Head Of Technical Capability

CGR Services; Wellington; On-site; NZD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Transpower is seeking a senior leader to own the Head of Technical Capability role, guiding capability systems, standards and practices across NZ grid delivery. You will direct four teams—Asset & System Information, Cost Engineering, Digital Engineering, and Engineering Standards—and shape governance, information access, and scalable professional practice.

You will lead across Transpower and the wider enterprise, building alignment, increasing maturity and enabling fast, high-quality

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading specialist technical or centre‑of‑excellence functions.
• Ability to translate complexity into practical action across networks.
• Strong governance and escalation capabilities, with sound judgement.

Responsibilities

• Strategy and practice—set direction for professional practice and scalable frameworks.
• Technical governance—facilitate reviews and clear decision pathways.
• Tools and information—mature digital engineering and related domains.
• Continuous improvement and innovation—drive value from insights and industry good practice.
• Leadership and operating model maturity—lead specialist teams and align across grids.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic capability development

Complex problem solving

Job description

Role Summary

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

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.

• 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

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.

Candidate Profile

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

About 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.

Benefits

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

Location and Closing Date

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

Role closes Monday 28 September.