Principal Contract Engineer

Waikato Waters Ltd; Waikato; Híbrido; NZD 180.000 - 240.000; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

Competitive remuneration

Health insurance

Hybrid working

Descripción de la vacante

Waikato Waters Ltd. is seeking an experienced engineering leader to drive contract governance and delivery of capital infrastructure across the Waikato region.

Reporting to the Project Delivery Manager, you’ll oversee strategic leadership, technical governance and commercial oversight, acting as Engineer to Contract and Independent Certifier to ensure compliant, well-governed delivery. Join a publicly owned utility delivering essential water and wastewater services.

Formación

• Bachelor degree in civil/mechanical/environmental engineering or related field.
• 20+ years’ infrastructure delivery, construction management and contract administration.
• Experience administering NZS391x suite and acting as Engineer to Contract on major projects.
• Strong commercial, contractual and risk management expertise.
• Proven leadership and people management experience.
• Chartered engineer status and membership in relevant bodies are desirable.
• Formal training in contract/project management and related bodies is desirable.

Responsabilidades

• Lead contract administration across the capital works portfolio with NZS391x standards.
• Act as Engineer to Contract and Independent Certifier and oversee Representatives and Engineers.
• Provide technical assurance through design, construction and commissioning for asset quality and safety.
• Lead complex variations, extensions of time, claims and commercial negotiations.
• Lead and mentor the Contracts Team and embed consistent governance practices.
• Build relationships with contractors, consultants, project teams and regulators.
• Strengthen compliance, contract health checks, and improve templates and controls.
• Champion health and safety in contract documentation and delivery.

Conocimientos

Engineering leadership

Contract governance

Commercial judgement

Stakeholder relationships

Educación

Bachelor’s degree in civil/mechanical/environmental engineering or related discipline

Chartered engineer status or equivalent (desirable)

Descripción del empleo

Bring your engineering leadership to Waikato Waters. Shape essential water infrastructure and deliver lasting value for communities across the Waikato

06th November, 2026

He kōrero mō mātou | About us
Your water. Your community. Waikato Waters is a publicly owned water utility delivering water and wastewater services across the Waikato region. We have been operational since 1 July 2026, and our purpose is clear: deliver for our communities today and for generations to come.
Te tūranga | The role
Help deliver infrastructure that our communities can rely on. Reporting to the Project Delivery Manager, you’ll provide strategic leadership, technical governance and commercial oversight across our capital infrastructure portfolio. As our lead Engineer to Contract and Independent Certifier, you’ll strengthen contract administration, quality assurance and certification practices - supporting safe, compliant delivery that meets contractual, budget, programme and operational expectations.
Ō mahi | What you’ll do

• Lead contract administration across the capital works portfolio, establishing consistent governance standards, procedures and guidance for the NZS391x suite and other construction contracts.
• Act as Engineer to Contract and/or Independent Certifier, overseeing delegated Engineer’s Representatives and Contract Engineers and ensuring fair, independent certification and contractual decisions.
• Provide technical assurance through contractor-level design, construction and commissioning, helping ensure completed assets meet quality, safety, operability and maintainability requirements.
• Lead complex variations, extensions of time, claims, disputes and commercial negotiations, proactively managing risks and reporting on portfolio-wide contract performance.
• Lead and mentor the Contracts Team, building capability in contract administration and construction governance and embedding consistent ways of working.
• Build effective relationships with contractors, consultants, project teams and regulators, representing Waikato Waters in contractual discussions and governance forums.
• Strengthen compliance, undertake contract health checks and improve systems, templates and controls, turning lessons learned into better delivery practices.
• Champion health and safety in contract documentation and project delivery, working with contract engineers and the health and safety team to monitor contractor performance, critical risks and corrective actions.

06th November, 2026

He kōrero mō mātou | About us
Your water. Your community. Waikato Waters is a publicly owned water utility delivering water and wastewater services across the Waikato region. We have been operational since 1 July 2026, and our purpose is clear: deliver for our communities today and for generations to come.
Te tūranga | The role
Help deliver infrastructure that our communities can rely on. Reporting to the Project Delivery Manager, you’ll provide strategic leadership, technical governance and commercial oversight across our capital infrastructure portfolio. As our lead Engineer to Contract and Independent Certifier, you’ll strengthen contract administration, quality assurance and certification practices - supporting safe, compliant delivery that meets contractual, budget, programme and operational expectations.
Ō mahi | What you’ll do

• Lead contract administration across the capital works portfolio, establishing consistent governance standards, procedures and guidance for the NZS391x suite and other construction contracts.
• Act as Engineer to Contract and/or Independent Certifier, overseeing delegated Engineer’s Representatives and Contract Engineers and ensuring fair, independent certification and contractual decisions.
• Provide technical assurance through contractor-level design, construction and commissioning, helping ensure completed assets meet quality, safety, operability and maintainability requirements.
• Lead complex variations, extensions of time, claims, disputes and commercial negotiations, proactively managing risks and reporting on portfolio-wide contract performance.
• Lead and mentor the Contracts Team, building capability in contract administration and construction governance and embedding consistent ways of working.
• Build effective relationships with contractors, consultants, project teams and regulators, representing Waikato Waters in contractual discussions and governance forums.
• Strengthen compliance, undertake contract health checks and improve systems, templates and controls, turning lessons learned into better delivery practices.
• Champion health and safety in contract documentation and project delivery, working with contract engineers and the health and safety team to monitor contractor performance, critical risks and corrective actions.

Ō pūkenga | What you’ll bring
You’re an experienced engineering leader who combines contractual expertise with sound commercial judgement and a collaborative approach. You take ownership, act with integrity and provide clear, evidence-based advice, while maintaining the independence and fairness that effective contract governance demands.

• A bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, mechanical engineering, environmental engineering or a related discipline.
• A minimum of 20 years’ experience in infrastructure delivery, construction management and contract administration.
• Extensive experience administering the NZS391x suite and similar construction contracts, including acting as Engineer to Contract on major infrastructure projects.
• Strong commercial, contractual and risk management expertise, with the ability to navigate complex negotiations and resolve disputes.
• Proven leadership and people management experience, with the ability to mentor others and build trusted stakeholder relationships.
• Relevant chartership qualifications and experience in three waters, local government or utility infrastructure are desirable.
• Formal training in contract management, project management or dispute resolution, and membership of Engineering New Zealand, the Society of Construction Contract Practitioners or an equivalent body, are also desirable.

He aha ai mātou | Why join us
Join Waikato Waters as we strengthen our services and shape our next chapter. The work is real, the impact is visible, and you’ll help shape the contract governance and delivery practices behind infrastructure our communities depend on.

• We offer competitive remuneration, health insurance, and hybrid working where the role allows.