Programme Manager

He kōrero mō mātou | About Watercare

Ki te ora te wai, ka ora te whenua, ka ora te tangata

When the water is healthy, the land and the people are healthy

Now is an exciting time to join Watercare, we're planning to spend $14 billion over the next 10 years to ensure we can continue to support our growing city in a climate-resilient way. When you average that out, that's an investment of $3.8 million every day!

He whakamārama mō te tūranga mahi | About the role

This is a rare opportunity for an experienced

Programme Manager to lead our Growth and Development Improvement Programme on a two-year fixed-term contract, based in Newmarket.

Reporting within the Strategy and Planning team, this is a high-profile, executive-sponsored leadership role focused on delivering improvements that will support Auckland's growth agenda. You will help shape how Watercare works with developers, Auckland Council, iwi, strategic partners and the wider urban development sector to improve transparency, strengthen trust and enable better growth outcomes for the city.

You will lead the design and delivery of practical, enduring improvements across Watercare's growth and development system. This includes improving how growth-related decisions are made, communicated and delivered; strengthening governance and accountabilities; improving digital experiences; and supporting clearer, more consistent engagement with the development sector.

You will work closely with senior leaders and governance groups, bring structure and momentum to a complex programme, and influence change across technical, operational, commercial and customer-facing teams. This is a role for someone who can navigate complexity, build alignment and turn ambition into delivery.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Lead the planning, governance and delivery of the Growth and Development Improvement Programme
• Shape programme strategies, workstreams, roadmaps and implementation plans
• Build trusted relationships with senior leaders, executive stakeholders, developers, local government, iwi and industry partners
• Translate complex organisational and sector challenges into practical, deliverable improvements
• Establish future-state processes, accountabilities and governance arrangements
• Lead stakeholder engagement, consultation and communications activities
• Manage programme scope, budgets, timelines, risks, resources and delivery milestones
• Provide high-quality advice, reporting and recommendations to executive leaders and governance groups

Ngā pūkenga e rapu nei mātou | About you

You are a credible and experienced programme leader who can operate confidently in complex, high-profile environments. You bring judgement, pace and structure, and are comfortable working with senior leaders, technical specialists, delivery teams and external stakeholders. You know how to turn ambiguity into action, build alignment across competing interests and maintain momentum in programmes that matter.

Your Skills And Experience Include

• Process change focused qualifications, Project Management, or a related discipline
• At least 10 years' experience leading engineering and process improvement programmes
• Proven success delivering complex, multi-stakeholder infrastructure or transformation programmes
• Strong programme governance, planning, risk management, and delivery capability
• Experience working closely with executive leadership teams, boards, and senior decision-makers
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and stakeholder engagement skills
• Strong commercial acumen, including business case development and financial management
• Knowledge of New Zealand's planning, regulatory, and infrastructure environment
• Ability to build consensus, influence outcomes, and drive delivery across organisational boundaries

Ideally, You Will Also Bring

• Experience within the water, wastewater, utilities, or infrastructure sectors
• Experience in the growth related service delivery
• Experience managing high-value programmes
• Professional programme management certification (PgMP, MSP or equivalent)
• Experience working with local government, developers, iwi, and community stakeholders

Ngā hua mōu | What's in it for you

We offer a competitive salary and staff benefits package including:

• Training and development opportunities
• Employee discounts at a range of large retailers

Me pēhea te tono mai | How to Apply

Come and join our team! If you are looking for an exciting career opportunity with a fantastic team then please apply online today - careers.watercare.co.nz.