Project Engineering Group Manager

About the Role

Transpower New Zealand plays a crucial role in enabling the country's energy future, aiming to achieve a net-zero carbon economy alongside a secure and reliable electricity system. Unique globally, Transpower integrates grid ownership, power system operations, renewable energy integration, and high-voltage direct current transmission. The organization's workload is expected to more than double over the next five years, requiring enhanced capabilities, faster work processes, and strategic positioning to support New Zealand's infrastructure and energy needs for the long term.

The Grid Development division is tasked with shaping the future of New Zealand's transmission network by uniting network strategy, integrated planning, investment management, project engineering, technical expertise, and governance. This synergy ensures the National Grid meets customer and system needs sustainably and efficiently.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead Project Engineering managers and oversee the engineering system facilitating Transpower's investment projects delivery.
• Establish direction and governance for project engineering practices, controls, assurance, resource allocation, consultant engagement, and performance, promoting enhanced delivery capacity and efficiency while safeguarding safety and quality standards.
• Collaborate across investment planning, project investigation, delivery teams, program management, and external partners to streamline interfaces, resolve challenges, and ensure alignment with investment objectives.
• Encourage clarity of roles, interfaces, and decision-making authority within the operating model as part of evolving Transpower's delivery framework.
• Manage practice and assurance, including project engineering methods, controls, delivery assessments, and performance expectations.
• Oversee workforce capability development, succession planning, resource deployment, and future capacity considerations.
• Drive integration and maturity of operating models, ensuring clear accountability and resolution of conflicting priorities.
• Govern consultant strategy and commercial aspects, including Design Panel management, focusing on scoping, performance, safety, quality, value for money, and capacity planning.
• Leverage data, lessons learned, risk insights, and industry practices to continually improve safety, wellbeing, quality, efficiency, and predictability across projects and workforce.

Candidate Profile

• Proven senior leadership experience in project engineering, infrastructure delivery, governance, assurance, or related disciplines.
• Successful track record in enhancing project engineering practices, controls, assurance processes, stage gates, and operating frameworks.
• Experienced in capability-building, accountability strengthening, and resource planning across complex delivery portfolios.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to influence senior stakeholders, consultants, suppliers, delivery partners, and industry entities.
• Ability to utilize performance data, lessons learned, and delivery insights to foster improvements in safety, quality, efficiency, and predictability.
• Experience in business planning, budget oversight, governance reporting, risk management, and transformational initiatives within complex delivery environments.
• Essential exposure to electricity transmission, regulated infrastructure, or asset-intensive industries.

Additional Information

This role is integral to Transpower’s leadership team, contributing to large-scale infrastructure outcomes critical to New Zealand’s energy future. The primary locations for this position are the Wellington head office and the Auckland Ōtara office, with possible consideration of Christchurch's Islington office for exceptional applicants.

Transpower fosters a workplace culture valuing diversity, connection, transparency, and communication. It offers intellectually stimulating work, continual learning opportunities, and a comprehensive benefits package including health, wellbeing, and insurance coverage.