delivering accurate, high‑quality inspections, this is a fantastic opportunity to build your career with one of New Zealand’s most trusted and iconic organisations.

What You'll Be Doing | Mō te Tūranga

As Technical Lead, you'll be the go-to technical expert for Mobility, providing leadership across compliance, quality, capability development, and regulatory standards. Leading a team of technical, quality, and training specialists, you'll play a critical role in ensuring our inspection and certification services are delivered safely, consistently, and in line with NZTA requirements.

This is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of technical excellence across a national network. You'll have the chance to influence how we deliver inspection services, work closely with industry regulators, and grow your career within an organisation known for developing great people and offering diverse career pathways.

In This Role, You'll

• Lead the technical governance of Mobility inspection and certification services, ensuring compliance with regulatory, audit, and assurance requirements.
• Act as the primary technical liaison with NZTA, building strong relationships and ensuring regulatory updates are effectively translated into operational practice.
• Provide expert technical guidance and support across WoF, CoF, entry certification, appraisals, and other regulated inspection services.
• Lead and develop a team of technical, quality, and training specialists, fostering capability, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee technical training frameworks, ensuring frontline teams have the skills, knowledge, and support required to deliver high-quality services.
• Partner with operational and product teams to ensure new products, services, systems, and regulatory changes are successfully embedded across the network.
• Use audit outcomes, compliance data, and operational insights to identify risks, improve performance, and strengthen service quality and consistency.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives that enhance operational effectiveness, compliance outcomes, and the customer experience.

About You | Mōu

You're a highly experienced automotive inspection professional with strong technical expertise and a background in regulated environments. Recognised as a trusted subject matter expert, you're confident interpreting complex regulatory requirements and translating them into practical operational guidance.

You’ll Bring

• Extensive experience within the vehicle inspection, certification, or compliance industry, with strong knowledge of WoF, CoF, VIRM, and NZTA requirements.
• Experience in compliance, audit, assurance, or quality management environments.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to build trusted relationships with operational teams, senior leaders, regulators, and external partners.
• Previous leadership experience, or the capability and desire to step into a people leadership role while continuing to leverage your technical expertise.

You’ll be a proactive and solutions-focused leader who enjoys developing others, driving positive change, and lifting capability across teams. Most importantly, you’ll bring a genuine passion for the automotive industry and a desire to shape the future of inspection and certification services across the AA network.

What We Offer | Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou

• Free AA Membership for you and your whānau
• A day off for your birthday and 2 days wellbeing leave annually
• Hybrid working arrangement
• Training available / career development
• Discounted insurance

Here, we offer a lot more than roadside assistance. We're constantly evolving and advancing into new businesses, offering new challenges and a range of opportunities.

Our teams celebrate diversity and believe that everyone should be able to bring their true selves to work every day. We want you to feel comfortable to be your authentic self throughout the recruitment process, please feel free to let us know if there is anything you need to allow you to participate equitably.

We are aware that there will be candidates who are interested in the role but may only feel comfortable to apply if they have ticked all the boxes. We want you to know that if you feel like you don't meet all the requirements, please still get in touch. We'd love to korero to see if you might be a great fit for the role.