Job Description
Digital and Technology Manager
Lead our digital future | Empower people | Deliver impact
About BRANZ
BRANZ is an independent and impartial research, testing, and consulting organisation with a vision to drive better buildings for the people of Aotearoa New Zealand. From fire and earthquake simulations to testing the effects of weather and daily use, their world-class facilities in Judgeford help shape a safer, more resilient built environment.
BRANZ offers a unique workplace—modern, purpose-built, and surrounded by the natural beauty of rural Pāuatahanui. With passionate, collaborative people and a leadership team committed to innovation and wellbeing, this is a great place to make meaningful change.
About the Role
We’re supporting BRANZ to recruit a confident and people-focused Digital and Technology Manager to lead their technology function and drive the delivery of stable, secure, and future-ready digital services.
This newly shaped leadership role reports to the GM Corporate Services and sits within the wider organisational leadership team. You’ll lead a talented team, set the strategic direction of digital services, and ensure the technology environment enables innovation, performance, and operational excellence.
You’ll partner with a highly skilled and diverse business to ensure technology solutions meet their needs—now and into the future—and work closely with vendors and partners to maintain a safe, stable, and high-performing systems environment.
What You’ll Do
- Inspire, support and grow your team – build trust, set achievable goals, and create a positive, inclusive environment where people can thrive
- Lead the digital roadmap – provide clear direction and confidence to the Executive Team and CEO on how technology supports and drives BRANZ’s strategic goals
- Oversee day-to-day IT operations – ensure the delivery of responsive and effective digital services across infrastructure, office systems, networks, and specialist applications
- Guide system architecture and design decisions – ensure technology solutions are resilient, efficient, and aligned with best practice
- Deliver technology projects – lead implementation and enhancement of systems to meet current and future business needs
- Manage vendors and technology partners – oversee service delivery, maintain key relationships, and ensure strong cyber security and system availability
- Engage with the wider business – act as a trusted advisor across functions, supporting innovation and ensuring the organisation’s digital environment evolves effectively
- Contribute to organisational leadership – bring a collaborative, enterprise-wide view to the BRANZ leadership team and support continuous improvement efforts
About You
You’re an experienced digital or IT leader who combines technical acumen with people-first leadership. You know how to build strong teams, partner across a business, and manage a safe, stable digital environment while laying the groundwork for future innovation.
You’ll bring:
- Extensive experience (8–10+ years) managing IT/digital services, with deep knowledge of infrastructure, operations, and systems
- Proven experience leading, coaching, and developing teams to work efficiently and effectively
- Strategic planning capability and a strong ability to translate organisational needs into actionable digital initiatives
- Confident communication and relationship skills—able to work effectively with executive leaders, technical staff, and vendors alike
- A strong customer service mindset and a commitment to continuous improvement
- Sound knowledge of cyber security, risk, and compliance in a digital environment
- Demonstrated experience managing technology partners and vendors
- Resilience, adaptability, and a collaborative working style
- A relevant tertiary qualification in IT or equivalent experience
Why Join BRANZ?
- Lead digital strategy and guide tech innovation at a nationally respected research organisation
- Inspire and grow a close-knit, capable team in a supportive leadership culture
- Enjoy a unique work environment with modern facilities, rural views, and great staff benefits
- Highly competitive salary package, including fully funded Southern Cross medical and income protection insurance
Interested?
For a confidential discussion about this role, please contact Daniel Wharakura on 022 169 4950 or daniel.wharakura@h2r.co.nz / Alex Allan on 0212360548 or alex.allan@h2r.co.nz
(H2R Technology has been engaged exclusively to manage this recruitment process. All third-party or unsolicited applications will be referred to H2R Technology for consideration.)