Pre-Construction Project Manager

Rwr Construction; Auckland; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Rwr Construction in Auckland CBD is seeking a Project Manager for interiors & construction. You will own projects from planning through design, engaging clients, designers, QS and construction teams to move $1m–$5m projects quickly.

We value commercial judgement, strong client communication and the ability to drive decisions while keeping budget and schedule aligned. This is an office-based role with close collaboration across design, commercial and construction teams.

Qualifications

• Commercial judgement and understanding of cost and programme impact.
• Experience leading client meetings and coordinating designers.
• Ability to drive projects from planning through delivery with focus on outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead client and project meetings to drive alignment.
• Manage programmes, milestones and stakeholders.
• Coordinate designers and consultants to keep on track.
• Keep design, budget and programme aligned throughout.
• Work with QS on budgets and cost planning.
• Manage consent, procurement and tendering processes.
• Identify risks early and resolve issues promptly.
• Collaborate with construction team to deliver projects.

Skills

Client management

Budget awareness

Programme management

Stakeholder coordination

Commercial judgement

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Project Manager Interiors & Construction | Auckland CBD

$120k–$140k base, depending on experience

We’re working with an established New Zealand interiors and construction business looking for a Project Manager to join their Auckland team.

This isn’t necessarily about finding someone who has done the exact role before. Our client is open to people from project management, architecture, technical design and other relevant professional project backgrounds.

What matters is that you’re confident with clients, commercially switched on, can drive a programme and know how to bring different people together to keep a project moving.

The Role

You’ll take ownership of projects through the planning and design stages, working closely with clients, designers, consultants, QS and construction teams.

Projects are typically in the $1m–$5m range and move relatively quickly, so you’ll need to be comfortable staying close to the detail and driving decisions.

You’ll be responsible for:

• Leading client and project meetings
• Managing programmes, milestones and stakeholders
• Coordinating designers and consultants
• Keeping design, budget and programme aligned
• Working alongside the QS on budgets and cost planning
• Managing consent, procurement and tendering
• Identifying risks and resolving issues early
• Working with the construction team to get projects ready for delivery

About You.

You’ll be polished and credible in front of clients, comfortable discussing budgets and project issues, and able to have the harder conversations when required.

You don’t need to be a QS or cost expert. There’s support around you for that. What you do need is commercial judgement, an understanding of how project decisions affect cost and programme, and the confidence to recognise when something doesn’t quite stack up.

We’re also looking for someone curious, adaptable and eager to learn. Our client has their own project methodology, so they want someone with good foundations who is still mouldable, rather than someone set in their ways.

You could currently be:

• A PM within a consultancy
• An APM ready for more ownership
• From an architectural or technical/documentation design background
• Working in another relevant interiors or construction project environment

Construction contracts knowledge is useful but not essential.

This is a predominantly office-based Auckland CBD role, working closely with the wider design, commercial and construction teams.

If you’re looking for broader project ownership and more exposure to the client and commercial side of projects, we’d be keen to talk.