Practice Lead: Transport Project Delivery

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

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