Track Workforce Supervisor

KiwiRail; Wellington; On-site; NZD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

KiwiSaver employer contribution 4%

25 annual leave days

NZ Rail Staff Welfare Trust benefits

Job summary

KiwiRail Freight is seeking a Track Workforce Supervisor in Wellington to lead a track workforce of Gangers, Track Workers, and Track Maintainers. The role ensures safety, competence, and sustainable operations, working with the Track Superintendent and Track Maintenance Superintendent to coordinate staffing and capability for maintenance activities.

The position emphasizes strong people leadership, capability development, and collaboration with planning teams to align workforce with delivery

Qualifications

• Proven experience (8+ years) leading operational or field-based workforces.
• Strong understanding of safety-critical environments.
• Experience with workforce planning and people management.

Responsibilities

• Provide people leadership and workforce oversight to track gangs and field crews.
• Collaborate with senior teams to align capability with planned works and priorities.
• Maintain competency records, training, and certifications for the track workforce.
• Champion health, safety and wellbeing across the track workforce.

Skills

People leadership

Safety culture

Stakeholder management

Team mentoring

Education

Leadership training

People management training

Job description

• Provide line management for Gangers, Track Workers and Track Maintainers
• Leadership and workforce oversight
• Permanent, Wellington based

At KiwiRail, we connect New Zealanders sustainably, powering economic growth and ensuring vital freight and passenger services run smoothly. Our mission, "Stronger Connections, Better New Zealand," highlights our dedication to sustainability and community well-being.

Our people make KiwiRail exceptional. By fostering a diverse, inclusive, and supportive workplace, we empower everyone to contribute their best. If you’re passionate about innovation and safety, we’d love to welcome you aboard.

The Track Workforce Supervisor is responsible for the people leadership, capability, administration, and availability of track gangs, ensuring KiwiRail has a safe, competent, and sustainable track workforce to support maintenance and network intervention activities. The role provides line management for Gangers, Track Workers and Track Maintainers.

The Track Workforce Supervisor does not own delivery outcomes, work scope, or sequencing. Instead, the role works in close partnership with the Track Superintendent and Track Maintenance Superintendent, who provides operational direction for what work is done and when, while the Track Workforce Supervisor (reporting to the Track Workforce Manager) ensures the right people are available, competent, and supported to do it.

Key accountabilities include:

• Provide people leadership and workforce oversight to the track workforce, including Track Gangers, Track Maintainers, Track Workers, and field crews, in line with KiwiRail policies, employment agreements, and organisational expectations.
• Collaborate with the Track Capability Specialist to support the transformation of track maintenance and construction through the development and adoption of new technologies, mechanisation, and new and innovative ways of working.
• Assure workforce competence, certification, and medical fitness requirements, ensuring track personnel are appropriately trained, assessed, authorised, and fit to perform safety-critical roles.
• Coordinate and monitor training, assessments, and recertification activities, maintaining accurate competency records and proactively identifying and addressing capability gaps, development opportunities, succession needs, skills and workforce risks.
• Manage workforce administration activities, ensuring accurate and timely maintenance of employee records, competency and certification registers, training records, medical clearances, roster information, leave management, onboarding documentation, and compliance reporting.
• Champion health, safety, and wellbeing across the track workforce, role-modelling safe behaviours and reinforcing personal accountability at all levels in alignment with KiwiRail's Zero Harm principles.
• Work in close partnership with the Track and Track Maintenance Superintendents, Planning teams, Network Workforce teams, and other operational stakeholders to ensure workforce capability, capacity, and technical expertise are aligned with planned works, access strategies, and delivery sequencing and priorities.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including Learning & Development, training providers, competency assessors, medical providers, recruitment partners, and union representatives to support workforce capability and operational outcomes.
• Prepare and maintain workforce reporting, providing accurate information on capability, competency compliance, resource availability, vacancies, training requirements, and workforce risks to support planning and decision-making.

Knowledge and experience

• Proven experience (8+ years) leading operational or field-based workforces.
• Strong understanding of safety-critical environments.
• Experience with workforce planning, industrial agreements, and people management.
• Exposure to rail, construction, or infrastructure environments desirable.

Ways of working / Work-related qualities

• Strong people leadership and interpersonal skills.
• Calm, fair, and consistent decision-making.
• Able to work collaboratively with delivery-focused roles without role overlap.
• Comfortable managing difficult conversations and industrial matters.
• Committed to safety, wellbeing, and workforce sustainability.

Other Requirements

• Ability to pass drug and alcohol screening requirements.
• Current and valid NZ driver’s licence.
• Willingness to travel and work flexible hours as required.

Qualifications

• Leadership or people management training desirable.
• You are open to further training in workforce planning and Learning & Development.

Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you:

• Competitive salary plus 4% KiwiSaver employer contribution
• 25 annual leave days
• Access to join NZ Rail Staff Welfare Trust where you will enjoy a range of benefits including access to holiday homes across New Zealand, as well as support for optometry, physiotherapy, GP services and prescription costs
• A wide range of discounts at retailers and on scenic trains and Interislander
• Be part of a diverse and inclusive workplace dedicated to innovation, sustainability and community impact

Kua rite, kia rite | Ready to Make a Difference?