Product Practices Manager at New Zealand Customs Service, Wellington

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Lead and embed modern product practices that drive consistent, high-quality delivery across Digital & Technology.
• Be the force behind how we deliver—lifting product and delivery practices across a complex tech environment.
• Lead the evolution of product practices to enable better flow, predictability, and real business impact.
• Full-time permanent role based in Wellington.

We’re looking for a seasoned Product Practices Manager to lead and embed modern product and delivery practices across our Digital & Technology function. This is a key role in lifting consistency, improving delivery flow, and enabling teams to deliver high-quality, value-driven outcomes. In this role, you’ll work across teams to establish clear standards, strengthen planning and delivery rhythms, and ensure alignment between discovery, prioritisation, and execution.

Acting as a trusted advisor to leadership, you’ll drive continuous improvement, provide practical guidance, and help teams operate with clarity, discipline, and focus on outcomes.

About the role…

As Product Practices Manager, you’ll play a central role in shaping how work gets done across Digital & Technology. You’ll define and evolve product management and delivery practices, ensuring teams operate with clarity, consistency, and a strong focus on outcomes.

You’ll work closely with Product Managers and Product Owners, delivery leads, and senior stakeholders to coordinate planning, including Big Room Planning, manage dependencies, facilitate workshops, and support effective delivery across teams.

You’ll also lead continuous improvement initiatives, using insights and experience to enhance delivery maturity, predictability, and performance across the portfolio.

Key Responsibilities include…

• Establishing and embedding consistent product management and delivery practices
• Defining standards, principles, and ways of working across the product lifecycle
• Strengthening delivery planning, coordination, and operating rhythms
• Coordinating Big Room Planning and facilitating workshops to support alignment, prioritisation, and delivery flow
• Monitoring delivery health, risks, and dependencies across teams
• Driving continuous improvement to lift delivery performance and outcomes
• Providing trusted advice and guidance to leaders on product and delivery practices. 

What you’ll bring…

• Proven experience in product management, delivery practices, or product operations
• Demonstrated ability to embed consistent ways of working in complex environments
• Strong stakeholder engagement, influence, facilitation, and workshop leadership skills
• Experience improving delivery performance, flow, and team effectiveness
• A passion for enabling high-performing teams and achieving meaningful outcomes. 

Why join Customs? 

At Customs, you’ll contribute to meaningful work that supports New Zealand’s borders and economy. You’ll join a collaborative, forward-thinking environment where you can influence how we deliver, work with diverse stakeholders, and drive real impact through improved product and delivery practices. 

How to apply…

To join Customs, you must be a New Zealand Citizen or New Zealand Permanent Resident* and be able to obtain and maintain an organisational security clearance. Due to the nature of Customs work you must have a clear Police record.  Successful applicants are also required to pass a drug test.   

(*) A New Zealand Citizen or New Zealand Permanent Resident who has resided continuously in New Zealand for the last 5 years and resides in New Zealand at time of application.

OR a New Zealand Citizen or New Zealand Permanent Resident who has resided in New Zealand for the last 5 years and resides in New Zealand at time of application but may have been absent from New Zealand for periods of six or less months within the past five years, preferably in one or more of the following countries: either Australia, Canada, United Kingdom or the United States of America. You will be required to provide overseas police certificates for these periods spent outside of New Zealand.

Click on the apply button to submit your application.

To express your interest, please apply on-line by submitting an up-to-date CV and cover letter that demonstrates your suitability and motivation for the role. For further information about this position, please view the position description attached or contact Suzanne Leahy (Senior Corporate Recruitment Advisor) at Suzanne.leahy@customs.govt.nz 

Applications close at 11pm, Tuesday 14 July 2026.

We encourage prompt application for this role as we will be shortlisting applications as they are received and may close the role earlier than the above closing date.

Please note Customs will be managing this recruitment independently in-house and will not be engaging with recruitment agencies at this stage.

New Zealand Customs Service | Te Mana Ārai o Aotearoa is a member of Diversity Works New Zealand and is committed to developing a diverse workforce and an inclusive workplace.  We provide equal employment opportunities and welcome applications from everyone who can meet the requirements of the role.