Contract Manager - Generation

Downer; Palmerston North; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Downer in Palmerston North (New Zealand) seeks a Contract Manager - Generation to lead the delivery of generation and renewable energy projects. You will manage scope, pricing, subcontractors, and scheduling while maintaining strong client relationships and ensuring contractual obligations are met.

You will drive financial performance and risk management, promoting safety and continuous improvement as part of Downer’s Zero Harm approach.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in power generation, transmission or renewable energy sectors.
• Experience managing contracts, projects, or operational delivery within utilities, infrastructure, or construction.
• Strong commercial, financial and contractual management capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of generation and renewable energy projects, ensuring safety, quality, and performance targets.
• Oversee scoping, estimating, pricing, subcontractors, scheduling, variations, and cost control.
• Develop and maintain strong client relationships as a trusted partner and contact to stakeholders.
• Drive commercial performance through forecasting, invoicing, risk management and contract compliance.
• Champion Zero Harm culture and promote continuous improvement across delivery and operations.

Skills

Contract management

Project delivery

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Zero Harm

Job description

An exciting opportunity has become available for a Contract Manager - Generation to join Downer's Energy & Utilities business, based in Palmerston North, New Zealand.

The opportunity

Downer's Energy & Utilities business is seeking an experienced Contract Manager - Generation to lead the successful delivery of generation and renewable energy projects across New Zealand. Reporting to the National Transmission Manager, you'll play a pivotal role in managing project delivery, commercial outcomes, client relationships, and operational performance across a diverse portfolio of work.

This position offers the opportunity to work closely with key industry stakeholders while leading multidisciplinary teams to deliver safe, efficient, and high-quality outcomes. Supporting New Zealand's evolving energy landscape, you'll be responsible for driving project success from concept through to completion, ensuring contractual obligations are met while identifying opportunities for innovation, continuous improvement, and business growth.

What you'll do

• Lead the delivery of generation and renewable energy projects, ensuring safety, quality, financial and operational performance targets are achieved
• Manage project scoping, estimating, pricing, subcontractors, scheduling, variations, cost control, and project closeout activities
• Develop and maintain strong client relationships, acting as a trusted partner and key point of contact
• Drive commercial performance through forecasting, invoicing, risk management, and contract compliance
• Champion Downer's Zero Harm culture while promoting continuous improvement across project delivery and business operations

What we offer

• Competitive remuneration with a significant ASX-listed company
• Structured career paths with the opportunity to work in different areas of the Utilities business, supported by a robust Commercial Operating Model
• A suite of health and wellness benefits and initiatives, including EAP Beyond Blue
• Retail discounts with major retailers, Dell, Good Guys, Samsung, Specsavers & ANZ
• We are a Tier 1 ASX listed company with in-house capabilities that far exceed traditional contractor environments

What we're looking for

• Proven experience within the power generation, transmission or renewable energy sector
• Demonstrated success managing contracts, projects, or operational delivery within a utility, infrastructure, or construction environment
• Strong commercial, financial and contractual management capability
• Excellent leadership, stakeholder engagement and client relationship management skills
• Commitment to Zero Harm, quality outcomes, continuous improvement, and team success
• Able to undertake regional travel from time-to-time to satisfy project requirements

About Energy & Utilities

Downer's Energy & Utilities business unit is an integrated trans-Tasman team, providing services and solutions that connect communities to essential networks and infrastructure. We design, build, operate and maintain today's critical assets and networks, delivering complete services across the water, electricity, telecommunications, industrial and power generation sectors. Our expertise spans in-house technical smarts, specialist engineering, integrated OEM partners, and dedicated crews of qualified tradespeople.

Downer Group is an employer that acknowledges and embraces the importance of our people's diverse experiences, talents, and cultures. As an inclusive employer, we welcome applications from everyone.