Product Owner

About us

The Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT) takes a long-term view of how New Zealand's towns, cities and regions grow and change. We work across housing, transport, the environment, urban development, infrastructure and investment, and partner closely with local government. We provide joined-up policy and investment advice to government, support effective regulation and market settings, and work with others to help deliver affordable housing, connected communities, well-planned infrastructure, and a healthy, sustainable environment.

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Product Owner to provide delivery leadership for the New Zealand Flood Map – a nationally significant data product that supports better decisions about flood risk across New Zealand. As Product Owner, you will own the delivery and prioritisation of the New Zealand Flood Map, working closely with stakeholders, users and delivery teams to maximise the value delivered. You will help shape and contribute to the product vision and roadmap, balancing customer needs, policy objectives, technical delivery and long-term sustainability. You will connect business needs with technical delivery, prioritise enhancements and delivery activity, and ensure the product delivers value for users and stakeholders.

Key responsibilities

• Deliver the vision, objectives and roadmap for the New Zealand Flood Map, ensuring delivery aligns with organisational and stakeholder needs.
• Prioritise enhancements and delivery activities to maximise product value and achieve strategic outcomes.
• Lead product delivery planning and decision making by balancing user needs, business priorities, technical considerations and available resources.
• Engage with users and stakeholders to understand requirements, identify opportunities and keep the product relevant and fit for purpose.
• Advise senior leaders on product performance, delivery priorities, risks and opportunities to support informed decision making.
• Coordinate delivery across technical teams, data providers, suppliers and partner organisations, including Land Information New Zealand and the Natural Hazards Commission.
• Champion a user-centred approach that focuses delivery on outcomes and real-world benefits.

About you

• Proven experience as a Product Owner or in a similar role, ideally delivering data, digital or geospatial products in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment.
• A track record of contributing to product direction and translating objectives into prioritised delivery outcomes, and making informed decisions about priorities and trade-offs to maximise value.
• Strong ability to translate user needs into product improvements and investment decisions, using evidence, feedback and insights to guide decision-making.
• Experience managing and prioritising product backlogs, including writing, refining and sequencing work to support effective delivery.
• Excellent relationship-building skills across government, local government, technical communities and internal teams, bringing people together around shared outcomes.
• Confident decision making under competing demands, with the judgement to make clear, transparent and timely calls that keep delivery on track.
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to engage credibly with both technical and non-technical audiences and build support for priorities and decisions.
• Sound understanding of product risk, dependency and issue management to support sustainable and reliable service delivery.
• An interest in, or understanding of, flood risk, natural hazards, resource management or the wider planning system would be an advantage.