Work Group Manager - Water

WSP USA; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP in Christchurch seeks a Work Group Manager - Water to lead the local Water team, guiding senior professionals across drinking water, wastewater and stormwater. You will shape performance, capability and future direction while delivering high-quality outcomes for clients in a dynamic market.

This role combines people leadership, client relationships, and strategic growth, with opportunities to act as Project Manager, Project Director or Design Manager.

Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary qualification in a related discipline.
• Eight or more years of professional experience in water-related engineering.
• Previous team leadership experience with ability to guide senior professionals.
• Strong knowledge of drinking water, wastewater or stormwater systems.
• Sound commercial and financial acumen with project planning or management exposure.
• Collaborative, accountable leadership style with integrity.
• Knowledge of NZ standards, codes and procurement practices.
• Current clean driver licence and willingness to travel.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Christchurch Water team and shape performance and capability.
• Drive strategic initiatives, market opportunities and client outcomes.
• Oversee projects as Project Manager or Design Manager across water sectors.
• Build a strong, collaborative culture and develop others.
• Engage clients and support business development.

Skills

Leadership

Team Leadership

Water engineering capability

Commercial acumen

Client engagement

Proposals and business development

Collaborative leadership

Travel flexibility

Education

Tertiary qualification in related discipline

Job description

What if you could do the kind of work the world needs?

At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives enabling you to do the best work of your life. You can experience a world of opportunities to shape a career as unique as you.

WSP is one of the world’s top professional services firms, bringing together some of the brightest engineers, advisors and scientists from across the globe. We exist to shape communities to advance humanity. We see the world through a Future Ready® lens, fuelled by a shared commitment to making a positive impact—one project and community at a time.

Work Group Manager - Water | Christchurch

Lead the Christchurch Water team and help shape the performance, capability and future direction of a highly skilled group of senior water professionals and Team Leaders. This is a broad leadership opportunity combining people development, client relationships, business growth and technical delivery across the water sector.

Alongside guiding the team and building a strong, collaborative culture, you will contribute to strategic initiatives, pursue market opportunities and support high-quality outcomes for clients. The role also offers scope to lead projects as a Project Manager, Project Director or Design Manager, drawing on your experience across drinking water, wastewater and stormwater.

About you:

• A relevant tertiary qualification and preferably at least eight years of professional experience in a related discipline

• Previous experience as a Team Leader, or in a similar people leadership role, is preferred, with the confidence to guide senior technical professionals and Team Leaders through growth, change and competing priorities

• Strong water engineering capability, with a solid appreciation of at least two of the following fields: drinking water, wastewater and stormwater

• Sound commercial and financial acumen, supported by experience in project planning, design or project management, client engagement, proposals and business development

• A collaborative, accountable and decisive leadership style, combined with sound judgement, integrity, energy and a genuine interest in developing others

• Knowledge of relevant New Zealand technical standards, legislation, codes of practice, construction and procurement practices

• A current, clean driver licence and the flexibility to travel when required.

Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all.

We are proud to have the blueprint of Aotearoa New Zealand in our DNA and our 2,000+ expert professionals in 24 offices are united by the common purpose of creating positive, long-lasting impacts on the communities we serve.

Join our close-knit community of talented individuals who share your passion for making a positive impact. Our global team includes more than 75,000 employees, working together to make a difference in communities both close to home and around the world.