Lead Engineer – Water Infrastructure Strategic Planning

GHD Group; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Equal Employment Opportunities

Job summary

GHD is seeking a Lead Engineer – Water Infrastructure Strategic Planning to shape future water systems across Aotearoa. This front-end role focuses on how infrastructure is planned, funded, and delivered amid climate pressure, reform, and community expectations.

You will partner with clients to influence investment decisions, build enduring partnerships, mentor the team, and collaborate across GHD's global network to deliver from strategy through to delivery.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in water infrastructure planning and strategy
• Proven ability to influence infrastructure planning and investment decisions
• Strong systems thinking—connecting technical, environmental, and economic considerations
• Experience working with senior stakeholders across councils, utilities, or government
• Deep understanding of the NZ water sector and reform environment
• Commercial mindset with ability to shape opportunities and client relationships
• Clear, confident communication and the ability to translate complexity into insight

Responsibilities

• Lead system-level infrastructure strategies across stormwater, water supply, and/or wastewater
• Influence early-stage decisions, including business cases, programmes, and investment priorities
• Build enduring client partnerships, positioning GHD as a partner of choice
• Collaborate across GHD’s global network to deliver integrated solutions from strategy through to delivery
• Contribute to market growth, identifying and shaping new opportunities in the water sector
• Provide leadership, mentoring others and lifting capability across the team

Skills

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder influence

Leadership

Communication

Job description

Lead Engineer – Water Infrastructure Strategic Planning

The importance of water to the health of our world can’t be overstated.

As the frequency and intensity of floods, droughts and storms increases, the water industry must continue to build resiliency and lead from the front.

Together with our clients, we are thinking and doing things differently to help pre-empt and prepare for what's next.

Be a part of this dynamic and committed team of diverse water specialists and drive change for your community.

You’ll be able to apply our powerful global network of skills and decades of experience to create positive water outcomes that respect nature and nurture communities.

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Lead Engineer – Water Infrastructure Strategic Planning to join our New Zealand and Pacific water team in Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington, with the flexibility to be based in other GHD offices.

The role

As a Lead Engineer – Water Infrastructure Strategic Planning, you will help shape the future of water systems across Aotearoa.

This is a front-end strategy role, focused on influencing how infrastructure is planned, funded, and delivered in the face of climate pressure, reform, and changing community expectations. You will partner with clients, shaping investment decisions and long-term outcomes, not just delivering plans.

You will

• Lead system-level infrastructure strategies across stormwater, water supply, and/or wastewater
• Influence early-stage decisions, including business cases, programmes, and investment priorities
• Build enduring client partnerships, positioning GHD as a partner of choice
• Collaborate across GHD’s global network to deliver integrated solutions from strategy through to delivery
• Contribute to market growth, identifying and shaping new opportunities in the water sector
• Provide leadership, mentoring others and lifting capability across the team

This role is ideal for someone looking to move upstream in the project delivery lifecycle - shaping the decisions that define infrastructure outcomes.

About You

You are a strategic thinker and advisor, trusted for your judgement, with the ability to connect technical insight to real-world outcomes.

You bring

• 15+ years’ experience in water infrastructure planning and strategy. Previous project delivery and implementation experience preferred
• Proven ability to influence infrastructure planning and investment decisions
• Strong systems thinking, connecting technical, environmental, and economic considerations
• Experience working with senior stakeholders across councils, utilities, or government
• A deep understanding of the NZ water sector and reform environment
• A commercial mindset, with the ability to shape opportunities and build client relationships
• Clear, confident communication and the ability to translate complexity into insight

You’re motivated by delivering long-term outcomes for communities and the environment and want to help position GHD as a leader in shaping the future of water infrastructure.

Visit our GHD New Zealand Water page to explore our work, projects, and opportunities in the water sector.

Our Hybrid Work Model

Be part of the dynamic culture! Our workplace thrives on a hybrid model, combining in-office collaboration and flexibility. Join us in office, three days a week to contribute, connect and excel in our vibrant environment.

Ki GHD, ka ākina te kaimahi e mātou kia tutuki ōna ake moemoeā. Nā te mea, ko te kaha o te tangata te tuarā o te pakihi. Nā reira, he hiahia nō mātou ki te whiwhi kaimahi nō ngā ahurea tuakiri maha, nō whenua rerekē, tane mai, wahine mai.

At GHD we encourage individual achievement and recognise the strength of a diverse workforce. GHD is committed to providing Equal Employment Opportunities and invites applications from people of all nationalities, genders, and cultural backgrounds.

We respectfully ask that no agency resumes be presented at this stage.

Come together and make a meaningful impact.

We bring our people together to create something bigger and solve some of the world's most complex problems. Come and experience the power of commitment and see strategy and ideas come to life when you join GHD.

Let's drive real change.

Our Pledge to You

At GHD, we don’t just believe in the power of commitment, we live and breathe it every day.

That’s why we pledge to empower our people to make a positive impact. Combining our deep technical expertise with the capabilities of our clients and partners, we respond to some of the most complex challenges facing our planet today.

See where your commitment could take you.

That’s the #PowerOfCommitment

Who We Are

GHD is a global professional services company that leads through engineering, architecture, and construction expertise. We are an employee-owned company with over 11,000 diverse and skilled individuals, across more than 200 offices spanning five continents.

The Power of Commitment is our brand promise. It’s what makes us different. We are bound to our stated vision and determination to address humanity’s most urgent needs: to make water, energy and urbanisation sustainable for generations to come.