Senior Product Manager

Tēnei tūranga – About the role

The Senior Product Manager position is within the New Zealand Government Procurement (NZGP) Business Systems team and is responsible for:

• Defining the product(s) strategy and roadmap
• Working across government agencies to assess implementation opportunities.
• Developing the core positioning and messaging for the product(s) in collaboration with the Agency Engagement and wider NZGP team,
• Oversight of the implementation of the product(s) developments
• Ensuring alignment with Procurement functional leadership and national strategies.

The function of the Senior Product Manager role is to:

• Lead the ongoing development and implementation of a system-wide roadmap including helping to identify a desired future state.
• Provide an understanding of what will be required to transition to the identified future state. Provide an overview of existing systems and the systems that will be developed or procured;
• Ensure alignment with the primary goals of the e-Procurement strategy and an understanding of how they will be met/supported with various changes and integrations throughout the NZGP eco-system.
• Ensure appropriate training opportunities are put in place to enable users to effectively implement and use our systems; and
• Communicate the benefits of the desired future state to agencies and suppliers to support the development of individual project business cases.

The role will ensure a more joined-up, programme approach that considers each project to be separate but complimentary, and will enable:

• A more cohesive technical approach and roadmap.
• More accurate benefit assessment.
• Greater understanding of the full costs of the transformation.
• Better decision making; and
• A single point of understanding of the progress and risks of the portfolio of projects.

This role plays a pivotal part in the ongoing adoption of digitalisation in the New Zealand Government procurement ecosystem being responsible for the operational implementation and continued development of the e-Procurement roadmap.

Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role

Personal specifications

• At least three years related product lifecycle management experience with a proven track record in development and delivery.
• Experience of leading business change approaches and processes to drive introduction of new technology or system functionality.
• Knowledge and understanding of the procurement domain.
• Proven understanding of market conditions and expertise around monitoring these to stay abreast of key developments in e-Procurement tools.
• Experience of working across large, complex, multi-agency programmes of work and/or portfolios of projects, preferably in the IT space.
• Clear examples of methodologies and previous approaches for implementing a successful product delivery
• Experience of successfully working with and implementing both bespoke and off-the-shelf tools and systems
• Proven ability to build and maintain effective relationships at a senior level with both internal and external stakeholders and to successfully manage a wide network of relationships.
• Excellent communication skills including verbal, written and presentation skills.
• Able to represent MBIE NZGP with confidence and positively influence internal and external stakeholders, and earns their respect, trust and confidence.
• Relevant Tertiary qualification.
• Must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables

Critical areas of success

• Strategic development of market requirements for current and future product development. As champion of the product(s), drive digitalisation across government.
• Support Business Systems Analysts in their role providing technical support, training and developing continuous improvement initiatives for the product(s).
• Actively promote the products in the marketplace, provide technical advice during the implementation of significant enhancements by communicating with and visiting organisations as required.
• Oversight of multiple interlinking projects and associated resources to ensure a joined up approach delivering on project budgets, timelines and benefits.
• Have responsibility engaging with stakeholders to measure the performance of the product(s) to ensure they meet the needs of customers.
• Facilitate review meetings for all issues associated with the product(s) from release to acceptance.
• Ensuring that strategic reviews of NZGP plans for development and enhancement of product(s) are undertaken with robust and considered recommendations.
• Lead the development and delivery of consistent messages and communication packages necessary to ensure agencies and other stakeholders are provided with accurate, timely, and appropriate information in relation to the objectives and benefits of the product(s).
• Ensure that stakeholders are supported with change management expertise in respect of product(s).

Stakeholder and Relationship Management

• Develops and maintains cooperative, partnering relationships with NZGP’s key stakeholders using highly developed influencing, negotiation and collaboration skills and experience.
• Communicates effectively across leadership and governance teams to keep them up to date with progress, issues and developments.
• Is an advocate for the NZGP Business Systems outcomes and deliverables, identifying the associated benefits.
• Is credible with organisations and stakeholders through the demonstration and understanding of business functions, goals and priorities.
• Builds and maintains effective relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
• Seeks feedback from stakeholders and target support services to meet their needs.
• Stakeholders proactively engage with the role holder for advice and support demonstrating the role as a trusted and respected advisor.
• Excellent writing, editing and oral communications skills demonstrating experience in tailoring messages to different audiences.

Communication

• Communicates confidently and effectively using a range of appropriate communication tools and methods.
• Presents and expresses ideas across a range of channels effectively in a range of contexts and settings, adjusting style and language to the audience.
• Written material uses a range of tools to produce style and tone consistent with Ministry standards.
• Can manage challenging conversations with composure and tact.
• Willingly shares knowledge and experience within the team and with others in the organisation.

