Project Sponsor

About the Role

You will have a critical leadership role influencing decisions on New Zealand’s major transport infrastructure investments, ensuring projects remain aligned with intended objectives. Located ideally in Wellington or Auckland, this permanent full-time position involves governance leadership, decision-making accountability, and confidence provision across large infrastructure projects without direct project management duties.

As a Project Sponsor, you will not manage day-to-day execution or delivery teams but instead use your governance expertise to challenge assumptions, guide strategic decisions, manage emerging risks, and ensure projects are achievable, affordable, and aligned with approved goals. You will collaborate closely with Project Directors, Project Managers, contractors, and senior stakeholders offering both support and constructive challenge. Your leadership will foster conditions for successful delivery and maintain trust among governance forums and decision-makers.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide governance leadership and accountability for major infrastructure projects.
• Challenge project assumptions and address emerging risks to maintain delivery confidence.
• Guide decision-making to balance scope, cost, risk, time, and quality factors.
• Collaborate closely with delivery teams, contractors, and senior stakeholders.
• Maintain alignment of projects with intended outcomes through disciplined oversight.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will be an experienced Project Director, Programme Director, Senior Responsible Owner, or infrastructure leader who has successfully managed large, complex, and politically sensitive infrastructure programs. You bring experience from a governance and sponsorship perspective to ensure strong delivery performance.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Extensive experience in leading major infrastructure or capital investment programs.
• Demonstrated ability to make high-stakes decisions balancing project scope, cost, risk, timeline, and quality.
• Strong governance and assurance capabilities, understanding delegated authority, risk tolerance, and investment accountability.
• Commercial acumen with sound judgment in contracts, dispute resolution, delivery performance, and stakeholder management.
• Credibility to influence senior leaders, delivery teams, and governance bodies without formal authority.
• Advanced strategic and systems thinking skills to understand interdependencies and protect long-term outcomes.
• Excellent communication skills to simplify complexity and instill confidence among executives, boards, and stakeholders.
• Experience coaching and challenging senior project leaders to improve delivery outcomes.

Why Join?

This role offers the chance to help shape New Zealand's future by delivering impactful infrastructure investments. You will be part of a team dedicated to delivery excellence and responsible public investment stewardship that benefits communities nationwide.

Additional Benefits

• Flexible working arrangements.
• Collaborative and high-performing leadership environment.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.

Application Details

Applications close on 17 August 2026. A legal right to live and work in New Zealand is required. Waka Kotahi is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion and offers support for access requirements during recruitment.