Manager Transport

Nationally we have some infrastructure challenges ahead of us. Our pipes, schools, hospitals, ferries and roads have started to creak, and asset management planning is now, belatedly, a hot topic.

It's a hot topic at Porirua City Council too.

In this senior role you will be steward of all Council assets in the roading corridor, including those we haven't yet built. You'll lead a team of professionals who are motivated, customer focused and dedicated to ensuring people can move around Porirua safely and efficiently.

You'll be supported by an experienced and collegial cohort of peers and executives who will provide an environment to let you be your best, and to get the best out of your team.

Our People, Our Harbour, Our Home.

Porirua City is a young City with significant growth opportunities.

The Northern part of Porirua is the only remaining greenfields site in the metropolitan Wellington region, with space for up to 5-7,000 new homes. Those homes need to be connected to transport networks with assets that are yet to be built.

In the East and West of Porirua, existing networks are close to capacity, but these areas are ideal for further intensification. There is limited budget, so the city needs to prioritise investment to the areas with the greatest benefit to be derived.

About this role and you

In this senior role you'll need to be able to work strategically alongside the New Zealand Transport Agency, KiwiRail and the Greater Wellington Regional Council to ensure positive transport outcomes. It will also be a priority to form and maintain a strong working relationship with Ngāti Toa.

You'll need to make sure we are looking after our existing infrastructure, not just building new things. Porirua has 295 kilometres of sealed roads, 23 bridges, five footbridges, almost 400 kilometres of kerb and channel, four kilometres of culverts, 44,500 traffic signs, three sets of traffic signals and 14 car parking lots that need to be managed, maintained and renewed. If asset management planning isn't already in your DNA, it will be within a few days of starting with us.

You'll provide input to the Infrastructure Strategy, Transport Asset Management Plan, Long Term Plan and District Plan and focus on maintaining, operating and developing the transport network as a strategic enabler of Porirua City's wider priorities.

You'll need to be able to lead change around hot topics such as temporary traffic management and you'll need to be shrewd financially, making the most of funding opportunities from Government and private Development Contributions.

You'll need to be a collaborator, constantly driving change, balancing growth while achieving a cleaner harbour and reduced carbon for our city.

You'll be part of our highly regarded Infrastructure Management Team, with colleagues working on three waters, waste and parks.

You'll need to be comfortable in a Council chamber responding to sharp questions, and you'll need to be prepared to front the media on occasions.

Reporting to the General Manager Infrastructure, the Manager Transport is first and foremost a leader. While a transport background would be useful, it isn't essential. The team needs a leader who can provide direction and support, own and resolve tricky challenges, take judicious risks and communicate, and to build a culture that gets the very best from the team.

We are looking for someone with the right attitude and below is a wish list of what we are looking for, but if you don't tick all the boxes, we would still welcome your application.

It's important to us that you have strong people and leadership skills, with the credibility, personality and approach to transform and lead a professional team.

You will need a strategic approach, with an ability to talk tactically. You will bring a level of culture competency with the ability to engage with diverse communities and an ability to balance strategic opportunities and risks. You will have a strong relationship management focus that inspires trust and confidence and builds productive relationships with key stakeholders as well as decision-makers.

Your financial planning and management will be a strong point, and you will have in-depth experience in budgeting, reporting, and managing Local Government funding.

The General Manager will expect you to be fully committed to striving for excellence in safety management, and to be involved in planning and deploying in emergency management.

What you need to do now

Porirua City Council is committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. We actively encourage applications from all backgrounds. If you have any support or access requirements during our recruitment process, please let us know when you apply, and we'll do our best to get you sorted.

If you are excited about the opportunity to lead and develop the Transport Team for Porirua City Council please apply via our careers centre: www.poriruacity.govt.nz/careers.

Applications need to be received via our careers centre by 7 May 2025.