Portfolio Lead Transport

About Napier City Council

Napier City Council is committed to investing in vital infrastructure to support its expanding city and thriving communities, focusing on transport networks, active travel, and coastal and harbour facilities. The council is undertaking a substantial programme of work designed to positively impact the city for many years to come.

Role Overview

The Portfolio Lead – Transport will oversee a varied portfolio of capital infrastructure projects, guiding them from initial planning and procurement stages through to project completion. This role involves collaborating closely with technical specialists, consultants, contractors, and other stakeholders to ensure projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and in alignment with council objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of multiple simultaneous capital projects, each potentially valued between $5 million and $10 million, ensuring high-quality outcomes, robust governance, and effective programme oversight.
• Provide leadership across portfolios involving transport, roads, active transport, coastal, and harbour infrastructure, maintaining comprehensive visibility over project budgets, performance, risks, and milestones.
• Collaborate with the Urban Infrastructure Consultancy Panel, contractors, internal experts, mana whenua, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, Maritime NZ, and other key parties to achieve successful project results.
• Manage procurement processes, consultant engagements, and contract administration while ensuring compliance with council policies, legislation, and value-for-money principles.
• Prepare clear reporting and provide informed advice and recommendations for leadership and governance groups to aid decision-making.
• Develop trusted relationships within the council and external partners to alleviate barriers, address challenges, and maintain project momentum.

Candidate Profile

• Holds a relevant engineering qualification and has proven experience delivering complex transport or infrastructure projects.
• Minimum of seven years’ experience managing complex capital projects, including those with budgets of around $5 million to $10 million per project.
• Skilled in overseeing procurement, contract management, consultant coordination, budgeting, governance, and risk for multiple concurrent projects.
• Experience in local or central government environments, or other complex public sector sectors, is beneficial, with a good understanding of governance, accountability, and community-focused outcomes.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder engagement skills, capable of building and maintaining strong relationships with technical teams, contractors, elected officials, mana whenua, and partner agencies.
• Strategic thinker with a focus on practical delivery and results orientation.

What is Offered

• Five weeks of annual leave after two years of service.
• Access to discounted health insurance schemes and an eye test subsidy.
• Retail discounts and support for study.
• Participation in an Employee Assistance Program.
• Quarterly recognition awards, birthday vouchers, and a social club.
• Annual free flu vaccinations.
• Cultural development opportunities including Ka Awatea Wānanga, NCC Kapa Haka, and Te Reo Māori language classes.

Terms and Conditions

This permanent, full-time position entails 40 working hours per week, Monday through Friday, based in Napier’s Central Business District. The remuneration package ranges from $115,239 to $128,796 annually (inclusive of KiwiSaver), with the final salary offer reflecting the candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Additional Information

Napier City Council champions diversity and equal opportunity. Adjustments to the application or interview process can be provided upon request. Successful applicants must complete pre-employment screenings such as criminal background checks, with certain roles requiring additional health and drug screening. Employees may also be called upon to support Civil Defence emergencies.