General Manager Digital

About The Opportunity

This role offers a unique chance to lead digital initiatives at the Port of Auckland, New Zealand's largest and strategically critical port, amid ongoing successful organizational transformation. Reporting directly to the CEO and as a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the position oversees a 60-person Digital division encompassing technology, architecture, service delivery, digital strategy, and cybersecurity.

Having established strong cultural and performance norms, the focus now is on reinforcing operational confidence while setting a clear digital vision for future growth. The role emphasizes enhancing foundational technology, bolstering delivery capabilities, and driving a pragmatic digital agenda that supports safety, efficiency, productivity, and sustainable business outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with leaders and teams across the organization to foster a strong culture, optimize execution, and elevate overall enterprise performance.
• Lead and manage the Digital function to ensure operational stability, capability improvement, and realization of strategic outcomes.
• Develop and implement a business-driven digital strategy aligned with the organization's growth ambitions.
• Deliver and evolve essential systems and programs into a reliable, scalable digital ecosystem.
• Enhance governance frameworks, investment practices, and cultivate strategic vendor partnerships within the digital domain.
• Build and nurture a high-performing Digital team embracing High Performance, High Engagement (HPHE) methodologies.

Candidate Profile

• Extensive senior leadership experience in digital or technology roles within complex, industrial, operational, or asset-intensive environments.
• Business-oriented technologist with strong commercial insight focused on achieving outcomes.
• Proven history of delivering both stability and transformational change in complex operational settings.
• Technical expertise relating to digital operations, mission-critical systems, and vendor management.
• Comfortable influencing strategic decisions at Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and Board levels.
• Track record of successfully managing large-scale enterprise delivery programs and navigating complex organizational transformations.
• Leadership style characterized by collaboration, transparency, and alignment with High Performance, High Engagement values.
• Strong aptitude for learning agility, talent development, and reducing reliance on any single individual.
• Experience in logistics, ports operations, or industrial sectors is beneficial but not mandatory.

What We Offer

• Executive leadership position with direct access to CEO and Board members.
• A workplace culture that values community spirit ('Whanaungatanga') and encourages teamwork to drive innovation, growth, operational excellence, and safety.
• Opportunity to lead a critical function at New Zealand's most strategically important port.
• Clear mandate to deliver primary objectives followed by transformative initiatives, supported by strong organizational alignment.
• A purpose-driven environment committed to sustainable trade growth benefiting Auckland and New Zealand.
• Strong career progression opportunities within a large, council-owned organization.
• Chance to influence the future operational, digital, and cultural landscape of New Zealand ports.
• Port of Auckland is a proud member of the Pride Pledge, emphasizing inclusivity and diversity.

Additional Information

Applicants must be either New Zealand citizens, residents, or hold a valid visa permitting work in New Zealand. References will be requested during later stages of the recruitment process; please do not include them with your application.

For further inquiries, candidates can contact Cameron at the provided phone number and reference the job ID 18026.