Digital Workforce Manager

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency; Auckland; Remote; NZD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Five weeks' annual leave

Income protection and critical illness

Flexible working arrangements

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is seeking a Digital Workforce Manager to lead governance, strategy and continuous improvement of digital resourcing and workforce operations. You will develop a strategic workforce plan, assess capability, identify gaps and build plans to meet future delivery needs, partnering with Digital Leadership and suppliers to ensure value and compliance.

You will lead the end-to-end contingent workforce lifecycle, manage contractor engagements, and drive data-informed

Qualifications

• Strong experience in workforce strategy development and implementation.
• Experience with workforce modelling and forecasting in a Digital context.
• Ability to assess capability, identify gaps and develop practical capability-building plans.
• Strong data and analytic capability with ability to translate insights into recommendations.
• Experience in workforce planning, resource management, recruitment, contractor management or workforce operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead workforce strategy and planning initiatives aligning talent supply with organisational priorities.
• Deliver workforce reporting, insights and analysis to support leadership decisions.
• Identify workforce trends, risks, and opportunities and recommend improvements.
• Partner with Chapter Leads to ensure internal capability meets current and future needs.
• Lead end-to-end contingent workforce lifecycle and governance of engagements.
• Collaborate with Talent Acquisition, Commercial, Procurement and suppliers to access specialised digital capability.
• Monitor engagement end dates, tenure, extensions, risks, costs and utilisation.
• Strengthen workforce processes, approvals and records, and support planning,budgeting and forecasting.

Job description

Lead Digital’s workforce management function Strengthen workforce governance, data and insights Build strong partnerships that enable delivery Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity

We’re looking for a Digital Workforce Manager to lead the management, governance and continuous improvement of NZTA’s Digital resourcing and workforce operations services. You’ll be responsible for developing and leading Digital’s strategic workforce plan, aligning workforce needs with current and future delivery priorities. Partnering with our Chapter Leads you’ll assess our current workforce capability, identify gaps and develop practical plans to strengthen the skills and capability we need for the future. You will build strategic relationships with the Digital Leadership, Corporate function as well as with our key vendors and recruitment providers. This is a hands‑on leadership role where you’ll provide a clear point of accountability for the end‑to‑end resourcing lifecycle, from sourcing support and onboarding through to extensions, renewals and offboarding for our contingent workforce. You’ll ensure Digital can access the specialist capability it needs while maintaining strong workforce controls, value for money, reliable workforce information and a positive engagement experience. Working across Digital and with key enabling functions, you’ll help leaders navigate workforce processes, maintain visibility of workforce movements and ensure activities are delivered consistently, efficiently and in line with organisational requirements. You’ll also lead and develop our Digital Workforce Advisor, building a high‑performing workforce operations service that supports Digital’s delivery outcomes.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead workforce strategy and planning initiatives, aligning talent supply, capability requirements, and resourcing models with organisational priorities and long‑term objectives
• Deliver meaningful resource workforce reporting, insights and analysis to support leadership decision‑making
• Identify workforce trends, risks and opportunities and recommend practical improvements
• Partner with our Chapter Leads to ensure our internal capability is fit for our current and future needs
• Lead the end‑to‑end contingent workforce lifecycle
• Oversee contractor and consultant engagements, ensuring strong governance, controls and compliance
• Partner with Talent Acquisition, Commercial, Procurement and suppliers to support access to specialised digital capability
• Monitor engagement end dates, tenure, extensions, workforce risks, costs and utilisation
• Strengthen workforce processes and ensure approvals and records are accurate and up to date.
• Support workforce planning, budgeting and forecasting through accurate, reliable information.

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

Ko koe tēnei | About you

You’ll be someone who enjoys bringing structure and clarity to a busy operational environment. You can keep multiple workforce activities moving at once, build trusted relationships and use good data and sound processes to help leaders make informed decisions. You’ll be an experienced workforce planning professional who can bring a strategic lens alongside strong operational delivery.

You’ll be comfortable assessing current and future workforce needs, using data and insight to identify capability gaps, and turning these into practical workforce strategies and plans. To be successful in this role, you will bring:

• Strong experience developing and implementing workforce strategies and plans
• Experience in workforce modelling and forecasting future workforce needs in a Digital context
• Experience assessing current workforce capability, identifying gaps and developing plans to build capability for the future
• Strong workforce data and analytical capability, with the ability to translate insights into practical recommendations
• Experience in workforce planning, resource management, recruitment, contractor management or workforce operations
• Strong commercial awareness, including workforce costs, utilisation, risk and value for money
• Experience managing contingent workforce processes and associated governance and compliance
• Strong relationship and influencing skills, with the ability to work across Digital, People, Finance, Commercial and Procurement functions.
• A practical approach to improving workforce processes, controls and the experience of leaders and workers.

You will demonstrate knowledge of, or a willingness to gain an understanding of Te Ao Māori and promote tikanga and Te Reo Māori.

You will also have knowledge of, or a willingness to gain an appreciation of Te Tiriti o Waitangi as it applies in the public sector.

Mō mātou | About us

Te Aukaha | Digital works to improve service offerings, support better decision‑making and make it easier for our people and others to interact with us. The group provides modern, fit‑for‑purpose digital, information and technology solutions, enabling systems and data for our people, partners and customers. Within Digital, the Chief Technology Office (CTO) is a strategic business enabler responsible for the digital skills, capabilities, platforms and leadership needed to support NZTA’s operational performance, regulatory responsibilities and future transport vision. The CTO helps ensure digital investments, platforms and services align with organisational priorities and deliver value across the business, while enabling efficient service delivery, improving customer experience, managing risk and supporting long‑term planning.

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

This is an opportunity to take ownership of a workforce function that has a direct impact on Digital’s ability to access the right capability and deliver effectively. You’ll work across Digital and alongside teams including Talent Acquisition, People and Safety, Finance, Commercial and Procurement, giving you broad organisational exposure and the opportunity to shape how workforce operations are delivered.

• Five weeks' annual leave
• Income protection and critical illness insurance for permanent employees
• Flexible working arrangements, where appropriate for the role
• Opportunities for professional development and continued learning

If you enjoy bringing people, process and data together to create a well‑run workforce service, we’d love to hear from you.

Rā Katinga | Applications close: 12 November 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.

Ko wai mātou | About us

At Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, it all starts with our people. The organisation's performance and success depends on the people who choose to make this a great place to work and make a difference for Aotearoa. Waka Kotahi has a strong future focus, understanding that new technologies and changing customer expectations mean the transport system we know today will not be the one we deliver in ten years time.