Delivery Lead

Publicis Sapient; Auckland; On-site; NZD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Publicis Sapient in Auckland is seeking an experienced NZ Delivery Lead to grow our local presence and lead complex digital and AI-led transformation programmes for major NZ organisations.

You will partner with senior executives, shape transformation strategies, and build high-performing delivery teams across our global network. The role offers tangible impact from day one and a path to influence across clients and markets.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading large-scale digital/technology transformation programmes.
• Proven ability to deliver outcomes with distributed, multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong Agile delivery knowledge including SAFe, Scrum, Kanban, Lean.

Responsibilities

• Grow and establish Publicis Sapient's footprint in the New Zealand market and build trusted client relationships.
• Partner with senior executives to design transformation strategies and long-term business outcomes.
• Lead large-scale digital and technology transformation programmes from strategy to delivery.
• Establish governance, delivery approaches, and ways of working to create alignment and momentum.
• Guide organisations through Agile transformation journeys and empower delivery teams to continuously improve.
• Oversee programme performance, risks, and stakeholder engagement to ensure successful outcomes.

Skills

Transformation leadership

Agile delivery

Stakeholder mgmt

Budget & finance

Change management

Team leadership

Tools

Jira

Rally

Job description

Your Impact We re growing our presence in New Zealand and looking for an experienced leader who is excited by the opportunity to help organisations navigate meaningful digital and AI led transformation. As our New Zealand Delivery Lead, you ll help establish and grow Publicis Sapient s local presence, bringing together global expertise and local market insight to deliver exceptional outcomes for clients.

We re growing our presence in New Zealand and looking for an experienced leader who is excited by the opportunity to help organisations navigate meaningful digital and AI led transformation. As our New Zealand Delivery Lead, you ll help establish and grow Publicis Sapient s local presence, bringing together global expertise and local market insight to deliver exceptional outcomes for clients.

At the same time, you will lead complex transformation programmes for some of New Zealand s leading organisations. You ll work closely with senior executives to turn ambitious ideas into real business outcomes, helping clients modernise how they work, deliver value faster, and unlock the potential of emerging technologies, including AI.

If you enjoy bringing clarity to complexity, building high-performing teams, and working with clients to solve challenging business problems, this role offers the opportunity to make a tangible impact from day one.

Job Description

We re growing our presence in New Zealand and looking for an experienced leader who is excited by the opportunity to help organisations navigate meaningful digital and AI led transformation. As our New Zealand Delivery Lead, you ll help establish and grow Publicis Sapient s local presence, bringing together global expertise and local market insight to deliver exceptional outcomes for clients.

At the same time, you will lead complex transformation programmes for some of New Zealand s leading organisations. You ll work closely with senior executives to turn ambitious ideas into real business outcomes, helping clients modernise how they work, deliver value faster, and unlock the potential of emerging technologies, including AI.

If you enjoy bringing clarity to complexity, building high-performing teams, and working with clients to solve challenging business problems, this role offers the opportunity to make a tangible impact from day one.

Key Responsibilities In The Role

Grow and Shape Our Presence in New Zealand

• Help establish and grow Publicis Sapient s footprint in the New Zealand market.
• Build trusted relationships with clients, partners, and the wider business community.
• Represent our values and strengthen our reputation for innovation, collaboration, and delivery excellence.

Partner with Clients to Drive Transformation

• Act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, helping shape transformation strategies and long-term business outcomes.
• Work with clients to design and deliver digital, data, and AI enabled solutions that solve real business challenges.
• Bring together expertise from across our global network to create integrated and impactful client experiences.

Lead Complex Programmes and Delivery Teams

• Lead large-scale digital and technology transformation programmes from strategy through to successful delivery.
• Establish effective governance, delivery approaches, and ways of working that create alignment and momentum.
• Guide organisations through Agile transformation journeys, helping teams embrace modern delivery practices and continuously improve.
• Create environments where people feel empowered to contribute, collaborate, and perform at their best.
• Oversee programme performance, financials, risks, and stakeholder engagement to ensure successful outcomes.

Experience & Skills

We recognize that talent comes from many backgrounds. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t check every single box below:

• Extensive experience leading large-scale digital, business, or technology transformation programmes in consulting, professional services, or complex enterprise environments.
• A strong track record delivering outcomes across distributed, multidisciplinary teams.
• Deep practical knowledge of Agile delivery approaches, including frameworks such as SAFe, Scrum, Kanban, and Lean.
• Experience helping organisations adopt new ways of working and improve delivery capability at scale.
• Strong commercial acumen, including programme budgeting, forecasting, financial management, and risk oversight.
• The ability to navigate ambiguity, simplify complexity, and create momentum in fast-moving environments.
• Outstanding stakeholder management skills, with experience influencing senior executives and business leaders.
• Experience coaching and developing delivery leaders, Scrum Masters, Product Owners, and cross-functional teams.
• A consulting mindset, with experience contributing to proposals, shaping client solutions, and supporting business growth opportunities.
• Proven success managing multiple strategic initiatives while maintaining a focus on quality and outcomes.
• Strong facilitation, negotiation, problem-solving, and relationship-building skills.
• Working knowledge of delivery and portfolio management tools such as Jira, Rally, or similar platforms.
• Experience managing significant delivery portfolios, including programmes exceeding $10M in value.
• Relevant qualifications, certifications, or equivalent professional experience in Agile delivery, programme management, or transformation leadership.

Before you apply

We re excited to hear from talented candidates across New Zealand. To be eligible for this role, you ll need to have full working rights in New Zealand, as we are unable to offer sponsorship now.

Additional Information

As part of our dedication to an inclusive and diverse workforce, Publicis Sapient is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity without regard for race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender, protected veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at [e-mail]

Company Description

Publicis Sapient is a digital transformation partner helping established organizations get to their future, digitally enabled state, both in the way they work and the way they serve their customers. We help unlock value through a start-up mindset and modern methods, fusing strategy, consulting, and customer experience with agile engineering, problem-solving creativity. United by our core values and our purpose of helping people thrive in the brave pursuit of next, our 20,000+ people in 53 offices around the world combine experience across technology, data sciences, consulting, and customer obsession to accelerate our clients’ businesses through designing the products and services their customers truly value.