Senior Project Manager - Major Infrastructure - Powering Southern Lakes

Aurora Energy Limited New Zealand; Queenstown; On-site; NZD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive remuneration

Lifestyle advantages: Queenstown/Cromw

Significant pipeline of work

Job summary

Aurora Energy is embarking on Powering Southern Lakes 2050 — a multi-year, $220m+ investment programme delivering around 40 major infrastructure projects across Queenstown, Wānaka, Cromwell and the wider Southern Lakes. We are seeking two highly experienced Senior Project Managers to own complex delivery, lead multidisciplinary teams and ensure successful project outcomes.

Join us to shape electricity infrastructure for generations in a world-class lifestyle region.

Qualifications

• Seven+ years of experience managing complex, high-value infrastructure or construction projects.

Responsibilities

• Manage project budgets, schedules, commercial performance, contracts and risk.
• Lead multidisciplinary engineering, civil construction and specialist delivery teams, including contractors and consultants.
• Oversee procurement, construction, quality assurance and critical project dependencies (consenting, outages, commissioning).
• Manage complex stakeholder relationships across Aurora, Transpower, contractors and delivery partners to drive successful project outcomes.

Job description

Help shape the future of one of New Zealand's fastest-growing regions.

• Lead major infrastructure projects within a $220m+ investment programme.
• Deliver complex civil and electrical infrastructure with lasting regional impact.
• Queenstown or Cromwell based | Major infrastructure | World-class lifestyle.

Build the infrastructure that will power the Southern Lakes for generations.

Aurora Energy is embarking on Powering Southern Lakes 2050, an ambitious infrastructure programme encompassing approximately 40 projects and more than $220 million of planned investment over the next decade.

Queenstown and the Southern Lakes are among New Zealand's most desirable places to live, work and invest. A world-renowned tourism destination attracting significant investment and development, the region's continued growth is driving demand for major infrastructure. With population growth, tourism and development placing increasing pressure on essential services, reliable, future-ready electricity infrastructure has never been more important.

Spanning Queenstown, Wānaka, Cromwell and the wider Southern Lakes, the programme includes major zone substation developments, electricity network upgrades, new lines and significant civil construction works, strengthening the region's electricity capacity and resilience for decades to come.

We're seeking two highly experienced, commercially astute Senior Project Managers to take ownership of complex infrastructure projects, lead multidisciplinary delivery teams and play a pivotal role in bringing this ambitious programme to life.

The opportunity

Working alongside experienced engineering, planning and delivery professionals, you'll take responsibility for major projects from early planning and design through procurement, construction, commissioning and handover.

You'll be operating in a complex environment involving multiple contractors, consultants, asset owners and stakeholders, where commercial judgement, technical understanding and strong leadership are essential.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing project budgets, schedules, commercial performance, contracts and risk.
• Leading multidisciplinary engineering, civil construction and specialist delivery teams, including contractors and consultants.
• Overseeing procurement, construction, quality assurance and critical project dependencies, including consenting, outages and commissioning.
• Managing complex stakeholder relationships across Aurora, Transpower, contractors and delivery partners to drive successful project outcomes.Providing strong commercial leadership, clear reporting and a proactive approach to safety throughout project delivery.

What you'll bring

We're looking for accomplished Project Managers who have already established a strong track record delivering substantial infrastructure projects.

You may come from the electricity sector, major civil construction, utilities or large-scale infrastructure delivery. What matters is your ability to lead complex projects, manage commercial and technical challenges, and deliver successfully in demanding environments.

Ideally, you'll bring:

• At least seven years' experience managing complex, high-value infrastructure or construction projects.
• A proven track record delivering major civil, electrical, utilities or significant construction programmes.
• Strong commercial capability, including contract administration, procurement, budgeting, forecasting and risk management.
• Experience working with construction contracts such as NZS 3910, NZS 3915, FIDIC or similar.
• The ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, contractors and consultants through challenging project environments.
• Confidence managing senior stakeholders and navigating complex project decisions.
• A relevant engineering, construction or technical qualification, supported by formal project management credentials.

Experience delivering substations, transmission or distribution infrastructure would be advantageous, although we equally welcome experienced civil infrastructure Project Managers with a proven record of delivering complex, high-value projects.

Above all, you'll be someone who takes accountability, thrives on complexity and has the leadership presence to bring people together and get major projects delivered.

Why Aurora Energy?

The scale. The challenge. The location. The legacy.

You'll benefit from:

• A substantial pipeline of work: Contribute to a $220m+ programme involving approximately 40 major infrastructure projects over the next decade.
• Real ownership and influence: Lead complex projects, make critical delivery decisions and help shape infrastructure that will support the region for generations.
• Technical variety and challenge: Work across major civil construction, substations, electricity network upgrades and associated infrastructure.
• An exceptional place to live: Enjoy the lifestyle Queenstown and Cromwell offer, with world-class outdoor recreation, spectacular landscapes and thriving local communities.
• Competitive remuneration: Reflecting the seniority, expertise and responsibility of the role.

Ready to deliver something extraordinary?

If you've built your career delivering major infrastructure projects and are ready for a challenge with genuine scale, complexity and long-term significance, we'd love to hear from you.