Delivery Lead

University of Canterbury; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

5 weeks annual leave

Superannuation up to 6.75%

Flexible working

Supportive environment

UC facilities access

Discounts

Christchurch living

Job summary

University of Canterbury in Christchurch seeks a Delivery Lead to drive end-to-end IT initiatives across multiple teams, owning plans, milestones and benefits realization. You will lead delivery squads, manage risks and dependencies, and report progress to stakeholders to ensure value delivery for students and staff.

Requirements include 7 years of delivery experience, a NZQA Level 7 degree, PMP/PRINCE2/Scrum/SAFe certification, and strong budgeting and MS Office skills.

Qualifications

• 7 years delivery experience leading IT business change projects/programmes using agile or hybrid methodologies.
• Bachelor’s Degree (NZQA Level 7) and Project Management Certification (e.g. PMP, PRINCE2, Scrum, SAFe).
• Experience prioritises workloads, working under pressure to meet deadlines and manage various demands.
• Proven leadership skills, including ability to lead change and to lead in a team environment.
• Financial literacy to manage initiative budgets and forecasts with confidence.
• Intermediate to advanced MS Office skills and a true team-player mindset.
• An understanding of the Higher Education environment is an advantage.
• An alignment with our organisation's values and culture, promoting a positive and inclusive work environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop concept briefs, project proposals and business cases, maintaining clear plans, milestones, timelines and resourcing.
• Lead delivery teams, remove roadblocks, and manage risks, dependencies, scope and change.
• Track progress, provide governance reporting, and elevate issues early to keep initiatives on track.
• Drive benefits realisation to ensure projects deliver meaningful and lasting value.
• Build strong stakeholder relationships and communicate change clearly and effectively.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, approvals, vendor management, procurement and contract processes.
• Coach team members, support transitions to BAU, and lead post-implementation reviews.
• Champion Ngā Uara, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, inclusiveness, and health, safety and wellbeing.

Skills

Delivery leadership

Agile delivery

Stakeholder management

Budgeting

MS Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree NZQA Level 7

PM Certification (PMP/PRINCE2/Scrum/SAFe)

Tools

PMP/PRINCE2/SAFe/Scrum

Job description

Information Technology Full Time - Continuing

About University of Canterbury

The University of Canterbury was established in 1873. Based in Christchurch, on the South Island of New Zealand, the University of Canterbury (UC) has an impressive international profile in research, learning and advanced scholarship in...

Located in Ōtautahi | Christchurch, Aotearoa | New Zealand

• 5 weeks annual leave +5 days university holidays
• Generous employer contribution to superannuation (up to 6.75%)

Āu Mahi | What You Will Do

Bring your delivery craft to a university that's shaping the future. At UC, our Digital Services team powers the tools, platforms and change initiatives that support thousands of students and staff. We are looking for a results-driven Delivery Lead to take the reins on projects that matter, from major programmes to multiple concurrent product and platform enhancements and get them across the line with clarity, momentum and care.

As Delivery Lead, you will own the end-to-end delivery of assigned initiatives, working within and across dependent teams. Day to day, you will:

• Develop concept briefs, project proposals and business cases, maintaining clear plans, milestones, timelines and resourcing.
• Lead delivery teams, remove roadblocks, and manage risks, dependencies, scope and change.
• Track progress, provide governance reporting, and elevate issues early to keep initiatives on track.
• Drive benefits realisation to ensure projects deliver meaningful and lasting value.
• Build strong stakeholder relationships and communicate change clearly and effectively.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, approvals, vendor management, procurement and contract processes.
• Coach team members, support transitions to BAU, and lead post-implementation reviews.
• Champion Ngā Uara, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, inclusiveness, and health, safety and wellbeing.

You are an experienced, agile-minded delivery professional who blends structure with adaptability, and who genuinely enjoys getting the best out of a team. You will bring:

• 7 years delivery experience leading IT business change projects/programmes using agile or hybrid methodologies.
• A Bachelor's Degree (NZQA Level 7) and Project Management Certification (e.g. PMP, PRINCE2, Scrum, SAFe).
• Experience prioritises workloads, working under pressure to meet deadlines and manage various demands.
• Proven leadership skills, including ability to lead change and to lead in a team environment.
• Financial literacy to manage initiative budgets and forecasts with confidence.
• Intermediate to advanced MS Office skills and a true team-player mindset.
• An understanding of the Higher Education environment is an advantage.
• An alignment with our organisation's values and culture, promoting a positive and inclusive work environment.

Mahi Ngātahi | Who You Will Work With

Reporting to the Head of Delivery and Performance, you will work alongside delivery teams, Digital Directors, Product and Platform Managers, sponsors, and stakeholders across the UC whānau. Collaborating with Procurement, Legal, Finance, business teams, and external partners to deliver successful outcomes that support UC's strategic goals. Together, you'll foster a constructive, supportive, and collaborative culture that empowers people and enables great work.

Ngā Painga o UC | Why UC

At UC, being part of our team means more than just a job. We are committed to supporting our kaimahi | staff’s career and wellbeing with benefits designed to help our kaimahi grow and feel connected, supported and valued.

• 5 weeks annual leave +5 days university holidays
• generous employer contribution to superannuation (up to 6.75%)
• flexible working arrangements
• supportive working environment
• a wide range of retail discounts across shopping, entertainment and travel
• living in revitalised Ōtautahi | Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand
• a unique working environment in a beautiful campus with access to UC facilities such as UC RecCentre and Staff Club at discounted rates plus onsite cafés and eateries, and more.

The closing date for this position is: 27 September 2026 (midnight, NZ time)

Please note, applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews may take place before the close date.

You must have Aotearoa New Zealand or Australian citizenship/permanent residency to be considered for this role.

Please note, this is an onsite position.