Wellington Water is seeking an experienced and dynamic infrastructure leader to join us as Head of Major Projects. In this pivotal role, you'll oversee the successful delivery of high-value, high-impact infrastructure programmes and projects that are vital to the wellbeing of our communities and environment.
You'll lead a team of senior project professionals and project directors, embedding a high-performance culture across the major projects portfolio. These programmes involve complex multi-year investment, public visibility, and technical sophistication, requiring a confident, collaborative and future-focused leader.
About the role
As Head of Major Projects, you will provide end-to-end leadership and assurance across the planning, procurement, delivery, and transition of significant water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure. These include complex treatment plants, major pipeline upgrades, wetland developments, growth-related infrastructure, and other regionally significant assets.
A key priority will be establishing and sustaining high performing teams and delivery structures capable of delivering major and mega projects. Ensuring project intent is preserved from concept to completion, and outcomes are achieved. You will work closely with internal clients, mana whenua partners, governance forums, and external stakeholders to ensure projects are well scoped, aligned to investment frameworks, and deliver long term public value. You'll also play a central role in influencing internal planning, uplifting capability, and embedding best practice delivery across the Major capital programme.
Key responsibilities include the following:
- Leading the delivery of Wellington Water's major and mega capital projects programme
- Building high performing project teams and overseeing complex project portfolios
- Ensuring value-for-money outcomes through procurement and delivery excellence
- Leading governance, assurance and reporting across major projects
- Embedding risk, safety and sustainability as core success measures
- Partnering across the business to ensure consistency, collaboration, and outcomes
- Building trusted relationships with iwi, communities, suppliers and elected members
About you
You'll bring deep expertise in civil infrastructure and proven experience in leading large-scale, high-risk capital programmes.
We're looking for a leader who can inspire teams, manage complexity, and influence across systems.
You'll also bring the following:
- An understanding of local government capital programme settings, processes and governance
- An understanding of both Civil and Engineering complexities, ideally with three water experience
- Experience leading and delivering Major and Mega projects/programmes
- A Tertiary qualification in Engineering, Construction Management or Programme/Project Management with certification in Prince2 or similar project management methodologies
- Excellent iwi partnership experience, community and stakeholder engagement, with an understanding of RMA process and requirements
- Leadership experience across multifunctional teams and programme professionals
- 10+ years in infrastructure programme management or civil construction delivery roles
- Excellent financial and investment management capabilities looking after high value capital budgets
- An impeccable programme risk and safety management track record
- Excellent workforce and business planning to champion group and organisation strategies
Benefits
At Wellington Water, our purpose extends beyond delivering great water services for the region; we foster a thriving community, support a diverse workforce, and offer supportive development opportunities. We genuinely care about your safety and wellbeing.
Our benefits include the following:
- Flexible working arrangements including up to two days working from home
- Comprehensive wellbeing programme, including one paid wellbeing day annually
- Formal and informal professional development opportunities
- Five weeks annual leave accrual will be available following two years of continual service
For a full list of our employee benefits: click here.
About us
Wellington Water is the professional water services provider across Greater Wellington and South Wairarapa. Our job is to provide safe and healthy drinking water, collect and treat wastewater, and ensure the stormwater network is well managed. We're a multi-council owned entity, tasked to manage the infrastructure and deliver water services to our communities.
The value of water (a precious taonga) sits at our organisational heart. Our people are passionate about providing waters services for our communities and environment which is reflective in our values; Tangata Tiaki, Whanau and Mana.
Applications close: Sunday, 10 August 2025.
How to apply
To view a copy of the position description: click here.
To apply for the role, click on the 'apply' button or visit the Wellington Water Careers site, please note if you are a Wellington Water employee please apply using your work email.
For further information, email: [email protected]
Applicants for safety sensitive roles will be required to undergo drug and alcohol testing prior to commencing employment with Wellington Water. You must also be legally entitled to work long-term in New Zealand and have an appropriate Visa.
