Programme Manager

About the Role

Smiths Detection is looking for a skilled and commercially savvy Programme Manager to oversee complex customer-centered projects across Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. This position, based in Auckland with a hybrid work setup, offers a unique opportunity to lead multiple airport security and detection technology projects from start to finish. You will be the primary project management lead for the region, liaising between customers, internal teams, and delivery groups.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee full lifecycle management of multiple projects and programmes in the ANZ region and Pacific Islands.
• Handle project scope, timelines, budgets, risk assessment, resources, and client expectations.
• Act as the main customer contact throughout project execution phases.
• Lead project planning, forecasting, governance, and reporting processes.
• Collaborate closely with Sales, Engineering, Service, Supply Chain, Finance, and Global Programmes departments.
• Manage contract implementations ensuring alignment with commercial agreements.
• Support activities including tendering, project initiation, handover, change management, and contract closure.
• Track project performance using established controls, reporting systems, and risk management tools.
• Ensure effective project handover to Service and Operations teams upon completion.
• Travel regionally as required to support project delivery and client sites.

Role Uniqueness

This is a non-traditional project management position requiring independent decision-making, confidence in managing multiple projects concurrently, and strong customer relationship building within a wide geographical area including key international airports and critical infrastructure.

Qualifications and Experience

• Over a decade of project or programme management expertise.
• Experience managing several simultaneous projects in technology, engineering, infrastructure, or construction-related sectors.
• Strong commercial understanding with contract management and financial oversight skills.
• Practical field delivery experience combined with full project lifecycle management capabilities.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement skills including with senior leadership.
• Comfortable navigating matrix organizations and influencing cross-functional teams.

Preferred Background

• Exposure to airport, aviation, security technology, infrastructure, defence, or complex systems integration projects.
• Familiarity with project management frameworks such as PMP, PRINCE2, Waterfall, Agile, or Hybrid methodologies.
• Adept in project controls including scheduling, forecasting, risk, and change management.
• Experience using tools like MS Project, MS Visio, SAP, AutoCAD, Primavera, Power BI, or equivalents.

Personal Attributes

• Highly self-driven and proactive approach.
• Comfortable working independently with ownership of responsibilities.
• Strong commercial judgement and business acumen.
• Focus on customer needs and relationship building.
• Well-organised, resilient, and capable of juggling competing demands.
• Effective communicator able to engage across organizational levels.
• Willingness to travel throughout the assigned region to ensure successful project delivery.