Principal Advisor Benefits and Continuous Improvement

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency; Wellington; On-site; NZD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Five weeks annual leave

Life insurance

Income protection

Critical Illness Insurance

Job summary

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is seeking a Principal Advisor Benefits and Continuous Improvement to lead enterprise benefits management and P3M practice across NZTA. You will drive continuous improvement, lift portfolio management maturity and influence realisation of benefits across portfolios, programmes and projects.

You’ll turn lessons learned into practical improvements, provide trusted advice across business groups, and foster Communities of Practice to embed best practice and consistent

Qualifications

• Strong experience developing, embedding and improving enterprise frameworks within a large or complex organisation.
• Deep understanding of portfolio, programme and project management, particularly in benefits management and realisation maturity.
• Experience establishing and improving benefits management across identification, measurement and realisation.
• Ability to use portfolio-level insights to identify opportunities, improve practice and lift maturity.
• Experience turning lessons learned and maturity assessments into practical continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong written communication and stakeholder engagement skills with enterprise perspective.
• A relevant tertiary qualification in business/management; MoP, MSP, PRINCE2, PMP certification would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and improvement of enterprise P3M and benefits management frameworks.
• Provide trusted advice across portfolios, programmes, projects and business groups.
• Coach and facilitate Communities of Practice and promote consistent application of good practice.
• Turn portfolio insights into practical improvements that lift capability and outcomes.

Skills

Portfolio management

Benefits management

Continuous improvement

Stakeholder engagement

Written communication

Enterprise frameworks

Professional certifications

Education

Tertiary qualification in business/management

Job description

Principal Advisor Benefits and Continuous ImprovementWe use cookies to give you the best online experience.# Current vacancies## Principal Advisor Benefits and Continuous ImprovementApply: Wellington: Full time: Posted Today: End Date: November 28, 2026 (13 days left to apply): JR-0000013831* Shape enterprise benefits management and P3M practice across NZTA* Drive continuous improvement and lift portfolio management maturity* Influence better benefits realisation and consistent ways of working* Permanent opportunity based in Wellington **Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity**This is an opportunity to take a leading role in strengthening how NZTA manages benefits, portfolio practices and continuous improvement across the organisation. As Principal Advisor Benefits and Continuous Improvement, you’ll act as an enterprise custodian for portfolio management practice and benefits discipline, helping ensure our frameworks, guidance and ways of working enable consistent and effective portfolio management across NZTA. You’ll lead the ongoing development and improvement of enterprise P3M and benefits management frameworks, using portfolio-level insights to identify trends, risks and opportunities and strengthen how benefits are identified, measured, managed and realised. You’ll turn lessons learned, feedback and maturity insights into practical improvements that lift capability and support better outcomes across the organisation. A key part of the role will be bringing people with you. You’ll work across portfolios, programmes, projects and business groups, providing trusted advice and coaching, facilitating Communities of Practice and influencing consistent application of good practice across NZTA. You will find out more about the role here **Position Description.** **Ō Pūmanawa | What we're looking for**Our ideal candidate will have some or all of the following (but don’t worry if you don’t tick every box):* Strong experience developing, embedding and improving enterprise frameworks, methodologies or management practices within a large or complex organisation.* Deep understanding of portfolio, programme and project management, particularly benefits management and benefits realisation maturity.* Demonstrated experience establishing and improving benefits management approaches across identification, categorisation, measurement and realisation.* The ability to use portfolio-level information and insights to identify opportunities, improve practice and lift organisational capability and maturity.* Experience turning lessons learned and maturity assessments into practical continuous improvement initiatives.* Strong written communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the credibility to influence across portfolios and business groups while maintaining an enterprise perspective.* A relevant tertiary qualification in business, management or a related discipline, or equivalent experience. MoP, MSP, PRINCE2, PMP or another relevant professional certification would be advantageous. **Mō mātou | About Us**The Enterprise Portfolio Management Office (EPMO) is NZTA’s enterprise hub for strategic portfolio planning, governance, performance insight and independent assurance. Working through a hub-and-spoke model with Portfolio Offices, the EPMO supports enterprise alignment, informed decision-making and consistent portfolio management practice. **He aha te take e uru ai koe ki a mātou? | So, why join us?**At NZTA, you'll be part of an organisation where the different backgrounds, perspectives and life experiences of our people are celebrated. We want you to feel like you belong here - valued, respected, and empowered to bring your whole self to work.From five weeks annual leave through to Life, Income Protection and Critical Illness Insurance for our permanent employees – you will be well looked after here. Our benefits are designed to support our people and provide a happy, healthy and high-performing environment. We take a principle-based approach to flexibility that enables our people and their People Leaders to discuss and agree the arrangements that work best for the individual, the team, and the organisation. And whether it’s on-the-job experience, signing up to a course, coaching opportunities, or secondments to other roles within NZTA – you can build a varied and successful career with us and grow your potential.**Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply**Please click apply to upload your CV and cover letter detailing your suitability for the role.**Rā Katinga | Applications close:**27 November 2026For further information, email: [e-mail] 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.