Practice Lead - Roading Infrastructure

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi; Auckland; On-site; NZD 150,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is seeking a Practice Lead – Project Management to drive capability and governance across a national portfolio of transport infrastructure projects. You will lead a national team, embed best-practice standards, and provide sponsorship oversight for capital investments that benefit communities.

You will build capability, coach project managers, and strengthen governance and delivery outcomes across the portfolio while acting as Project Sponsor for assigned

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading project management teams on major transport or infrastructure work.
• Proven ability to sponsor projects, govern programs, and drive delivery outcomes.
• Strong capability in developing high-performing teams across portfolios.
• Deep knowledge of project delivery disciplines: risk, schedule, cost, change.
• Experience navigating complex stakeholder and commercial environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead a national team of project managers and embed best-practice frameworks.
• Provide sponsorship oversight for projects and ensure governance standards.
• Build capability through coaching, mentoring, and capability development.
• Strengthen governance, assurance, and delivery outcomes across the portfolio.
• Travel as needed and provide strategic oversight within delegated authority.

Skills

Project leadership

Governance & assurance

Stakeholder management

Team development

Risk, schedule, cost control

Collaborative leadership

Infrastructure delivery

Job description

• Permanent


• Full Time


• Auckland

Lead project management across New Zealand's largest transport infrastructure investments.

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

As Practice Lead – Project Management, you'll play a pivotal leadership role within Infrastructure Development & Delivery. You'll lead a national team of project management professionals, embed best-practice frameworks and standards, and provide sponsorship oversight for small projects/programmes delivering benefits for communities across New Zealand.

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.

Ko koe tēnei | About you

This role is best suited to professionals who have built their careers delivering major transport, civil, roading, rail, or other physical infrastructure projects. We are seeking someone with significant experience leading the delivery and governance of capital infrastructure investments rather than digital, IT, software, or business transformation programmes.

You'll Bring

• Significant experience leading project management teams responsible for the delivery of large-scale transport, roading, civil, rail, or other capital infrastructure projects


• 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


• Extensive practical experience in infrastructure project delivery, including construction, engineering, commercial, contractual, and stakeholder management environments.

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

You can view a copy of the position description here

Rā Katinga | Applications close:

22 September 2026

For further information, email: [e-mail]

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

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.