Chief Engineer - Lattey Group

Populous People Limited; Hawke's Bay; On-site; NZD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Lattey Group invites applications for a Chief Engineer to lead engineering across civil and infrastructure projects across New Zealand. You will set technical direction, oversee risk and assurance, and provide strategic leadership to frontline teams and project delivery across multiple sites.

The role requires Chartered Engineer status or eligibility, with a proven record of managing complex civil works and delivering safe, durable infrastructure solutions.

Qualifications

• Chartered professional engineer with leadership in large civil/infrastructure projects.
• Proven capability to set engineering standards and governance.
• Experience guiding multi-site engineering and delivery teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide engineering leadership across bridges, structural, piling and infrastructure projects.
• Lead and develop multi-site teams and manage technical risk and assurance.
• oversee design sign-off, constructability and front-line technical direction.
• represent the Group as technical authority with clients, regulators and designers.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Risk management

Project delivery

Technical direction

People leadership

Education

Chartered Engineer status (or eligible)

Tools

HEX-LOC system

Job description

This newly created civil engineering leadership role will help shape the next phase of growth and optimisation for a highly regarded multidisciplinary civil construction and infrastructure company. You will lead and develop multi-site engineering and project delivery teams, strengthen risk and assurance practices, and position the Group’s technical capability for continued success as it expands into new markets.

Lattey Group is a multidisciplinary construction and engineering company with 75 years of market experience and 100 plus people across their Hastings and Levin sites. Its reputation for innovative, safe and efficient infrastructure solutions is built across five key divisions, including civil engineering, precast concrete manufacturing, crane hire, and the highly effective HEX-LOC® system.

As Chief Engineer, you will be Lattey Group’s senior engineering authority; providing engineering leadership across bridge, structural, piling, marine, foundation, precast and infrastructure construction projects delivered throughout New Zealand.

Your responsibilities will span engineering and people leadership, governance, technical assurance, and frontline civil engineering decisions across the Group’s physical works, construction methodologies and project delivery. You’ll provide independent oversight and direction across project planning, site assessment, option development, design and sign-off, constructability, construction methodology, technical risk, compliance, and delivery, including across engineered lift plans, critical lifts, crane‑related engineering activities and associated construction risks.

You will also oversee site assessments and design solutions to optimise the use of their highly regarded HEX-LOC® system. This includes assessing technical suitability, defining system configurations and design boundaries, and developing robust solutions that deliver durable, resilient, sustainable, whole‑of‑life value for clients.

This will suit a Chartered Professional Engineer, or an experienced senior engineering leader with the ability to achieve or maintain chartered status. You must be equally confident leading people, setting engineering standards, and providing timely technical direction to frontline teams. You will combine sound judgement in managing engineering risk and opportunity with a natural, engaging leadership style. A capable team is already in place; your focus will be to build its capability further, and to represent the Group as a trusted technical authority with clients, designers, regulators, asset owners, and the wider engineering profession.

If you have the engineering expertise, an engaging approach to team leadership, and ambition to lead in a substantial civil and infrastructure business, we welcome your interest. Lattey Group has big growth plans, with the innovation, capability, and experience to expand well beyond the region. Remuneration and reward reflect the scope and seniority of this role.