Head of Technical Capability

New Zealand Government; Wellington; On-site; NZD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff health & wellbeing benefits

Job summary

Transpower is seeking a Head of Technical Capability to lead the function responsible for capability systems, standards, tools and practices that help Grid Development deliver with confidence. This role oversees four teams across Asset & System Information, Cost Engineering, Digital Engineering, and Engineering Standards.

You will shape how technical decisions are governed, facilitate escalation pathways, and enable scalable delivery across the organisation, partnering with teams across

Qualifications

• Experience leading specialist technical, professional or centre-of-excellence functions.
• Ability to set direction and translate complexity into practical action.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and change leadership.
• Experience in asset-intensive infrastructure and electricity transmission is helpful.

Responsibilities

• Lead the capability systems, standards, tools and practices for Grid Development.
• Oversee four teams: Asset & System Information, Cost Engineering, Digital Engineering, Engineering Standards.
• Influence governance of technical decisions and enable high-quality outcomes.
• Drive clarity, escalation pathways and mature information and practices across functions.

Job description

Take ownership of a new leadership role in Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch

Lead standards, tools and governance that lift delivery quality at scale

Shape technical capability for New Zealand’s national grid

Our purpose

Our purpose is to empower the energy future for New Zealand, a future that delivers a net-zero carbon economy and a reliable, secure electricity system.

Our context

Our work programme is growing significantly, in scale and complexity. To meet this challenge, we are evolving how we work and building the infrastructure New Zealand will need for decades to come.

Grid Development shapes the future of New Zealand’s transmission network

It brings together network strategy, integrated planning, investment management, project engineering and technical expertise to meet customer, system and long-term energy needs.

The opportunity - a leadership role with broad influence

As Head of Technical Capability, you’ll lead the function responsible for the capability systems, standards, tools and practices that help Grid Development deliver with confidence. This includes technical and specialist capability that supports sound decisions and practical consistent outcomes.

• You’ll lead managers and four teams across Asset & System Information, Cost Engineering, Digital Engineering, and Engineering Standards.
• You’ll influence how technical decisions are governed and how consistent, high-quality outcomes are enabled.
• You’ll work with teams across Transpower to help specialist functions and technical professions scale and mature.
• You’ll bring clarity to complex issues, support effective escalation pathways and equip teams with the information, practices and tools they need to deliver at pace.

You’ll lead across Strategy and practice - set direction for professional practice and frameworks that support scalable delivery.

Technical governance - facilitate the Technical Engineering Authority process and support clear review, escalation and decision pathways.

Tools and information - mature digital engineering, cost engineering, asset and system information to improve usability, reliability and access.

Continuous improvement and innovation - use insights, performance information and industry good practice to drive value.

Leadership and operating model maturity - lead specialist teams, clarify accountabilities and strengthen collaboration across Grid Development and the wider enterprise.

Your leadership profile

We’re looking for a leader who builds capability through people, systems and practice. You may have led specialist, engineering, infrastructure, asset, technical, standards, governance or centre-of-excellence functions. What matters is your ability to set direction, influence across professions and translate complexity into practical action.

You’ll bring sound judgement, strong stakeholder engagement and change leadership. You’ll be comfortable building alignment where priorities and perspectives differ. Electricity transmission or asset-intensive infrastructure experience would be helpful, but we also welcome leaders who have lifted professional practice in complex environments.

In your CV, we’ll be looking for evidence of:

• Strategic understanding of capability development, professional practice leadership and organisational capability systems.
• Proven success leading specialist technical, professional or centre-of-excellence functions.
• Leading through complexity, ambiguity and competing organisational priorities.
• Building alignment across technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Using evidence and insights to improve maturity and decision‑making.
• Leading organisational change, capability uplift or practice transformation.
• Communicating complex technical issues clearly to diverse audiences.

Join us at Transpower

At Transpower, our people are connected by purpose: empowering New Zealand’s energy future. We bring diverse perspectives together to solve complex challenges, make considered decisions, and deliver work that matters for generations to come.

In this senior role, visibility, connection, and communication matter. You’ll help create clarity, bring people together, and lead through complexity as we deliver infrastructure outcomes of national significance.

We offer intellectually stimulating work, ongoing learning, and a range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits.

Learn more here: Staff benefits | Transpower

Role closes Monday 28 September

This role could be based in Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch. Other Transpower office locations may be considered for outstanding candidates.