Team Leader Operations and Maintenance in Scone

Upper Hutt City Council is seeking an accomplished Team Leader Operations and Maintenance to lead our Infrastructure Operations and Maintenance team. This key leadership position leads road operations, maintenance, renewals and network monitoring across Upper Hutt’s road network. You’ll oversee delivery of the forward works programme and transport operating contracts, ensuring strong technical, financial and service performance.

About the role:

• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team delivering road operations, maintenance, renewals, network inspections and customer response activities.
• Develop and oversee the forward works programme, ensuring transport assets in the road corridor are maintained, inspected and renewed to agreed standards and levels of service.
• Oversee Council’s transport operating contracts, including the General Road Maintenance Contract, and provide leadership on procurement, contract administration, contractor performance and risk.
• Champion health and safety, ensuring effective contractor assurance and management of risks to workers, road users and the public.
• Own the team’s budget, forecasting and performance reporting, and lead its contribution to the Annual Plan and Long Term Plan.
• Provide technical leadership, peer review and engineering decisions within delegated authority.
• Work closely with the Assets and Transport and Engineering teams to align renewals, planned improvements, asset information and investment priorities.
• Build effective relationships with mana whenua, contractors, consultants, regional partners, utility operators and the community, and ensure customer requests are triaged, inspected and progressed within agreed service levels.
• Lead the team’s contribution to emergency response and network resilience, maintain business continuity arrangements and participate in the after‑hours on‑call roster.

You’ll provide visible leadership, sound engineering judgement and a co‑ordinated approach to operational delivery, contractor management and customer service.

What you’ll bring:

• A credible and collaborative leader who combines strong civil engineering and road maintenance expertise with sound programme, financial and people leadership skills.
• A minimum of 10 years’ post‑qualification experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary teams as a subject‑matter expert and communicating effectively with varied audiences.
• Sound working knowledge of general maintenance contract management in a New Zealand local government or road controlling authority context.
• Strong financial, budget, programme and performance management capability.
• A proven ability to build effective relationships with internal teams, contractors and external partners.
• Confidence providing technical assurance, managing risk, making decisions and driving continuous improvement.

You’ll have:

• A relevant tertiary qualification in civil engineering or a related discipline.
• A current full Class 1 driver’s licence.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Chartered Professional Engineer status or equivalent, membership of Engineering New Zealand or an equivalent professional body, working knowledge of Asset and Workflow Management (AWM) or comparable systems, experience contributing to civil defence or emergency responses, and an understanding of relevant legislation including the Land Transport Act and Resource Management Act would be advantageous.

Why join us?

• A collaborative team environment
• An opportunity to lead highly visible road operations, maintenance and renewal services
• Flexible work options and a positive work‑life balance
• Ongoing training and professional development
• A chance to make a lasting impact in your community

Applications close: 5pm, 5 November 2026. We reserve the right to interview and select a candidate prior to the closing date. PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU MUST HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS ROLE.