Practice Lead - Project Management

New Zealand Government; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

NZTA | Waka Kotahi is seeking a senior leader to oversee the project management practice across a nationally significant transport portfolio in Auckland. You will lead people, embed standards, and sponsor key projects to deliver outcomes.

You will coach project managers, strengthen governance, and ensure delivery confidence across multiple big infrastructure investments, with some travel and a minimum three days in the office each week.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading project management teams within complex infrastructure environments.
• Strong project sponsorship, governance and assurance capability.
• Demonstrated success building capability and developing high-performing teams.
• Deep knowledge of project delivery disciplines including risk, schedule, cost and change management.
• Experience working within complex stakeholder and commercial environments.
• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to influence at senior levels.

Responsibilities

• Build capability and coach project managers across the portfolio.
• Embed consistent project management standards and governance.
• Provide strategic oversight and decision-making as Project Sponsor.
• Strengthen assurance and delivery outcomes across the portfolio.
• Travel may be required; lead collaboration across teams and stakeholders.

Skills

Project leadership

Governance

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Schedule management

Cost management

Change management

Job description

Permanent Full Time Auckland

Lead the profession. Lift delivery excellence. Deliver for New Zealand. We're delivering some of New Zealand's most significant transport infrastructure investments. To do that, we need exceptional leaders who can build capability, strengthen delivery confidence, and drive excellence across our project management profession.

The opportunity

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity This is a unique opportunity to combine people leadership, professional practice leadership, and project sponsorship. You'll be responsible for building capability, coaching and mentoring project managers, embedding consistent project management standards, and strengthening governance, assurance, and delivery outcomes across the portfolio. You'll also act as Project Sponsor for assigned projects, providing strategic oversight and decision-making within delegated authority. Travel may be required to connect with teams and stakeholders across the motu, and you'll work a minimum of three days each week from the office to support collaboration, coaching and team leadership.

About you

You'll bring:

• Significant experience leading project management teams within complex infrastructure environments


• Strong project sponsorship, governance and assurance capability


• Demonstrated success building capability and developing high-performing teams


• Deep knowledge of project delivery disciplines including risk, schedule, cost and change management


• Experience working within complex stakeholder and commercial environments


• A collaborative leadership style, coupled with the ability to provide constructive challenge and influence at senior levels.

Why join us?

Shape and lead project management practice across a nationally significant infrastructure portfolio Influence the successful delivery of transport investments that connect communities and drive economic growth Lead, coach and develop the next generation of project leaders

Applications close: Tuesday 22 September 2026

To be considered for this position you must have a legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

NZTA| Waka Kotahi is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We recognise the importance of diversity and inclusion and are committed to providing a working environment that embraces these values. Please let us know if you need any support or have any access requirements that will help you through the recruitment process.

Please note that we may begin shortlisting as we receive applications. We encourage early applications as we may withdraw the advertising at any time.

For further information, email: [e-mail]