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Lead NZ Police’s software engineering and delivery enablement function, shaping modern product-led ways of working that strengthen frontline policing.

• Senior ICT leadership role with significant influence across NZ Police
• Lead the modernisation of software engineering, delivery capability and product ways of working
• Shape the culture, capability and technical practices supporting critical frontline technology

New Zealand Police is undertaking an important evolution in how its ICT function delivers technology outcomes across the organisation.

H2R Technology is partnering with NZ Police to appoint a Director – Delivery and Software Engineering, a senior leadership role responsible for strengthening and modernising software engineering and delivery capability across ICT.

Reporting to the Chief Information Officer and operating as a member of the ICT Senior Leadership Team, this role will provide leadership across the people, practices, standards and delivery disciplines that enable NZ Police product teams to move effectively from ideas and business demand through to delivered technology outcomes.

Why NZ Police
Few technology environments have such a direct connection to the everyday safety and wellbeing of New Zealanders.

Technology plays a critical role in modern policing. NZ Police operates in a complex, 24/7 environment, with digital platforms and services relied upon every day by frontline and operational teams across New Zealand.

This is an opportunity to influence how a large and complex technology function develops its engineering capability, delivery culture and ways of working while contributing to technology outcomes that have a tangible impact across New Zealand.

The opportunity
The Director – Delivery and Software Engineering will lead the continued development of a more integrated, modern and product-focused approach to technology delivery.

A key focus will be modernising NZ Police’s end-to-end software engineering approach and establishing common frameworks, standards and ways of working that improve flow, accountability, quality and consistency across ICT.

The role will provide leadership across both internally developed software and technology change delivered through commercial and packaged solutions.
You will have the opportunity to:

• Lead the modernisation of software engineering practices across NZ Police ICT.
• Provide leadership and direction for the software engineering profession, including capability development, workforce planning and technical excellence.
• Strengthen engineering disciplines across design, build, testing, release, support and continuous improvement.
• Champion modern practices including DevOps, CI/CD, automation, AI-assisted development and testing, and risk-based quality assurance.
• Help evolve and embed a product-based ICT operating model with clearer end-to-end ownership and accountability.
• Develop common delivery frameworks, standards and ways of working across product teams.
• Improve the long-term maintainability and sustainability of NZ Police’s technology platforms, including management of technical debt.
• Build a culture of collaboration, accountability, continuous improvement and high performance.
• Work alongside other ICT Directors, senior leaders, product teams and strategic partners to improve how technology outcomes are delivered across NZ Police.

What we are looking for
This is a significant technology leadership position requiring someone who combines strong organisational leadership with genuine technical credibility.

We are interested in leaders who have successfully shaped or transformed software engineering and delivery capability within large, complex technology environments.

You are likely to bring:

• Significant senior leadership experience across ICT, digital, software engineering or technology delivery.
• Strong technical credibility across modern software engineering and delivery.
• Experience with contemporary engineering practices including DevOps, CI/CD, automation, testing, secure development and continuous improvement.
• Experience shaping or improving product-based technology operating models.
• A track record of leading transformational change across delivery models, capability, culture and ways of working.
• Experience developing engineering standards, frameworks and practices that can be applied consistently across multiple teams.
• An understanding of emerging technologies, including the opportunities and considerations associated with AI-assisted software development.
• Strong judgement and the ability to balance technology strategy, operational priorities, risk, customer expectations and delivery demands.
• The leadership capability to bring people with you through change, create clarity and build shared accountability.
• The ability to engage credibly with senior executives, technical specialists, delivery teams, vendors and strategic partners.

Technical depth is important, but this is not a hands-on engineering role. NZ Police is looking for a leader who understands technology deeply enough to provide direction, challenge thinking, establish standards and help shine a light on the path forward.

The home location for this role is Porirua, with flexibility to work some days from other NZ Police sites, including Police National Headquarters (PNHQ).

How to apply
Apply via the link provided.
For a private and confidential discussion about the opportunity, please contact:
Daniel Wharakura
022 169 4950
daniel.wharakura@h2r.co.nz