Chapter Lead Infrastructure Engineering

New Zealand Transport Agency; Palmerston North; Hybrid; NZD 156,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

A government transport agency is seeking a Chapter Lead for Infrastructure Engineering in New Zealand. The role involves establishing and leading a chapter, promoting agile practices, and ensuring effective collaboration across teams. Ideal candidates will have over 5 years of experience in a technical leadership role and a commitment to continuous learning and improvement. Competitive salary and flexible working arrangements are offered.

Benefits

Competitive salary and benefits package

Flexible working arrangements

5 weeks annual leave

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years experience in a technical leadership role.
• Strong understanding of Scrum, Kanban, and Lean.
• Deep understanding of chapter's capability.

Responsibilities

• Lead the chapter for Infrastructure Engineering.
• Ensure chapter members are appropriately deployed to value-creation opportunities.
• Champion Agile ways of working and continuous improvement practices.

Skills

Agile practices

Leadership skills

Communication skills

Job description

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity

• Build your Technical Stream Chapter!
• Develop superior capability for performance, capability in this dynamic role
• Wellington, Auckland or Palmerston North based

Be a part of a high performing Chapter Lead Technical Stream, establishing and leading Infrastructure Engineering within our Digital Group

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity

As a Chapter Lead Infrastructure Engineering you are responsible for the establishment and leadership of a chapter within the Digital Group, reporting to our Head of Digital Operations. The role combines servant leadership with deep knowledge and hands-on execution. This role will lead the chapter for Infrastructure Engineering primarily made of System Engineers, Senior System Engineers and Principal System Engineers.

You will ensure chapter members are appropriately deployed to value-creation opportunities in agile delivery squads cost effectively. This requires a focus on mastery of craft, by building the knowledge and capabilities of our people, equipping them with the skills, tools and methodologies to consistently deliver value and functional excellence in their work.

It’s a dynamic role that will navigate strategy, agile delivery and problem solving whilst shaping organisational culture, fostering growth and ensuring effective collaboration across teams.

You will be accountable for Technical Leadership and will have deep skills and experience in your chapter’s capability, with a growth mindset and a curiosity for learning opportunities and emerging technology trends to embed.

This is a People Leader role with a span of control of 20 direct reports, and you will work actively to attract talent to NZTA to build a “right sized” member bench, to ensure the chapter can scale quickly and cost effectively by strategic partnering with external suppliers. It is important to us that you champion Agile ways of working and continuous improvement practices and additionally build a Centre of Excellence and standardise ways of working across squads for your chapter by using set standards, frameworks, tools, templates, guides and best practices aligned to standards, strategy and agile methodology. It is expected that you will keep up with industry trends and best practices and build a culture of continuous learning within the chapter.

We are seeking to appoint at a salary between $156,458 to $185,000 commensurate to skills and experience.

You will find out more about the role here position description

Ko koe tēnei | About you

To be successful in this role, you will bring:

Knowledge and experience:

• Strong and proven experience (ideally with a minimum of 5 yrs. experience) as a Chapter Lead or similar leadership role, providing technical leadership within the team and across the organisation
• Strong understanding of agile practices, including Scrum, Kanban, and Lean. Familiarity with agile ceremonies (such as sprint planning, daily stand-ups, and retrospectives) is essential. Experience working within an Agile matrix model is highly beneficial.
• Bring deep understanding of their chapter's capability, whilst not necessarily always hands-on, have a deep and wide (T-S haped) background relevant to the capability.
• Strong leadership skills and strategic thinking to guide and inspire team members. Ability to set a vision, motivate, and align the team toward common goals.
• Excellent communication skills for facilitating discussions, resolving conflicts, and collaborating with both business and technical stakeholders as well as senior leaders.
• Be a servant leader that empowers the team members, removes obstacles, and ensures their success and fosters a positive and collaborative environment.
• Build strategic partnerships with external suppliers to ensure they have access to a scalable, skilled and cost-effective resource to keep up with demand.
• Demonstrate understanding of the business context, product vision, and strategic goals to align the chapter’s work with overall business objectives and strategy.
• Balancing technical excellence with business value.

You will demonstrate knowledge of, or a willingness to gain an understanding of Te Ao Māori and promote tikanga and Te Reo Māori. You will also have knowledge of, or a willingness to gain an appreciation of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) as it applies in the public service.

Mō mātou |About Us

Te Aukaha | Digital strengthens NZTA Waka Kotahi through supporting our people and delivering future-focused solutions. We enable digital change, provide quality data, information and security services, and create flexible and collaborative workspaces.

The Digital Operations team is responsible for the seamless implementation and operation of Digital IT covering key areas such as Service Desk, Core Infrastructure Management, End User and Application Support, and ITSM practices to enhance efficiency, reliability, and service delivery.

Ka whiwhi koe i te aha | What you will get in return

Lead our technology operations team in the Infrastructure Engineering Chapter

We offer a comprehensive rewards package as below

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Flexible working arrangements, including [remote/hybrid options - role dependant].
• Along with our other benefits we also have 5 weeks annual leave and an Income Protection and Critical illness Insurance scheme available for all permanent employees.

Closing Statement: Ready to take the next step in your career? We’d love to hear from you. Apply today and explore the opportunity to lead our Infrastructure Engineering Chapter!

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply:

Please click apply to upload your CV and cover letter detailing your suitability for the role, noting the below statement.

Rā Katinga | Applications close: 5 October 2025

For further information, email: [e-mail]

To be considered for this position you must have a legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

Waka Kotahi is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We recognise the importance of diversity and inclusion and are committed to providing a working environment that embraces these values. Please let us know if you need any support or have any access requirements that will help you through the recruitment process.

Please note that we may begin shortlisting as we receive applications. We encourage early applications as we may withdraw the advertising at any time.