Data Product Owner

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi

. Identify and prioritise initial data product opportunities with business groups, defining user needs, ownership, outcomes and roadmaps .

Posted 11/3/2026full-timeWellington • New ZealandMid-LevelSeniorWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in establishing and evolving data products within complex organizations, focusing on user needs, product lifecycle management, and governance. Capable of fostering collaboration and adoption of product-centric methodologies while ensuring quality, security, and privacy in data delivery.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Data Product ManagementProduct-Centric MethodologiesData GovernanceStakeholder EngagementLifecycle Management

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Product Backlog ManagementRoadmap DevelopmentData Quality AssuranceRisk ManagementUser Needs Analysis

Soft Skills

Relationship BuildingInfluencing SkillsChange ManagementCommunication SkillsOutcome-Focused Approach

Industry Keywords

Te Ao MāoriTikangaTe Reo MāoriTe Tiriti o WaitangiPublic Sector

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Identify and prioritise initial data product opportunities with business groups, defining user needs, ownership, outcomes and roadmaps
Establish and own product backlogs, balancing immediate project needs with reusable enterprise value and making trade-offs across risk, cost and dependencies
Work with delivery teams to take data products from discovery through release, demonstrating value and establishing repeatable delivery practices
Partner with governance, architecture and platform teams to build quality, security, privacy and stewardship into data products
Build understanding of data products across NZTA and help stakeholders adopt product-centric ways of working
Measure early value and adoption, use feedback to improve assigned products and strengthen lifecycle management
Own the vision, value and lifecycle of assigned data products
Support NZTA's transition from project-led data delivery to a data product-centric agency

Requirements

What you’ll need

Experience establishing or evolving products, services or data capabilities in a complex organisation, ideally introducing product-centric ways of working
Ability to uncover business and user needs, identify practical starting points and balance immediate requirements with long-term enterprise reuse
Track record of turning ideas into roadmaps, prioritised backlogs and working products, managing dependencies and demonstrating early value
Practical understanding of data governance, quality, privacy, security and stewardship, and how to manage risks throughout the product lifecycle
Strong relationship-building and influencing skills, with ability to create shared understanding, navigate uncertainty and build commitment to new ways of working
Experience bringing users on a change journey, addressing adoption barriers and using engagement, communications, guidance and training to embed new products
Pragmatic, outcome-focused approach: start small, measure value and usage, learn from feedback and build sustainable practices that can scale
Knowledge of, or willingness to gain an understanding of Te Ao Māori and promote tikanga and Te Reo Māori
Knowledge of, or willingness to gain an appreciation of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its application in the public sector
Legal right to live and work in New Zealand
CV and cover letter required

Benefits

Comp & perks

A competitive salary and benefits package
Flexible working arrangements
Opportunities to work with modern cloud, analytics and AI technologies
A collaborative, inclusive and purpose-driven environment
Professional development and career growth opportunities
Five weeks annual leave
Income Protection and Critical Illness Insurance for permanent employees