Senior Product Manager (Procurement) specifically

• Understands and abides by the e-Procurement principles ensuring these are reflected in the lifecycle development of the product(s)

Organisational commitment and public service

• Contributes to the development of, and helps promote and builds commitment to MBIE’s vision, mission, values and services
• Willingly undertakes any duty required within the context of the position
• Understands Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) principles and the application of these to MBIE

Wellbeing, health & safety

• Displays commitment through actively supporting all safety and wellbeing initiatives
• Ensures own and others safety at all times
• Complies with relevant safety and wellbeing policies, procedures, safe systems of work and event reporting
• Reports all incidents/accidents, including near misses in a timely fashion
• Is involved in health and safety through participation and consultation

Tō tūranga i roto i te Manatū – Your place in the Ministry

The Senior Product Manager position reports into the Manager Business Systems within the New Zealand Government Procurement (NZGP) branch. The branch sits within the Building, Resources and Markets group.

More information about MBIE’s structure

To mātou aronga – What we do for Aotearoa New Zealand

Hīkina Whakatutuki is the te reo Māori name for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Hīkina means to uplift. Whakatutuki means to move forward, to make successful. Our name speaks to our purpose, Grow Aotearoa New Zealand for All.

To Grow Aotearoa New Zealand for All, we put people at the heart of our mahi. Based on the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi / The Treaty of Waitangi, we are committed to upholding authentic partnerships with Māori.

As agile public service leaders, we use our breadth and experience to navigate the ever-changing world. We are service providers, policy makers, investors and regulators. We engage with diverse communities, businesses and regions. Our work touches on the daily lives of New Zealanders. We grow opportunities (Puāwai), guard and protect (Kaihāpai) and innovate and navigate towards a better future (Auaha).

Ngā matatau – Our competencies

Cultivates innovation We create new and better ways for the organisation to be successful by challenging the status quo generating new and creative ideas and translating them into workable solutions.

Nimble learning We are curious and actively learn through experimentation when tackling new problems by learning as we go when facing new situations and challenges.

Customer focus We build strong customer relationships and deliver customer-centric solutions by listening and gaining insights into the needs of the communities we serve and actively seeking and responding to feedback.

Decision quality We make quality and timely decisions that shape the future for our communities and keep the organisation moving forward by relying on an appropriate mix of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgement to make valid and reliable decisions.

Action oriented We step up, taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with purpose, urgency and discipline by taking responsibility, ownership and action on challenges, and being accountable for the results.

Collaborates We connect, working together to build partnerships with our communities, working collaboratively to meet shared objectives by gaining trust and support of others; actively seeking the views, experiences, and opinions of others and by working co-operatively with others across MBIE, the public sector and external stakeholder groups.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi

As an agency of the public service, MBIE has a responsibility to contribute to the Crown meeting its obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Te Tiriti). Meeting our commitment to Te Tiriti will contribute towards us realising the overall aims of Te Ara Amiorangi – Our Path, Our Direction, and achieve the outcome of Growing New Zealand for All. The principles of Te Tiriti - including partnership, good faith, and active protection – are at the core of our work. MBIE is committed to delivering on our obligations as a Treaty partner with authenticity and integrity and to enable Māori interests. We are committed to ensuring that MBIE is well placed to meet our obligations under the Public Service Act 2020 (Te Ao Tūmatanui) to support the Crown in strengthening the Māori/Crown Relationship under the Treaty and to build MBIE’s capability, capacity and cultural intelligence to deliver this.

Mahi i roto i te Ratonga Tūmatanui – Working in the public service

Ka mahitahi mātou o te ratonga tūmatanui kia hei painga mō ngā tāngata o Aotearoa i āianei, ā, hei ngā rā ki tua hoki. He kawenga tino whaitake tā mātou hei tautoko i te Karauna i runga i āna hononga ki a ngāi Māori i raro i te Tiriti o Waitangi. Ka tautoko mātou i te kāwanatanga manapori. Ka whakakotahingia mātou e te wairua whakarato ki ō mātou hapori, ā, e arahina ana mātou e ngā mātāpono me ngā tikanga matua o te ratonga tūmatanui i roto i ā mātou mahi.

In the public service we work collectively to make a meaningful difference for New Zealanders now and in the future. We have an important role in supporting the Crown in its relationships with Māori under the Treaty of Waitangi. We support democratic government. We are unified by a spirit of service to our communities and guided by the core principles and values of the public service in our work.

What does it mean to work in Aotearoa New Zealand’s Public Service?(external link) — Te Kawa Mataaho The Public Service Commission