IDC Contract Manager

Downer; New Zealand; On-site; NZD 140,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Downer is seeking an IDC Contract Manager to lead the Integrated Delivery Contract (IDC) based in New Plymouth, overseeing works across the Taranaki region. The role focuses on contract performance, safety, quality, and commercial outcomes, with accountability for a high-performing, collaborative team.

You will drive the IDM transition, provide visible leadership, and align with NZTA and Downer expectations to deliver sustainable project outcomes.

Qualifications

• Civil engineering degree or diploma or equivalent industry experience.
• Experience managing civil/road maintenance contracts, with focus on people, plant, supply chain, and financial performance.
• Strong understanding of IDM model, infrastructure asset management, road maintenance practices, and asset lifecycle management.
• Leadership in Zero Harm environments with knowledge of safety management systems and quality principles.
• Excellent communication, influencing and relationship-building with clients, teams, suppliers and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead overall delivery and day-to-day management of the IDC contract.
• Provide strategic leadership to lift performance and ensure delivery certainty across the programme.
• Embed IDM and ensure alignment with NZTA and Downer expectations.
• Engage with stakeholders at all levels and foster a high-performing, collaborative team culture.

Skills

Leadership

Commercial acumen

Contract management

Stakeholder engagement

Safety management systems

Asset management

Strategic thinking

Education

BE (Civil) or NZ Diploma in Engineering (Civil)

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Contract Manager to lead the Integrated Delivery Contract (IDC), based in New Plymouth and overseeing works across the Taranaki region.

This is a senior leadership role with full accountability for contract performance, people leadership, and delivery outcomes. You will provide strong, visible leadership to an integrated and collaborative team, lifting performance, embedding the Integrated Delivery Model (IDM), and ensuring outcomes aligned with NZTA and Downer expectations.

Te kōwhiringa | The Opportunity

As the IDC Contract Manager, you will be responsible for the overall delivery and day-to-day management of the contract, ensuring Downer meets all contractual, commercial, safety, quality, and performance obligations.

You will play a critical role in leading the transition to, and ongoing success of, the IDM model, creating a positive, engaged, and high-performing team culture that embraces collaboration, continuous improvement, and shared accountability.

Key success factors include:

• - Clearly articulate and embed the IDM model, enabling teams to adopt new ways of working and deliver effectively.
• - Implement NZTA’s Working Together outcomes through collaborative and transparent leadership.
• - Achieve contract performance, sustainability, safety, quality, and commercial outcomes.
• - Provide strategic leadership, influencing teams and stakeholders at all levels to lift performance and drive results.
• - Develop people and organisational culture, empowering teams to make decisions and succeed.
• - Make ethical, best-for-asset decisions that enhance NZTA and Downer’s reputations while providing delivery certainty through optimised programming.

This is a great opportunity to lead by example, influence at all levels, and work closely with NZTA and key stakeholders to provide delivery certainty, optimise programmes, and achieve sustainable outcomes.

Nga pūkenga matua | Important Skills

You are a confident and inclusive leader with strong commercial and operational acumen, capable of leading complex civil maintenance contracts and high-performing teams.

• - BE (Civil), NZ Diploma in Engineering (Civil), or other relevant tertiary qualification, or equivalent industry experience.
• - Proven experience managing civil engineering or road maintenance contracts, including people, plant, supply chain, and financial performance.
• - Strong understanding of the IDM model, infrastructure asset management, road maintenance practices, and asset lifecycle management.
• - Demonstrated leadership in Zero Harm environments, with sound knowledge of safety management systems and quality principles.
• - Highly developed communication, influencing, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage effectively with clients, teams, suppliers, and stakeholders.
• - Strategic, analytical thinker with strong planning and problem-solving capability, high emotional intelligence, and a commitment to Te Ao Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles.

We are committed to a safe working environment for everyone - all successful applicants will be required to undertake a pre-employment drug test, medical and a Ministry of Justice check prior to starting employment. If you need support with this requirement, please talk to our team.