Project Manager - Queenstown

Downer; Queenstown; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive remuneration

Career pathways

Health & wellbeing benefits

Retail discounts

Meaningful infrastructure projects

Job summary

Downer in Queenstown leads the delivery of critical water infrastructure, renewals, and treatment projects. You will guide ECI activities, shape delivery plans, and build trusted relationships with customers and partners to support local communities and regional growth.

The role emphasizes safety leadership, forecast accuracy, and efficient project execution within a collaborative team at the Queenstown site.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or related discipline.
• Project management experience within water infrastructure, civil construction, or utilities.
• Experience delivering water renewals, civil infrastructure, or water and wastewater treatment projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of water infrastructure projects across the Queenstown region.
• Build strong relationships with customers, stakeholders, subcontractors, and suppliers.
• Provide ECI leadership, including delivery planning, risk identification, estimating, and constructability advice.
• Manage project budgets, forecasts, programmes, claims, and reporting.
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and to quality standards.
• Champion continuous improvement and Downer's Zero Harm culture.

Skills

Water project management

ECI experience

Stakeholder management

Risk forecasting

Delivery planning

Safety leadership

Travel flexibility

Education

Civil Engineering / related discipline

Job description

Te kōwhiringa | The Opportunity

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Project Manager to join our Energy & Utilities Water team based in Queenstown.
You'll lead the delivery of water infrastructure projects across renewals, water and wastewater treatment plants, and associated civil works. From Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) through to project delivery, you'll help shape solutions, build trusted customer relationships, and deliver infrastructure that supports local communities and future growth.

Ngā pūkenga matua | About You

You’ll bring:

• A tertiary qualification in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a related discipline
• Project Management experience within water infrastructure, civil construction, or a related utilities environment
• Experience delivering water renewals, civil infrastructure, or water and wastewater treatment projects
• Strong commercial acumen, including forecasting, budgeting, claims management, and reporting
• Experience with project scoping, estimating, and delivery planning
• ECI experience, including constructability input and value engineering, will be highly regarded
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
• A commitment to Zero Harm and safety leadership
• Flexibility to undertake occasional regional travel as required.

Te mahi | What You'll Do

• Lead the successful delivery of water infrastructure projects across the Queenstown region
• Build strong relationships with customers, stakeholders, subcontractors, and suppliers
• Identify and support future water infrastructure opportunities
• Provide ECI leadership, including delivery planning, risk identification, estimating, and constructability advice
• Manage project budgets, forecasts, programmes, claims, and reporting
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and to quality standards
• Champion continuous improvement and Downer's Zero Harm culture.

Ngā Painga o te Mahi ki Downer | Benefits of Working with Downer

• Competitive remuneration with a significant ASX-listed company
• Structured career pathways across our Energy & Utilities business
• Health and wellbeing benefits, including Employee Assistance Program support
• Retail discounts with major brands including Samsung, Dell, Specsavers, The Good Guys and ANZ
• The opportunity to work on essential infrastructure projects that make a real difference to communities across Aotearoa.

Te wāhi mahi | Why Queenstown?

Imagine finishing work surrounded by mountains, lakes, and some of New Zealand's most spectacular landscapes.
Queenstown offers a lifestyle that's hard to beat, with world-class skiing, mountain biking, hiking, water sports, and outdoor adventures right on your doorstep. Combined with a vibrant food and wine scene and a strong sense of community, it's the perfect place to grow your career while making the most of life outside of work.

Ko wai mātou | Our Organisation

Our Energy & Utilities business connects communities to the essential infrastructure they rely on every day.
Across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, we design, build, operate, and maintain critical networks across the water, electricity, telecommunications, industrial, and power generation sectors. We’re proud to deliver the expertise, innovation, and capability that keep communities connected.