Lead Engineer – Water Infrastructure Strategic Planning

About the Role

Join a forward-thinking team dedicated to enhancing water infrastructure resilience in the face of increasing floods, droughts, and storms. As Lead Engineer in Water Infrastructure Strategic Planning, you will play a pivotal role in shaping how water systems are planned, funded, and implemented across New Zealand and the Pacific region.

This position is centered around strategic leadership, focusing on early-stage decisions including business cases, infrastructure programmes, and investment priorities for water supply, wastewater, and stormwater systems. You will build and maintain strong client relationships and coordinate across a global engineering network to deliver comprehensive solutions from strategy through execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead development of large-scale water infrastructure strategies across stormwater, water supply, and wastewater systems.
• Influence infrastructure planning and investment by participating in early project stages such as business cases and prioritization programmes.
• Foster long-lasting client partnerships, establishing the company as a preferred strategic partner in the water sector.
• Collaborate with international teams to integrate solutions spanning from strategic planning to delivery phases.
• Identify and develop emerging market opportunities within the water sector to support growth.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to team members to elevate overall team capabilities.

Candidate Profile

• Extensive experience (15+ years) in water infrastructure planning and strategic advisory, with additional project delivery background preferred.
• Demonstrated influence in shaping infrastructure investment and planning decisions.
• Strong systems thinking skills connecting technical, environmental, and economic factors.
• Experience engaging senior stakeholders from government, councils, utilities, or related agencies.
• Comprehensive knowledge of New Zealand water industry, including current reforms.
• Commercial acumen to identify opportunities and nurture client relationships.
• Excellent communication skills, able to simplify complex technical information for diverse audiences.

Work Environment and Culture

Benefit from a hybrid working model encouraging collaboration three days a week in office, combined with flexibility. The employer values diversity and inclusion, welcoming candidates from varied cultural and demographic backgrounds. Equal Employment Opportunity principles are upheld.

Additional Information

This role offers the chance to influence sustainable water solutions that positively impact communities and ecosystems over the long term. The employer is a global engineering and professional services firm committed to addressing critical challenges related to water, energy, and urban development.