Lead Builder | Scenic Hotel Group

Scenic Hotel Group; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Scenic Hotel Group seeks an experienced Lead Builder to run on-site carpentry and general building work across commercial, hospitality and residential projects. You’ll stay hands-on, lead from the front, mentor apprentices and coordinate subcontractors, while ensuring safety and quality even in occupied environments.

You’ll read architectural and services drawings, solve sequencing issues early, and travel across New Zealand with occasional extended periods away from Christchurch.

Qualifications

• NZ carpentry trade qualification or equivalent
• Licensed Building Practitioner status where required
• Strong knowledge of NZ Building Code and construction standards
• Broad construction experience across commercial, hospitality and/or residential work
• Experience as Lead Builder, Foreperson or senior on-site tradesperson
• Excellent practical building skills and strong workmanship standards
• Confidence reading construction drawings
• Ability to sequence work and coordinate trades on site
• Willingness to travel and spend periods away from Christchurch

Responsibilities

• Work on carpentry and general building tasks on site
• Lead from the front and set a high standard of workmanship
• Organise daily site activities to keep work fronts productive
• Coordinate builders, apprentices, subcontractors and suppliers
• Read plans and identify buildability and sequencing issues
• Check workmanship and address defects early
• Monitor materials and site dependencies
• Find practical construction solutions while maintaining safety and quality
• Support handover and defect rectification
• Coach apprentices and less-experienced builders
• Work carefully within operating hotels and occupied environments

Skills

Lead from front

Carpentry expertise

Reading drawings

Problem solving on site

Team coordination

Education

NZ carpentry trade qualification

Licensed Building Practitioner status

Job description

We’re looking for an experienced Lead Builder who knows how to run a productive day on site, solve problems as they arise and deliver workmanship they’re proud to put their name to.

This is an important distinction: this is not a Project Manager or office-based construction role.

You’ll be a senior member of the building team, but you’ll remain hands‑on and on the tools. We want someone who can lead from the front, work alongside the team and use their experience to keep the job moving safely, efficiently and to a high standard.

The role is based from our Christchurch Support Office, with regular travel across New Zealand and, occasionally, the Pacific Islands. Some projects may require extended periods away from Christchurch.

About The Role

As Lead Builder, you’ll bring strong trade experience and practical judgement to a varied programme of commercial, hospitality and residential construction work.

You'll undertake carpentry and general building work yourself while helping coordinate builders, apprentices, subcontractors and suppliers. You'll read and work from architectural, structural and services drawings, identify buildability or sequencing issues early, and help find practical solutions that keep work moving.

In simple terms, we’re looking for someone who can see what needs doing, roll up their sleeves and get it done.

What You'll Be Doing

• Working on the tools, carrying out carpentry and general building work
• Leading from the front and setting a strong standard of workmanship
• Helping organise daily site activities and keeping work fronts productive
• Coordinating builders, apprentices, subcontractors and suppliers
• Reading plans and identifying practical buildability and sequencing issues
• Checking workmanship and dealing with defects early
• Monitoring materials, upcoming work and site dependencies
• Finding practical construction solutions without compromising safety, compliance or quality
• Supporting handover and defect rectification
• Coaching apprentices and less‑experienced builders
• Working carefully within operating hotels and other occupied environments.

What We're Looking For

We're interested in an experienced tradesperson first and foremost.

You'll be someone who has accumulated plenty of knowledge over the years but still enjoys actually building. You're comfortable giving direction when needed, but equally comfortable picking up the tools and working alongside everyone else.

Ideally, You'll Bring

• A New Zealand carpentry trade qualification or equivalent recognised qualification
• Current Licensed Building Practitioner status where required
• Strong knowledge of the New Zealand Building Code and relevant construction standards
• Broad construction experience across commercial, hospitality and/or residential work
• Experience as a Lead Builder, Foreperson or senior on‑site tradesperson
• Excellent practical building skills and strong workmanship standards
• Confidence reading construction drawings
• The ability to sequence work, coordinate trades and solve problems practically on site
• A current's drivers licence
• The flexibility to travel and spend periods away from Christchurch when projects require it.

Around 10+ years of relevant building experience would be advantageous, as would experience mentoring apprentices and working within occupied or customer-facing environments.

Above all, we're looking for someone practical, calm, accountable and solutions-focused who takes pride in doing good work.

Why Scenic Hotel Group?

Scenic Hotel Group is New Zealand's is one of the largest locally owned and operated hospitality group, with a strong connection to the regions in which we operate.

You'll also get the opportunity to work on something a little different from the same subdivision or commercial development every day. The role works across commercial, hospitality and residential projects and across different locations.

Our Approach Is Simple

We Do It Now. We Do It Right. We Do It Together. We Do It Sustainably.

If that sounds like the way you work, we'd like to hear from you.