Senior Project Manager

New Zealand Government; Wellington; Hybrid; NZD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Wellbeing programme

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Tiaki Wai is offering a 12-month fixed-term role focused on planning and delivering a smart metering pilot in the Wellington region. You will report to the Programme Director, Water Metering, coordinating internal teams and external stakeholders to ensure a well-planned pilot with managed risks and dependencies.

The role requires proven project leadership, contract management experience, and strong budget and reporting capabilities to support the wider Tiaki Wai programme and future water asset

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing complex projects from planning through to delivery.
• Ability to navigate policy, access and engineering challenges.
• Strong knowledge of project methodologies and delivery.
• Experience in contract management and supplier relationships.
• Strong planning, risk, budget and reporting skills.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams and managing dependencies.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement with councils, communities and iwi.

Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate and deliver the water metering pilot.
• Manage pilot budget and reporting; track progress and dependencies.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external stakeholders for successful delivery.
• Identify opportunities for improvement and ensure lessons inform the wider programme.
• Support Tiaki Wai's asset management and customer service objectives.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Risk management

Budget management

Contract management

Cross-functional leadership

Tools

Budget reporting

Job description

Petone office, with hybrid working options.12-month fixed-term role focused on planning and delivering a smart metering pilot.Work alongside passionate and experienced water and programme specialists.This is a 12-month fixed-term position with a competitive remuneration. Appointment salary will be dependent on previous programme and project delivery experience.The opportunityTiaki Wai is progressing a significant smart metering programme, moving to a Pilot to inform the detailed business case. With approximately 150,000 residential water meters planned for the full roll out, this initiative will support sustainable drinking water and better long-term outcomes for our customers and communities.Reporting to the Programme Director, Water Metering, this 12-month role will focus on managing the planning, coordination, and delivery of the water metering pilot. You will bring together internal teams and external stakeholders to ensure the pilot is well planned, risks and dependencies are managed, and outcomes inform the next stages of the wider programme.You will also work across the business to identify opportunities for improvement, manage project budgets and reporting, and ensure the pilot supports Tiaki Wai's future-focused approach to water asset management and customer service.About youProven experience managing complex projects from planning through to delivery.Ability to navigate and lead through policy, access and engineering (mechanical and civil) challenges.Strong knowledge of project methodologies, with the ability to analyse and apply appropriate approaches to support successful delivery.Experience in contract management, including supplier relationships, performance monitoring, and contractual obligations.Strong project planning, risk, budget, and reporting skills.Experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams and managing project dependencies.Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills, including working with technical experts, councils, communities, and iwi.A collaborative, outcomes-focused approach with a strong commitment to continuous improvement.If you are a significantly experienced project leader who can bring people together and successfully deliver this critical pilot, we would love to hear from you.BenefitsAt Tiaki Wai, our purpose extends beyond delivering great water services for the region; we foster a thriving community, support a diverse workforce, and offer supportive development opportunities. We genuinely care about your safety and wellbeing.Our benefits include:Flexible working arrangements including up to 2 days working from home each weekComprehensive wellbeing programme, including one paid wellbeing day annuallyFormal and informal professional development opportunitiesFor a full list of our employee benefits click here.About usTiaki Wai is a council-owned organisation responsible for managing the delivery of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services across Hutt Valley, Porirua, and Wellington.We manage public-owned extensive water infrastructure and oversee the delivery of safe and reliable services for our communities. We focus on long-term investment, asset management, maintenance, and delivering major infrastructure projects that support public health, environmental protection, and regional growth.Water is a precious taonga. At Tiaki Wai, we put care into every drop and are guided by our values of Integrity, Care, and Leadership. We work directly with water consumers and in partnership with councils and mana whenua to deliver better water outcomes for current and future generations.Applications close on Wednesday, 4 November 2026.How to applyTo view a copy of the position description: click here.To apply for the role, click on the 'apply' button or visit the Tiaki Wai Careers site, if you are a Tiaki Wai employee please apply using your work email.For further information, email: [e-mail] will be required to undergo drug and alcohol testing prior to commencing employment with Tiaki Wai. You must also be legally entitled to work in New Zealand to be considered.