Geotechnical Department Manager - North Island

Kirk Roberts Consulting; Auckland; On-site; NZD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

Work-life balance

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Kirk Roberts Consulting in Auckland is seeking an experienced Geotechnical professional to lead the Auckland Geotechnical department and provide discipline leadership across Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga. You will blend technical delivery with business strategy, build client relationships and grow our geotechnical capability across the North Island.

The role requires a BE (Civil) in Geotechnical Engineering, CPEng accreditation, and at least 10 years' NZ geotechnical experience with leadership

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) specialising in Geotechnical Engineering.
• Minimum 10 years' geotechnical engineering experience, with strong leadership and management, including at least 5 years working in New Zealand.
• CPEng accreditation is essential.
• Strong leadership and management experience.
• Experience leading geotechnical teams across multiple offices and districts in NZ.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Auckland Geotechnical team, managing resources, workload and performance.
• Build client relationships, identify opportunities, develop project pipeline and contribute to winning work.
• Strategic and commercial management including budgeting, forecasting and strategic planning for the Auckland department and wider North Island.
• Provide senior technical input on complex geotechnical projects, including investigations, design and reporting.
• Coordinate across Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga to strengthen capability and delivery.

Skills

Leadership experience

Client relationship development

Project management

Geotechnical investigations

Budgeting and financial management

Education

Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) – Geotechnical

CPEng accreditation

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Geotechnical professional to join our Auckland team in a key leadership role. Combining responsibility for leading our Auckland Geotechnical department with wider discipline leadership across Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga, this is an opportunity to make a real impact on the growth and direction of our Geotechnical services across the North Island.

You'll bring strong technical experience, commercial awareness and the ability to build relationships, lead people and grow a successful consulting team. While providing technical leadership and remaining involved in project delivery, you'll also play an important role in shaping business strategy, developing client relationships and strengthening our Geotechnical capability across the region.

About the role

• Lead and develop the Auckland Geotechnical team, managing resources, workload and performance while identifying opportunities to grow our capability and services across the North Island.
• Build strong client relationships, identify new opportunities, develop the project pipeline and contribute to winning work and growing our market presence.
• Strategic and commercial management, contributing to annual budgeting, forecasting and strategic planning for the Auckland department and wider North Island discipline, supporting sustainable commercial performance.
• Provide senior technical input on complex geotechnical projects, including investigations, assessments, design and reporting, maintaining strong professional and technical standards.
• Work across Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga to strengthen technical capability, resource planning, consistency of delivery and the development of our Geotechnical services across the Golden Triangle.

We offer

A supportive and collaborative consultancy, a key leadership position and an opportunity to shape our Geotechnical services, competitive remuneration, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth and development. By joining our team, you will be part of a culture that values innovation, excellence, and work-life balance.

About you

You will be a technically capable and commercially minded geotechnical professional who enjoys leading people, developing client relationships, and delivering high-quality engineering solutions.

• Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) or equivalent qualification, specialising in Geotechnical Engineering
• Minimum 10 years' geotechnical engineering experience, with strong leadership and management, including at least 5 years working in New Zealand
• CPEng accreditation is essential
• Strong technical expertise in geotechnical investigations, foundation design (shallow and deep), ground improvements, and New Zealand specific geotechnical solutions
• Experience leading people, managing workloads, developing team capability and fostering a high-performance culture.
• Strong commercial awareness, including project financial management, budgeting and resource planning.
• Confidence developing client relationships, identifying opportunities and contributing to business development.
• The ability to work collaboratively with other disciplines and build relationships across multiple offices.
• Sound judgement, initiative and the ability to balance technical, operational and commercial priorities.

About us

Kirk Roberts Consulting is a multi-disciplinary consultancy providing Structural, Geotechnical, Fire, Civil and Environmental Engineering Services, plus Architecture and Engineering Software to a range of clients across New Zealand, from our offices in Christchurch, Queenstown, Auckland, Hamilton, and Tauranga.

At Kirk Roberts the heart of our business is innovation and finding a better way is why we exist. Our company was founded to challenge the norm and push boundaries, so we can bring our clients advanced engineering, project management and software solutions that drive efficiencies.