Manager Leadership and Talent at NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi

Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

20 Sep, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

22 Jun, 26

Experience

10 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Leadership Development, Talent Management, Succession Planning, Organisational Development, Stakeholder Management, Leadership Assessment, Strategic Planning, Team Leadership, Analytical Capability, Business Partnering, Governance, Performance Management

Industry

Government Administration

Description

Shape leadership capability and succession across NZTA Lead enterprise-wide talent, assessment, and leadership development strategy Build future-ready leadership pipelines that deliver for New Zealand Shape, Grow, and Strengthen Leadership Capability Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity As the Manager - Leadership & Talent, you will lead NZTA Waka Kotahi’s approach to leadership development, talent, and succession. Reporting to the Head of Learning & Organisational Development, this is a newly created and strategically important role that reflects NZTA’s increased focus on leadership capability. We are establishing this role to bring more dedicated resource and a more joined-up approach to leadership development, talent, and succession across the organisation. This role will set the direction for how these elements work together to strengthen leadership depth and readiness. You’ll bring together leadership development, assessment, and succession insights to strengthen leadership capability as a key lever for organisational performance. Working across the business, you will partner with senior leaders, capability specialists, and external providers to design and embed practical, high-quality development solutions at scale. Key responsibilities Lead NZTA’s leadership development approach, including core pathways and priority initiatives Establish clear succession and talent governance to strengthen leadership pipelines Drive talent identification and leadership assessment approaches (e.g. 360 feedback, self-assessment) Manage leadership development solutions, including external providers and market engagement Ensure leadership development is connected to broader talent and succession processes so leaders are supported consistently across the employee lifecycle Strengthen the leadership capability that underpins organisational performance, decision making, and readiness for the future Provide insights and reporting on leadership capability, succession health, and development impact Lead and develop a high-performing team, building capability and setting clear priorities To view a copy of position description, click here. Ko koe tēnei | About you What you’ll bring to the role: You are a strategic leader with a passion for building leadership capability at scale. You bring a strong organisational development lens, combined with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and deliver practical, well-governed solutions in complex environments. You will also bring: Significant experience shaping leadership development and organisational capability strategies Strong expertise in succession planning, talent governance, and leadership assessment Experience selecting and managing external providers and development solutions Proven ability to connect leadership development with broader talent and succession processes in a cohesive way Strong analytical capability—able to turn insights into clear, actionable outcomes Credibility and confidence in working with senior leaders across complex organisations Experience leading and developing high-performing teams A collaborative, business partnering approach with a focus on impact and delivery You’ll also demonstrate, or be willing to develop, an understanding of Te Ao Māori, tikanga and Te Tiriti o Waitangi as they apply in the public sector. Mō mātou | About us At NZTA Waka Kotahi, we’re working to deliver a transport system that serves all New Zealanders—now and into the future. Our Pūmanawa Tāngata (People and Safety) group enables this by building the capability, systems, and culture needed to perform today and evolve for tomorrow. The Learning and Organisational Development team plays a critical role in driving leadership and workforce capability uplift across the organisation. We offer flexibility (Wellington or Auckland preferred) and the opportunity to shape leadership capability at an enterprise level—making a real difference for NZTA and Aotearoa. Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply Click apply to upload your CV and cover letter outlining your suitability for the role. Rā Katinga | Applications close: 6 July 2026 For further information, email: careers@nzta.govt.nz To be considered for this position you must have a legal right to live and work in New Zealand. Waka Kotahi is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We recognise the importance of diversity and inclusion and are committed to providing a working environment that embraces these values. Please let us know if you need any support or have any access requirements that will help you through the recruitment process. Please note that we may begin shortlisting as we receive applications. We encourage early applications as we may withdraw the advertising at any time. Ko wai mātou | About us At Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, it all starts with our people. The organisation's performance and success depends on the people who choose to make this a great place to work and make a difference for Aotearoa. Waka Kotahi has a strong future focus, understanding that new technologies and changing customer expectations mean the transport system we know today will not be the one we deliver in ten years time.

Responsibilities

Lead the enterprise-wide strategy for leadership development, talent identification, and succession planning to strengthen leadership pipelines. Partner with senior leaders and external providers to design and embed high-quality development solutions that drive organisational performance.