Contract Manager Professional Services

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi; Gisborne; Hybrid; NZD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is seeking a national Contract Manager for six months to cover parental leave across the Asset and Operations teams. You will manage a portfolio of professional services contracts, coordinate with NZTA offices nationwide and ensure timely and compliant delivery of services.

You will work with local teams and suppliers to navigate contracts, oversee approvals and monitor performance, while maintaining audit-ready records and contributing to value-for-money

Qualifications

• Experience administering professional services, consultancy, infrastructure or similar contracts.
• Ability to read, understand and apply contract documents and follow defined processes.
• Experience preparing professional correspondence, contract notices, service orders, variations or similar documentation.
• Strong administration, attention to detail and the discipline to maintain complete and reliable records.
• Ability to coordinate multiple activities, approvals and deadlines without losing sight of process requirements.
• Proactive, self-directed approach with the ability to take ownership and work with limited supervision.
• Confident collaborating with local NZTA teams, suppliers and technical specialists.
• Sound judgement to identify risks, resolve routine issues and escalate as needed.
• Understanding of procurement, delegated authority and value-for-money requirements, or ability to learn quickly.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Willingness to gain understanding of Te Ao Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi in public service contexts.

Responsibilities

• Administer professional services contracts in accordance with Consultancy Contract Conditions and NZTA requirements.
• Prepare clear contractual correspondence, notices to consultants, service orders and variations.
• Assess payment information and maintain records of approvals, expenditure and contract changes.
• Coordinate with local NZTA teams to understand programmes, priorities and resource needs.
• Coordinate supplier availability and timely onboarding of qualified resources.
• Monitor contract expenditure against allocations and support value-for-money decisions.
• Maintain structured communication with suppliers and internal stakeholders; escalate as needed.
• Identify delivery, resource, commercial and procurement risks and support mitigation.
• Monitor supplier performance including through PACE and coordinate improvement actions.
• Maintain complete audit-ready contract records; coordinate monthly reporting on cost, progress and risks.
• Identify and implement practical improvements to contract performance and efficiency.

Job description

Location: Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, or another regional office by agreement.

Job type: Six-month internal secondment or fixed-term parental leave cover

• Take ownership of a varied portfolio of nationally significant professional services contracts.
• Connect local NZTA teams with the specialist resources they need to deliver across the motu.
• Build your commercial and contract management experience in a supportive, flexible national team.

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity

This is an opportunity to step into a national Contract Manager – Professional Services role for six months, providing parental leave cover within the National Contracts team in Asset and Operations.

You will take ownership of a varied portfolio of professional services contracts that supports maintenance delivery under the Integrated Delivery Model. The portfolio includes Monitoring, Surveillance and Quality Assurance (MSQA), Environmental Planning and Management, and Independent Certifier services.

You will work across the motu, building strong relationships with local NZTA teams and professional services suppliers. By helping teams navigate and use the contracts, coordinating the specialist resources they need and keeping commercial processes on track, you will make a practical contribution to delivery across the state highway network.

Acting as the Principal’s Representative under NZTA’s Consultancy Contract Conditions, you will have the autonomy to make sound day-to-day decisions, supported by experienced colleagues when you need advice or a second perspective.

In This Role, You Will

• administer professional services contracts in accordance with the Consultancy Contract Conditions, contract documents and NZTA requirements;
• prepare clear and accurate contractual correspondence, including notices to consultants, service orders and variations;
• assess payment information and maintain accurate records of approvals, expenditure, commitments and contract changes;
• work with local NZTA teams to understand their programmes, priorities and professional services resource requirements;
• coordinate supplier availability and support timely allocation and onboarding of suitably qualified resources;
• monitor contract expenditure against approved allocations and support value-for-money decisions;
• maintain structured communication with suppliers and internal stakeholders, resolving issues promptly and escalating matters where required;
• identify emerging delivery, resource, commercial and procurement risks and support early mitigation;
• monitor supplier performance including through PACE and coordinate performance improvement actions where required;
• maintain complete, accurate and audit-ready contract records;
• coordinate monthly reporting on cost, progress, risks, resourcing and supplier performance; and
• identify and implement practical improvements that strengthen contract performance, coordination and efficiency.

You will find out more about the role here: Position Description

Ko koe tēnei | About you

This opportunity will suit someone who enjoys variety, takes pride in keeping work organised and wants to broaden their contract management experience. You will be comfortable working with contract documentation, confident building relationships and motivated by helping others achieve good delivery outcomes.

As a national role, this position offers the flexibility to be based in one of our regional offices by agreement and to work from home in line with NZTA arrangements. You will enjoy connecting and collaborating online with colleagues around the country, while being proactive and comfortable progressing your work independently.

You Will Bring

• experience administering professional services, consultancy, infrastructure or similar contracts;
• the ability to read, understand and apply contract documents and follow defined contractual processes;
• experience preparing professional correspondence, contract notices, service orders, variations or similar documentation;
• strong administration skills, attention to detail and the discipline to maintain complete and reliable records;
• the ability to coordinate multiple activities, approvals and deadlines without losing sight of process requirements;
• a proactive, self-directed approach, with the ability to take ownership, manage your workload and drive work forward with limited day-to-day supervision;
• confidence working collaboratively with local NZTA teams, suppliers and technical specialists;
• sound judgement and the ability to identify risks, resolve routine issues and escalate matters at the appropriate time;
• an understanding of procurement, delegated authority and value-for-money requirements, or the ability to learn these quickly;
• clear written and verbal communication skills;
• confidence using information from reports, forecasts and contract records to support decisions; and
• a willingness to gain an understanding of Te Ao Māori, promote tikanga and te reo Māori, and appreciate Te Tiriti o Waitangi as it applies in the public service.

You will be supported to get up to speed with the contracts, systems and current work programme, with experienced colleagues available to share knowledge and help you succeed in the role.

Mō mātou | About us

Asset Ownership provides the system leadership framework for managing NZTA’s transport assets, including the State Highway Asset Management Plan (SHAMP), network definition, standards and quality assurance. The team enables NZTA to take a smart and balanced approach to asset management, ensuring that safety, resilience, performance and cost are optimised across the network.

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

This six-month opportunity is a chance to broaden your contract management experience, strengthen your commercial judgement and gain a national view of how professional services support maintenance delivery across the state highway network.

You will gain exposure to local NZTA teams, technical specialists, commercial and procurement colleagues, and a diverse range of professional services suppliers. It is a visible role with plenty of variety and the opportunity to build relationships across the organisation.

You will join a supportive, down-to-earth National Contracts team that enjoys working together, shares knowledge freely and makes time to stay connected despite being based across the country. You will be trusted to take ownership of your work, while having experienced colleagues available when you need advice or support.

If you are ready to take on a varied national role, grow your experience and make a practical contribution to delivery across the motu, we would like to hear from you.

Rā Katinga | Applications close

26 October 2026

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.