Regional Manager - Vehicle Compliance

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi; Wellington; On-site; NZD 134,000 - 163,000; Full time

Job summary

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi seeks a Regional Manager Vehicle Compliance to provide strategic and operational leadership for regional vehicle regulation. You will guide a multidisciplinary team and ensure intelligence-led, risk-based regulatory activity aligned with national frameworks.

Based in Wellington or Palmerston North, the role requires travel and strong judgement, stakeholder engagement with industry, iwi and local government, and delivering defensible regulatory outcomes.

Qualifications

• Significant senior leadership experience in regulatory/public sector.
• Proven ability to lead high-performing teams and managers.
• Experience shaping national vehicle regulation priorities.
• Strong legislated risk-based decision making.
• Excellent stakeholder relationship skills.
• Knowledge of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in public sector.

Responsibilities

• Lead regional vehicle compliance team delivering safer outcomes.
• Influence high-profile regulatory interventions and decisions.
• Build credibility with industry, iwi, local government and partners.
• Balance education, engagement and enforcement to support compliant behavior.
• Travel to fulfil role requirements.

Skills

Senior leadership

Stakeholder management

Regulatory decision-making

Change leadership

Budget oversight

Communication skills

Te Tiriti / Te Ao Māori understanding

Education

Tertiary qualification

Job description

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity

The Regional Manager Vehicle Compliance is a critical leadership role within Te Rōpū Waeture Regulatory Services. They are responsible for leading regional vehicle compliance operations and delivering effective regulatory outcomes across the land transport system. The role provides both strategic and operational leadership, ensuring compliance activity is intelligence led, risk based, and aligned with national regulatory frameworks.

• Lead a team of regulatory professionals delivering safer outcomes for New Zealanders
• Influence complex, high-profile compliance decisions and regulatory interventions
• Build trusted relationships across industry, iwi, local government and partner agencies
• Permanent opportunity based in Wellington or Palmerston North

As a senior leader, you'll guide a multidisciplinary team, oversee complex regulatory decisions, and drive consistent, fair and defensible regulatory practice.

You'll balance education, engagement and enforcement approaches to support willing compliance while maintaining public confidence in New Zealand's transport system.

Success in this role requires strong judgement, leadership and relationship management skills. You'll work closely with industry representatives, iwi, partner agencies and local government, representing NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) as a credible and influential regulator while helping shape national compliance priorities and responses to emerging risks.

Travel will be required in the role from time to time.

You will find out more about the role here: Position Description.

We are seeking to appoint at a salary between $134,000 - $163,000 commensurate with skills and experience.

Ō Pūmanawa | What we're looking for

• Significant senior leadership experience within a regulatory, compliance, enforcement, or complex public sector environment.
• Proven success leading and developing high-performing teams, including managers and senior regulatory practitioners.
• Significant experience contributing to a Senior Leadership team to support strategic direction, delivery and consistency across Vehicle Regulation.
• Extensive experience applying legislation, regulatory frameworks, and risk-based approaches to complex decision-making.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build credibility and influence at senior levels across industry, government and iwi.
• Experience identifying and managing operational and regulatory risk, using evidence and intelligence to inform decisions.
• A track record of leading through change, embedding new ways of working, and driving continuous improvement.
• Strong financial and operational management experience, including budget oversight and resource prioritisation.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to navigate challenging situations, provide authoritative advice, and achieve positive outcomes.
• Relevant tertiary qualification and/or equivalent experience.
• Knowledge of, or willingness to develop an understanding of, Te Ao Māori, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and their application within the public sector.

Mō mātou | About Us

At NZTA, our purpose is simple: transport networks that deliver for people, places and New Zealand. As Aotearoa's land transport regulator, we play a vital role in keeping our transport system safe, efficient and operating in the public interest. Within Regulatory Services, we take a firm and fair approach to regulation, applying good regulatory practice while working collaboratively with communities, industries and partners to improve safety outcomes.

He aha te take e uru ai koe ki a mātou? | So, why join us?

Our people are proud to be part of creating a better New Zealand. We're searching for candidates who share our passion for people, communities, and the environment and who are ready to contribute their unique skills to shape a better future.

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 and offer a range of development opportunities to help you build a varied and rewarding career.

For further information, email: [e-mail]

To 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.

Applications close

4 October 2026