Data Platform Lead

Company Description

WM New Zealand is New Zealand's leading resource recovery, recycling, and waste management provider. We’re committed to safeguarding our beautiful environment through sustainable management of our valuable resources. Put simply, sustainability is what we do.

Job Description

An opportunity has arisen for an experienced Data Platform Lead. The role combines hands-on analytics engineering with responsibility for product strategy, backlog management, and stakeholder coordination to ensure our data products deliver measurable business value.

The position involves owning the vision and roadmap for our portfolio of data products, from curated datasets and metrics layers to analytical models and self-service tools while working alongside the data engineering team to build and deliver solutions using our data stack (Snowflake, dbt).

Key responsibilities include:

• Own the product vision and roadmap: Define and evolve the strategy for data products including curated datasets, metrics layers, semantic models, and analytical outputs
• Build data products hands-on: Design and implement transformations, metrics definitions, and consumption-ready datasets using dbt and Snowflake
• Manage the product backlog: Prioritise ruthlessly, translate business needs into technical specifications, and allocate work across the engineering team
• Lead day-to-day delivery: Run ceremonies, unblock issues, and create clarity on priorities and expectations
• Drive stakeholder relationships: Become the go-to person for data product requests, lead discovery sessions, and manage expectations on timelines and scope
• Develop team capabilities: Coach engineers on product thinking, helping them understand the "why" behind what they're building

The role suits someone with strong analytics engineering foundations seeking to broaden their impact through product ownership while maintaining hands-on technical involvement.

Qualifications

• Product ownership experience: Track record of owning a backlog, defining requirements, prioritising ruthlessly, and shipping data products iteratively that deliver value.
• dbt proficiency: Experience building and maintaining transformation workflows, metrics layers, and semantic models.
• Strong SQL skills: Ability to design performant queries, model complex business logic, and work with large datasets.
• Snowflake experience: Working knowledge of cloud data warehouse patterns and data product delivery.
• Dimensional modelling: Understanding of Kimball methodology, star schemas, and designing for consumption.
• Analytics engineering best practices: Git workflows, testing frameworks, documentation standards, CI/CD pipelines.
• Stakeholder management: Proven ability to manage expectations, navigate competing priorities, and communicate trade-offs clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Mentoring mindset: Experience guiding and upskilling team members, particularly in product thinking and understanding business context.

Additional Information

What we offer:

• Competitive Salary Package
• Valid and rewarding career path
• Work Life Balance Initiatives
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Onsite Café and Carpark
• Discounts on various products for you and your family to enjoy
• Discounts on Fuel at Z!

To apply for this role click “I'm interested”

Please note - we do not always work to fixed closing dates and may start considering applications as they are received so we encourage you to apply early.

WM is an EEO employer and promotes drug and alcohol-free workplaces.

You must be in New Zealand and hold a current work visa / residency or NZ citizenship.