Project Manager – HVDC Upgrade Programme

Transpower; Wellington; Hybrid; NZD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Transpower New Zealand Limited in Wellington is seeking an accomplished Project Manager to lead a multi-year HVDC Link upgrade programme. You will manage complex, multi-workstream projects with specialist suppliers and high technical and commercial dependencies.

Reporting to the HVDC Programme Manager, you will define scope, manage schedule and budget, and ensure safe delivery through robust governance and quality controls.

Qualifications

• Substantial, multi-year project delivery experience.
• Experience with specialist suppliers and complex contracts.
• Ability to question technical experts and manage risks.
• Excellent written and verbal communication to influence senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead control system work packages from definition through development, delivery, commissioning and handover.
• Collaborate with internal specialists, external consultants, service providers and international suppliers.
• Keep interconnected work packages aligned, safe, commercially sound and on track for successful delivery.
• Navigate governance frameworks and surface issues early within custom commercial arrangements.
• Champion robust safety and quality expectations across service providers.

Skills

Delivery of large projects

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Commercial acumen

Education

Relevant tertiary qualification

PM qualification (PMP or PRINCE2)

Job description

• Deliver a multi-year system upgrade project of national significance
• Future-proof Transpower’s HVDC transmission link
• Be part of a once-in-a-generation programme powering NZ’s energy transition

Transpower’s purpose is to empower the energy future for New Zealand — a future that delivers a net-zero carbon economy and a reliable, secure electricity system.

Our context

New Zealand’s electricity system is changing rapidly as renewable generation grows. The High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Link is critical national infrastructure, connecting the North and South Island transmission grids and enabling renewable electricity to flow to where it is needed most.

The HVDC Link Upgrade Programme will upgrade the submarine power cables and control systems. This major programme of works will deliver long-term reliability for the transmission link, energy market resilience, and value for electricity users by 2032.

The opportunity – help deliver one of New Zealand’s most important electricity infrastructure programmes.

Reporting to the HVDC Programme Manager, you’ll lead substantial control system work packages from definition through development, delivery, commissioning, and handover. You’ll collaborate with internal specialists, external consultants, service providers, and major international suppliers to deliver projects critical to the success of the HVDC Link Upgrade Programme. You’ll keep interconnected work packages aligned, safe, commercially sound and on track for successful delivery.

You’ll work within established governance frameworks but will navigate custom commercial arrangements, ensuring issues are surfaced early and decisions are well supported. You’ll champion robust safety and quality expectations across service providers, helping create an environment where safe behaviours and high delivery standards are consistently practised.

This role will suit a Project Manager with deep large-project delivery experience who enjoys complex interfaces, commercial problem-solving and working with highly specialised subject matter experts.

What will you bring?

Proven experience delivering large projects with multiple workstreams, specialist suppliers and significant technical, commercial and operational dependencies. You’ll have held meaningful accountability for scope, schedule, budget, risk, quality, governance, and delivery – not simply coordinated activities within a wider programme.

Your CV and cover letter will demonstrate:

• Successful delivery of substantial, multi-year projects with interconnected workstreams and material delivery risk
• Experience managing specialist suppliers, contractors, or technology partners within complex contractual arrangements
• Demonstrated ability to work with and question technical experts, identify emerging delivery risks and create clarity amid ambiguity and change
• Clear written and verbal communication, with the ability to influence and align senior stakeholders, delivery partners and contractors
• A relevant tertiary qualification together with a project management qualification such as PMP or PRINCE2, underpinned by breadth of experience using disciplined project controls, reporting tools and financial management systems

Ideally, you have led projects in infrastructure, utilities, telecommunications, industrial delivery, technology, or an adjacent sector. We also welcome IT Project Managers who have delivered substantial, highly integrated projects involving specialist vendors, complex contracts, operational interfaces, commissioning, and significant business and technical dependencies.

Electricity-sector knowledge and exposure to industrial control systems are advantageous but not essential. We’re seeking demonstrated success delivering projects of comparable complexity, scale and consequence. Experienced HVDC control system experts within the team will provide the subject-matter depth; your role is to manage the project by creating clarity on the work, integrating multiple technical and commercial inputs, managing dependencies and risks, and maintaining control of scope, schedule, budget, quality and outcomes.

Join us at Transpower!

At Transpower, our people care deeply about each other and New Zealand. With over 28 ethnicities, there are diverse perspectives, knowledge, and experience, which is willingly shared. We work in the office or on site a minimum of three days each week to support collaboration, learning, delivery, and culture.

Role closes Wednesday 11 November; however, we may reach out for an informal chat before the close date. We are committed to appointing prior to Christmas, with a start date to suit your personal circumstances in 2027.

Existing eligibility to work in New Zealand is essential.

Interested in knowing more, and seeing our Wellington head office?Watch a brief video here

Transpower’s careers website is the official channel for advertised vacancies. Any correspondence from Transpowerregarding a role will be from [e-mail] or a similaremail address.

Please be wary of any invitation email or approach that doesn’t look quite right. If you are in any doubt as towhether any correspondence is from Transpower or one of our people, please contact us directly to confirm www.transpower.co.nz/contact-us