Programme Manager

Salary: $195,000 Per Annum +

Why You'd Like It
This role puts you in charge of the technology side of one of New Zealand's larger infrastructure investments. You'll own the ICT programme for new-build assets from planning through to entry into service, covering connectivity, systems integration, cybersecurity, assurance, and operational readiness. Few programmes in New Zealand give you end-to-end ownership of a technology lifecycle at this scale.

The Story
Our client is replacing core operational assets as part of a multi-year national programme. The programme involves several organisations: internal business units, a separate Crown entity, an international manufacturer, original equipment manufacturers, and specialist suppliers. Each has its own mandate, governance process, and timelines.
The client needs a Programme Manager to lead its ICT contribution. That means:

• owning the integrated ICT plan and the dependencies within it,
• keeping technology delivery aligned with asset design, manufacture, installation, trials, and commissioning,
• protecting the wider programme's critical path.

Scope is still evolving, and the boundaries between manufacturer-supplied systems, corporate ICT, and operational technology are not yet fully defined. Part of the job is putting structure around that.

Company Profile
Our client is a large New Zealand organisation in the transport and infrastructure sector, with operations nationwide. The role sits within its ICT function in Wellington.

Your Role

• Lead the planning, governance, and delivery of the ICT programme to the agreed scope, budget, timeframes, and operational readiness standards.
• Own the integrated ICT plan, aligning technology delivery with procurement, manufacture, installation, trials, commissioning, and entry-into-service milestones.
• Coordinate the workstreams: core ICT infrastructure, connectivity, systems integration, cybersecurity and assurance, service transition, and support model readiness.
• Manage risks, issues, assumptions, decisions, and dependencies, and escalate material impacts through the programme's governance forums.
• Define scope, requirements, ownership, funding boundaries, and acceptance criteria. Make sure unapproved or unfunded requests go through formal change control before entering delivery.
• Own ICT capex and opex forecasting, cost control, contingency, and benefits traceability.
• Manage commercial arrangements with OEMs, systems integrators, and specialist suppliers.
• Report to the Executive Leadership Team, Steering Committees, Boards, and external governance bodies.

Benefits

• 24-month fixed-term role on a nationally significant programme.
• Wellington-based, with hybrid working.
• Domestic and international travel to manufacturing and supplier sites.

Your Fit

• 10+ years leading large, complex technology or infrastructure-enabled programmes with multiple workstreams, vendors, and senior stakeholders.
• Strong experience in programme governance, integrated planning, RAID, financial control, procurement, vendor management, and executive reporting.
• Experience taking programmes through design, build, integration, testing, commissioning, and operational handover.
• Understanding of how ICT infrastructure, systems integration, cybersecurity, operational technology, and business operations interact.
• Experience with independent assurance reviews, gateway processes, and external auditors.
• Experience building structure where requirements, decision rights, or funding boundaries were initially unclear.

Applicants must be legally entitled to work in New Zealand. If you are not a NZ Citizen, you must have the right of permanent residence or a valid work visa.