Head of Infrastructure Design and Engineering

About the Company
 
Auckland Airport is New Zealand's front door to the world, and it is in the middle of a significant redevelopment. The programme covers terminal reconstruction and integration, complex airfield and airside works, road networks and long-range master planning. All of it happens around an airport that never closes.
 
AKL owns, operates and maintains everything it builds, so decisions made at the design stage last for decades. That makes early project shaping, design quality and whole-of-life thinking central to how the business invests. Getting infrastructure right here matters to the airport and to New Zealand.
 
Role summary
 
This is a newly shaped senior leadership role, reporting to the Chief Infrastructure Officer. It will be recognised as AKL's most senior technical leader, the equivalent of a Chief Engineer or Technical Director.
 
You will lead four functions: Infrastructure Project Development, Engineering and Architectural Design, Spatial Information and Digital Engineering, and Engineering Logistics. Together they cover the full lifecycle, from concept designs for business cases through to detailed design, assurance and delivery. Your job is to connect the technical expertise in those teams with the organisation's strategy, investment decisions and governance.
 
The strategic opportunity
 
You will lead the work that turns master planning and strategic intent into designs and programmes that can be delivered. That means shaping projects while they are still being defined.
 
You will also build something new. Many of AKL's design specialists now sit inside delivery teams and report to programme directors. You will set the vision, structure and operating model for a Design Centre of Excellence. That community of practice will connect those experts to shared standards and design approaches.
 
Key responsibilities
 
Strategy and project development

• Lead design input into ideation, options and business cases
• Turn master planning concepts into deliverable infrastructure programmes
• Work across the line between strategic planning and delivery
• Make sure business cases reflect realistic cost, risk and whole-of-life value

Design leadership and the Centre of Excellence

• Define and build the Design Centre of Excellence and its community of practice
• Own engineering and architectural design standards, governance and assurance
• Drive consistency, knowledge sharing and professional growth across dispersed teams

Enterprise and executive leadership

• Advise the Chief Infrastructure Officer and Infrastructure Leadership Team
• Present complex technical matters clearly to executives and the Board
• Make balanced, governance-level decisions that weigh technical, commercial and operational priorities

People leadership

• Lead a team of around 25 experienced subject matter experts
• Bring cohesion and clarity to a newly configured leadership group
• Build capability and succession across project development, design, digital engineering and logistics

What you'll bring
 
AKL is looking for a technically credible infrastructure leader who has grown into a broader organisational leader. You don't need to be the deepest expert in every discipline. You do need to lead the people who are and give their thinking a voice at the top table. 

• Degree in Engineering, Architecture, Planning or a related discipline
• 15+ years in large, complex infrastructure capital programmes
• Senior leadership experience, ideally as a Chief Engineer, Technical Director or design lead
• Strong track record in project development, business cases and strategic design
• A proven leader of senior technical specialists and leaders of experts
• Ability to influence without direct authority across matrixed teams
• Excellent communicator who makes complex engineering clear to non-technical audiences
• Emotionally intelligent, pragmatic, calm under pressure and solutions-focused
• Positive and collaborative, and comfortable leading through change
• Desirable: Chartered status, and airport, airside or terminal experience

Deep airport experience is not essential but would be advantageous. And a strong in-house team of specialists is ready to back you.
 
What's in it for you
 
Few roles in New Zealand offer this level of strategic influence over nationally significant infrastructure. You will shape what gets built and how it gets designed, and you'll build a Centre of Excellence that outlasts any single project. You'll be backed by an established leadership team and a clear mandate from the top. For a returning Kiwi or an overseas candidate, this is a rare chance to lead at the highest level on home soil.
 
Benefits

• Enhanced 3,5% Kiwisaver employer contribution
• Life cover, income protection and trauma cover
• Hybrid working with flexibility
• Discounted AKL share scheme and Southern Cross health insurance
• Parental leave topped up to 100% of salary for 18 weeks

Application instructions
To be considered for this position, please submit your CV via the link below. For a confidential discussion, contact Rachel McNickle on [027 274 6821](tel:027 274 6821) or email [email protected]. 
 
All applications will be screened and processed via Assemble Recruitment only.