Technical Lead

Tēnei tūranga – About the role

The Technical Lead is responsible for leading and supporting the technical delivery of enhancements and changes to the ADEPT technical eco system as part of the Our Future Services Programme.  They will work across workstreams that are engaged in the delivery of software within the Programme.

The IT Technical Lead is responsible for overseeing the technical execution of a programme initiative, ensuring code quality, mentoring developers, and optimizing development workflows. They will focus on hands-on development, enforcing best practices, and guiding the team toward efficient and maintainable solutions.   They (can) bridge the gap between hands-on coding and architectural solution design, ensuring software solutions are efficient, scalable, and maintainable and align to Solution Architects design.

Using their Microsoft and Azure strong technical experience along with inter-personal and influence skills, they will be responsible for delivery of the transformation from architectural designs into actual implementation of technical solutions. This role will leverage their engagement and collaboration skills to co-ordinate the triage and support of complex environmental and integration related issues encountered within the ADEPT technical environment tor solutions ADEPT leverages and/or integrates with.

Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role

Personal specifications

• Sound working knowledge and experience with Cloud IaaS, SaaS, and PaaS migrations such as D365 and Azure Native services and components.
• Prior experience as build engineer with proven track record in automation and continuous integration and deployment.
• Demonstrated development and design experience in delivering RESTful APIs, microservices, and modern UI such as Angular, React.
• Strong experience in integrating with Datahubs, Real-time Transaction Processing, and Data and Analytics systems.
• Leading the detailed design and development for systems integrations and provide strategic partners / vendors technical oversight.
• Strong analytical and diagnostic skills to interpret operational alerts and errors occurring with a solution.
• Demonstrated experience in developing technical implementation plans leveraging solution architectural designs and the architecture community of practice.
• Demonstrated experience of managing parallel delivery of complex technical initiatives.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with clear evidence of influencing skills and the ability to establish and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with a wide range of people.
• Demonstrated ability to understand the business context and functional requirements along with the technical context and translate this to technical teams.
• Self-managing, with the ability to perform a range of tasks under competing demands, prioritise effectively and escalate issues accordingly.
• Demonstrated experience in leading discussions and facilitating workshops with a wide range of technical and subject matter experts.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating effectively with various internal and external stakeholders to deliver shared goals.
• Demonstrated ability to identify, manage and escalate risks and issues, including providing advice to decision-makers on potential solutions.
• Leadership – Inspire and guide the development\delivery teams (internal & external).
• Problem-Solving – Quickly address technical blockers.
• Collaboration – Work effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Communication – Translate complex technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders.
• Time Management – Balance coding tasks with leadership responsibilities.
• Must be a NZ citizen or hold a permanent resident visa.

Technical Skills 

• Programming Languages – Java, Python, JavaScript, C#, etc.
• Software Architecture and Integration – MVC, Microservices, Monoliths, Event-Driven Design.
• Software Development Best Practices – Clean Code, SOLID principles, DRY, KISS.
• Cloud Platforms – D365, PowerPlatform, AWS, Azure, Google Cloud.
• Database Management – SQL, NoSQL, Data Modelling.
• Data and Analytics – SnowFlake, Informatica.
• Version Control – Git, GitHub, GitLab.
• CI/CD & DevOps – Jenkins, Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform.
• Testing & Automation – Unit testing, integration testing, TDD.
• Security Best Practices – Secure coding, authentication, authorization.
• Performance Optimization – Profiling, debugging, and efficiency improvements.

Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables

Contributing to workstream planning and development

• Completing detailed delivery planning of technical change as part of the delivery of the scope of the Our Future Services.
• Co-ordination of technical resources and activities, in support of project managers, against the approved delivery plan.
• Leading regular workshops, including planning and refining sessions for technical delivery items.
• Actively managing dependencies across related workstreams or projects to ensure coordination and alignment of technical change.

Managing delivery and supporting strategic direction

• Co-ordinating work within the Our Future Services programme multi-disciplinary teams, ensuring oversight of all technical work being completed.
• Ensuring the roadmap and backlog of opportunities and tasks are prioritised in line with strategic priorities.
• Championing and supporting use of agile tools and frameworks within the work programme.
• Proactively identifying and escalating potential issues, challenges or risks, and implementing agreed solutions to keep the work on track, including ensuring controls for risks are implemented.

Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables continued

Delivery leadership

• Ensuring agreed practices and processes are followed and supporting the project managers, team, support partners and vendors to deliver to these by providing technical leadership.
• Having a clear understanding of priorities of work and what good looks like, including ensuring work outcomes are delivered to the agreed criteria and within agreed timeframes.
• Adaptable to changing demands and can quickly adjust work plans in response to new priorities. Fosters an open environment that encourages ongoing learning, collaboration and a positive team culture.

Influence and key responsibilities

• Use effective communication and storytelling to influence and motivate others to take action and achieve desired outcomes and champions a shared vision for the Programme, emphasising the ‘why’, timeframes and outcomes.
• Supervise the development\delivery teams (internal & external), enforce best coding practicesm optimize software performance and perform peer code reviews.
• Guide developers through technical challenges, mentor junior team members and collaborate with architects on system design decisions.
• Troubleshooting and debugging critical issues as they arise during the delivery process, from technical to performance related issues. Document technical guidelines and best practices for the team.

Relationship management

• Negotiating, shaping, and influencing across stakeholders from across Corporate and Digital Shared Services, including partnering with business subject matter experts and owners in Immigration New Zealand.
• Collaborating with internal teams and managing multiple relationships, bridging the gap between technical specialists, partners and vendors. Ensures relevant stakeholders are engaged and escalating where appropriate.
• Participates as an active team member and contributes knowledge and expertise needed to achieve desired outcomes.

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.
• Welcomes feedback and is receptive to input from others. 

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

The Technical Lead position reports to the Head of Digital and Programmes for Immigration, this role is a Tier 4 Manager and is Wellington based.

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