Senior Project Manager

About the Organisation

Earth Sciences NZ came into existence on 1 July 2025 after GNS and NIWA merged, and the planned addition of MetService will expand its reach even further. By combining specialist expertise with advanced technology, the organisation is set to deliver science across earth, environmental, and natural resources disciplines through six key mission areas: Geological Hazards, Weather and Climate, Energy, Land and Freshwater, Atmosphere and Climate, and Oceans.

This is part of one of the biggest changes to New Zealand’s science and innovation framework in more than 30 years. The new model is intended to create a more connected, agile, and high-impact science system. Once MetService is incorporated, Earth Sciences NZ will have about 1,500 people working across 22 locations, assets worth roughly $400 million, and annual revenue of $370 million, including significant commercial income streams. This creates a rare chance to influence how science is delivered for Aotearoa New Zealand and help build a globally respected organisation.

Role Overview

The Senior Project Manager will be responsible for guiding several initiatives from business case development through to final closure. These projects are expected to have a strong data and digital focus, so hands-on experience with technical delivery, cloud migration, and infrastructure transformation is important.

The projects under this role include HRIS Consolidation, Health and Safety System and Lone Worker, Cloud Enablement Programme, Reprographics, Service Desk Platform Consolidation, and the Measurement Standards Laboratory Integration project.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with sponsors to clarify programme and project needs, define scope, and prepare business cases.
• Oversee programmes and projects end to end so delivery stays on schedule, within budget, and aligned to agreed outputs.
• Direct both internal staff and external delivery teams.
• Maintain strong programme and project governance, with accurate reporting to support sound decisions.
• Drive change management activities that help teams adopt new technology successfully.
• Support the broader DS&I team and assist colleagues where required.

Required Background

• PRINCE2 Practitioner, Axelos, PMI, PMP, or equivalent programme and project management credentials or proven comparable experience.
• At least 10 years of recent experience in IT, especially delivering complex business and technology programmes and projects.
• Solid knowledge of project delivery approaches and methods, including Agile and Waterfall.
• Deep experience leading major organisational change programmes, ideally involving cloud and infrastructure transition.
• Strong commercial experience managing multiple IT suppliers.
• Confident leadership capability with a clear focus on achieving outcomes.

What’s On Offer

• Meaningful, varied, and demanding work alongside skilled colleagues in an organisation focused on earth science.
• A high-performing workplace that places importance on employee growth and wellbeing.
• A fixed-term, full-time position of 38 hours per week, primarily based at the Avalon campus in Lower Hutt.
• Flexible working options.

Eligibility and Additional Information

Applicants must be a New Zealand citizen or resident, or already have the legal right to work in New Zealand with a valid visa. The organisation cannot sponsor or endorse visa applications for this role.

Applications close at 11:55 pm on Friday, 10 July 2026. For further queries, contact careers@earthsciences.nz. A full position description is available on the careers page.