Contract Manager

Hunter Civil Ltd; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

General Manager pathway

Complex projects exposure

Competitive remuneration

Award-winning group

Professional development

Job summary

Hunter Civil Ltd is seeking a Contract Manager / Senior Project Manager to take ownership of civil projects in Canterbury. You will lead tender submissions, guide delivery teams, and nurture client relationships to secure repeat work.

The role reports to the Hunter Civil Group CE, with a clear pathway to General Manager as you demonstrate delivery excellence and commercial acumen.

Qualifications

• Significant senior level civil construction experience in NZ projects.
• Proven ability to take projects from tender through to handover.
• Strong commercial and contractual understanding of NZS3910 and risk.

Responsibilities

• Own project and contract outcomes across multiple civil contracts.
• Lead tender submissions and support delivery teams.
• Build and maintain client relationships to generate work.
• Direct site engineers and delivery teams on projects.
• Represent the business at senior levels.

Skills

Senior leadership

Estimating/tendering

Client relationship mgmt

NZS3910 understanding

Project delivery

Education

Civil engineering degree

Tools

MS Project

Job description

About the role

As Contract Manager / Senior Project Manager, you will have a high level of autonomy, whilst taking full ownership of project and contract outcomes across multiple civil construction contracts. The role will report directly to the Hunter Civil Group CE and will require you to work closely with the Hunter Civil Group leadership team, which provides the benefit and support of joining an established team, that have demonstrated their abilities to consistently deliver results. A clear pathway to step up into a General Manager role is available, as you demonstrate the commercial and leadership capability the business is looking for. This is a senior, hands on role, suited to someone who combines strong technical delivery experience with genuine commercial acumen, someone equally comfortable compiling a tender submission, leading and supporting the delivery team, and building the client relationships that generate the next piece of work.

Key responsibilities

• Take full ownership of project and contract outcomes across multiple civil construction contracts
• Work closely with the Hunter Civil Group leadership team
• Compile tender submissions
• Lead and support the delivery team
• Build client relationships that generate repeat and new work
• Direct Project/Site Engineers and site-based delivery teams
• Represent the business at a senior level

About you

• Significant senior level experience in the NZ civil construction industry, with a demonstrated ability to take projects from estimate/tender through to handover, typically in the $500K to $20M+ range
• Strong estimating capability, methodology development, and tender preparation
• A track record of business development, building and maintaining client and stakeholder relationships that generate repeat and new work
• An in-depth understanding of the contractual and commercial facets of construction, particularly NZS3910:2013/2023, contract negotiation, commercial risk, and change management
• A proven delivery record leading multiple complex projects to successful commercial and physical outcomes
• Superb communication and stakeholder management skills, with the credibility to represent the business at a senior level
• A relevant tertiary qualification in civil engineering or a related discipline
• Proficiency with MS Project or similar programme management software
• The leadership capability to direct Project/Site Engineers and site-based delivery teams, and to work closely with the wider Hunter Civil Group management team
• The commercial maturity and ambition to grow into a General Manager role over time

Benefits

• A genuine, structured pathway to General Manager for a candidate who demonstrates the right capability
• Exposure to complex, technical, and award-winning projects
• A competitive remuneration package matched to seniority and experience, with high levels of autonomy
• The backing, resources, and technical depth of an established, multi award winning construction group
• Ongoing professional development and career progression, and a collaborative, high performing team culture

About us

G&T Construction Ltd is a privately owned civil construction company based in Canterbury. Established in 1994, G&T have a 30+ year history of delivering challenging and technically demanding projects across the region. The team has steadily grown and is trusted by local councils and private clients to deliver a diverse range of construction services consisting of, three waters reticulation and pump stations, water and wastewater treatment, concrete structures, bridge construction and repairs, sheet piling and temporary works. In 2023, through acquisition, G&T joined the Hunter Civil Group and now operates alongside Hunter Civil to provide additional delivery capacity that's complemented by Hunter Civil's management team. Across the Group, technical expertise is combined with an innovative mindset, taking on projects of significant scale and complexity, while consistently producing award winning outcomes. Joining G&T means joining a well-resourced, award-winning construction group, with a genuine culture of collaboration, capability, progression and a commitment to deliver.

Applicants for this position must have New Zealand residency or an open New Zealand work visa. Unfortunately, we are unable to consider candidates who require a job offer or visa condition changes under an Immigration NZ Accredited Employer arrangement to work in New Zealand. All candidates must be able to pass a pre-employment drug and alcohol test.

For more information, visit www.huntercivil.co.nz and www.gtconstruction.co.nz.