Mercury Website

Mercury NZ Limited; Hamilton; Hybrid; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading energy provider is seeking a Principal Project Manager - Major Civil to oversee complex hydropower and civil infrastructure projects in Hamilton, Rotorua, or Taupō. This role involves leadership of engineering programmes, stakeholder engagement, and ensuring safe execution of projects. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in project management and a civil engineering background. This opportunity offers a hybrid work environment and various employee benefits.

Benefits

Additional 5 days leave per annum (MyDays)

$400 one-off tax-free payment towards home office setup

Discounted health insurance

Excellent well-being programme

Flexible working policy

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading major civil or hydropower infrastructure projects.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, including experience working with councils and regulators.
• Deep understanding of dam safety and civil engineering best practices.

Responsibilities

• Leading complex engineering programmes and fostering a culture of critical thinking.
• Managing all aspects of project delivery including planning, execution, and reporting.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with contractors and stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in civil engineering

Tools

Project management software

Health & Safety frameworks

Job description

Overview

Mercury is a bold future-focused organisation, providing energy and telecommunications to more Kiwis than anyone else, leading the way with renewable energy and working toward a sustainable future. At the heart is our purpose. Taking care of tomorrow: connecting people and place today. This pushes us to do all we can to create a better future for our people, our communities, and Aotearoa New Zealand.

Our Opportunity: Join Mercury's Generation Project Management Team as a Principal Project Manager - Major Civil, reporting to the Programme Manager. This is a senior technical leadership role responsible for the end-to-end delivery of complex hydropower and civil infrastructure projects, including feasibility, design, construction, commissioning, and rehabilitation.

You'll lead the safe and effective delivery of infrastructure upgrades to aging hydro assets, with a particular focus on the Taupo Control Gates (TCG) Programme. Working alongside a multi-disciplinary team of Mercury engineers, consultants, stakeholder engagement and environmental specialists, and Iwi Relationship Managers, you'll also collaborate with external stakeholders including councils, contractors, and community groups.

This role offers exposure to international standards and diverse ways of working, helping you grow your expertise while making a tangible impact on local communities and Mercury's hydro stations.

The preferred location is Taupo, with flexibility for candidates based in Hamilton or Rotorua. Mercury supports hybrid working arrangements, allowing you to balance time between home and office based on team and project needs.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading complex engineering programmes and fostering a culture of critical thinking, innovation, and commercial value.
• Providing expert technical direction across hydropower structures, geotechnical, civil, and supporting systems.
• Managing all aspects of project delivery including planning, execution, reporting, contract administration, and risk management.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with contractors, consultants, Iwi partners, regulators, and community stakeholders.
• Championing value engineering and continuous improvement to deliver high-performance, cost-effective solutions.
• Ensuring safe design and execution in line with Mercury's Health & Safety Framework.
• Mentoring and supporting project managers and coordinators, and contributing to Mercury's learning culture.
• Proven experience leading major civil or hydropower infrastructure projects from business case through to implementation.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, including experience working with councils, regulators, and Iwi.
• A Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or a related field; Chartered Professional Engineer preferred.
• Deep understanding of dam safety, seismic compliance, and civil engineering best practices. Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with a structured approach to problem-solving.
• Additional 5 days leave per annum (MyDays)
• $400 one off tax-free payment towards setting up your home office
• A diverse workplace where your unique abilities and talents will be recognised and encouraged
• Annual salary reviews with excellent parental leave policy, with the option to purchase additional leave
• The opportunities, career paths and facilities associated with working for one of New Zealand's largest multi-utility providers
• Flexible working policy - The autonomy and trust to work flexibly from our purpose-built premises and from home, recognising the value of this flexibility in the modern world
• Discounted health insurance and free life and income insurance
• Excellent well-being programme including up to $100 annual check ups and confidential assistance programme
• Gender affirmation leave and supportive bereavement leave to be taken when you lose anyone close to you, including your pet

Mercury is a learning organisation that is committed to providing you with opportunities to grow and develop that will benefit you now and in the future. Part of your role includes building your skillset and mindset through a variety of ways. We believe this creates an energised, innovative and agile work environment where you will feel valued.

Every voice has its place - and together, we thrive.

At Mercury, we believe that having a team of individuals with different backgrounds, experience and capability working together makes us stronger and better as an organisation. We know that some candidates may only apply for a role if they meet all of the criteria. If you want to join our team, we encourage you to apply for any role that matches your skills, capabilities and interests, even if you aren’t sure if you meet all of the criteria. If you require assistance or accessibility support from us during the application and selection process, please reach out to [e-mail] .

A full position description is available below. Applications close Monday, 6th October at 5:00pm. Please note that Mercury retains the right to bring a particularly strong candidate through to interview more quickly.

Reference # 41221

Posted 22 Sep 2025

Closing 06 Oct 2025 17:00

Location(s) Hamilton, Rotorua, Taupō

Expertise Engineering, Quality Assurance/Risk, Team Lead