Operations Manager

Higgins; Hawke's Bay; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Permanent role

Training & development

Collaborative culture

Fuel discounts

KiwiSaver match

Family benefits

Job summary

Higgins is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead maintenance operations in Hawke's Bay. You will oversee cyclic, routine and reactive work, manage teams and subcontractors, and drive safety, quality and performance to meet contractual and commercial goals.

You will report to the Contract Manager and help deliver winter readiness, emergency response, and planned works while fostering strong client and supplier relationships across New Zealand.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience leading complex maintenance, roads, infrastructure or construction operations.
• Proven track record managing operational teams and subcontractors.
• Strong understanding of maintenance delivery, programme management and performance.
• Experience delivering cyclic, reactive, winter and emergency maintenance works.
• Proficiency with AWM/RAMM and client systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of cyclic, routine, programmed and reactive maintenance across the network.
• Manage operational teams, subcontractors and resources to deliver safely and to spec.
• Provide accurate operational, cost and progress reporting to support performance.
• Drive readiness for winter maintenance, emergency response and planned works.
• Build strong relationships with clients, suppliers and stakeholders.
• Lead incident response and manage operational risks.
• Develop high-performing teams through coaching and performance management.

Skills

Maintenance leadership

Team management

Program management

Maintenance delivery

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

Commercial acumen

Education

BE / NZCE preferred

Tools

AWM RAMM

Job description

Description

Higgins is looking for an experienced Operations Manager to join our Hawke's Bay team and lead the delivery of maintenance operations across the network. Reporting to the Contract Manager, you'll be responsible for the day-to-day management of cyclic, reactive, winter and emergency maintenance activities, ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality outcomes while supporting the successful delivery of contractual and commercial objectives.

What You'll Be Doing

• Leading the delivery of cyclic, routine, programmed and reactive maintenance activities across the network.
• Managing operational teams, subcontractors, and resources to ensure work is delivered safely, efficiently and to specification.
• Providing accurate operational, cost and progress reporting to support contract performance and decision-making.
• Driving operational readiness for winter maintenance, emergency response, and planned works programmes.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with clients, suppliers, subcontractors, and key stakeholders.
• Leading incident response activities and managing operational risks across the network.
• Developing high-performing teams through coaching, mentoring, and performance management.
• Promoting a strong health, safety, environmental and quality culture across the business.
• Work with operational team to compile monthly and 3-monthly programme in AWM

What You'll Bring

• 5+ years' experience managing complex maintenance, roading, infrastructure or construction operations.
• Proven leadership experience managing operational teams and subcontractors.
• Strong understanding of maintenance delivery, programme management, and operational performance.
• Experience delivering cyclic, reactive, winter and emergency maintenance works.
• Proficiency with AWM/RAMM and other client systems.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and organisational skills.
• Strong commercial acumen and problem-solving ability.
• Engineering qualification (BE, NZCE or similar) preferred.

Come join the Green Team

• Competitive salary package
• Permanent, full-time opportunity
• Ongoing training and development
• Supportive and collaborative team culture
• Z fuel discounts, including a monthly free pie and coffee
• KiwiSaver employer contribution matched up to 4%
• Great benefits for you and your whānau

Higgins is a leading construction and infrastructure company, proudly building and maintaining roads, bridges, and civil projects that connect communities across New Zealand. With a strong focus on safety, quality, and sustainability, we deliver projects that make a real difference. At Higgins, you’ll join a team that values collaboration, innovation, and career growth - because we believe our people are the foundation of our success.

Higgins is committed to a drug-free workplace. The successful applicant will be required to pass pre-employment drug and alcohol testing along with a health check - you’ll need to be fit for work!

We're with you on the road ahead

Ko tatou kei a koe i te huarahi kei mua

We are enriched by many nationalities, languages, religions, customs, and lifestyles. We are proud of our diversity and see it as one of the things that make us better together.