- Represent the business needs on the transformation
- Be the link between project team and operations
- Join a small, high-impact team and make a visible difference
IN SIDE Recruitment is delighted to be partnering with Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) on this unique opportunity to join a high-profile transformation programme with national and international impact.
This is a role that will suit someone who has operated as a business owner/product owner to ensure high value items are prioritised and benefits delivered and measured for the programme. You will thrive on bringing clarity to complexity, building alignment across diverse stakeholders, and turning ambitious ideas into practical outcomes.
At the heart of this opportunity is the transformation of the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships Programme, one of New Zealand's most significant international scholarship initiatives. You'll have the chance to influence how future scholars, education providers, government agencies, and delivery teams interact with the programme, helping create a more seamless, connected, and future-focused experience. Reporting to the Director of Scholarships, this role will liaise with the technical product owner and programme lead.
Why this role?
Not every Product Owner role offers the opportunity to shape change that extends beyond an organisation and delivers benefits across countries, communities, and generations of learners.
This role sits at the centre of a significant programme of work, requiring someone who can confidently navigate business strategy, change, operations, and technology. You'll be comfortable moving between big-picture thinking and day-to-day decision-making, while ensuring the needs of stakeholders remain front and centre.
You'll work alongside subject matter experts, business leaders, and programme teams to ensure solutions are practical, user-focused, and capable of delivering lasting value.
What you'll be doing
Rather than owning a traditional product roadmap, you'll be championing business outcomes and helping guide a complex transformation from vision through to implementation.
You'll:
- Act as the voice of the business throughout the transformation journey
- Help shape priorities and make informed decisions where there are competing demands
- Bring together stakeholders with different perspectives and objectives
- Translate strategic goals into clear, achievable outcomes
- Drive engagement, readiness, and adoption across the organisation
- Ensure future-state processes and solutions are fit for purpose and sustainable
- Contribute to the successful delivery of a programme that will support ENZ's long-term objectives
About you
You will have experience working as a business owner or product owner leading through complexity and influencing outcomes across organisations. This is not a technical product owner role.
We're keen to hear from people who can demonstrate:
- Experience working on enterprise-wide transformation initiatives
- Strong commercial and strategic thinking alongside a practical delivery mindset
- Exceptional stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills
- Proven ability to influence without direct authority
- Confidence navigating ambiguity and competing priorities
- A passion for improving services, experiences, and outcomes for end users
- A background in business analysis will be of interest.
About Education New Zealand
Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao is the government agency responsible for promoting New Zealand education internationally and strengthening the value of international education for New Zealand.
ENZ is known for its collaborative culture, commitment to innovation, and focus on delivering meaningful outcomes that create lasting social, cultural, and economic benefits.
What's in it for you?
- A meaningful transformation programme with genuine impact
- Wellington-based role with a highly regarded public sector organisation
- Opportunity to work across strategy, business change, and technology
- Collaborative and purpose-driven environment
- 18-month fixed-term contract offering challenge, visibility, and variety
Apply now
IN SIDE Recruitment is managing this appointment on behalf of Education New Zealand.
If you're looking for an opportunity where you can influence meaningful change, work with talented stakeholders, and contribute to a programme that makes a difference both in New Zealand and internationally, we would love to hear from you.
