Delivery Practice Manager

About Airways:
Our people manage New Zealand's 30 million square kms of airspace, providing air traffic control, surveillance, communication, flight inspection, mapping, and airspace design services. We work with government, regulatory authorities, airlines, airports, and the general aviation community to ensure pilots, passengers and goods reach their destination - safely. At Airways, our values underpin all that we do. We value Safety, One Airways, Excellence and Success in all that we do.

Our organisation is made up of operational business groups that are supported by governance and corporate services functions. To learn more about our people and organisational structure, check out www.airways.co.nz/about.

About the Team:
The Delivery team is a key function in the Technology Group that is responsible for the effective planning and delivery of programmes and projects to support Airways to deliver on its strategic goals. The Head of Portfolio Delivery has a reporting line to the Chief Information and Technology Officer (CITO) as the head of the Technology Group which reflects the volume of delivery (number and value of projects) that have a strong technology connection across Airways.

The Delivery team also provide programme and project capabilities to other Airways portfolios. The office is seen as a strategic function of Airways that operates with technology and business decision makers to deliver strategic benefits through quality project and program deliverables, support on governance, project portfolio management best practices, mentoring, tools, clear and transparent reporting, and standardised processes for all project, program and portfolio management activities.

About the Projects:
With over a hundred projects on the go at any given point of time, our projects span across engineering/infrastructure, electrical/power, networks, enterprise systems and property.

Our uniquely complex environment includes 20+ inhouse systems, hardware (design, build, installation and maintenance) at 90+ NavAid sites, networks (design, implementation and maintenance), IT services (design, maintenance and improvement), construction and maintenance of buildings.

About the Role:
Newly created full-time permanent opportunity as Delivery Practice Manager to improve how Airways delivers projects, programmes and portfolio outcomes. Reporting to the Head of Portfolio Delivery, this role will be based at our Christchurch campus.

You’ll lead the development of delivery practices, standards, methods, tools and capability maturity to ensure project delivery and governance across the Technology Group are consistent, effective and continuously improving.

You’ll provide leadership for the Delivery Practice team, ensuring resources are deployed effectively, and that quality objectives, common ways of working and practical delivery guidance are established and maintained.

You’ll also provide reliable delivery reporting, metrics, portfolio analysis, tool administration and coordination support for the Project Delivery Managers and the Head of Portfolio Delivery, enabling informed decision making and successful delivery of scheduled work.

Key focus areas: 

• Lead, develop and build an engaged and high performing team.
• Deploy staff and contractors from within the Delivery Practice team, including managing recruitment and contractor agreements in line with Airways policy to support delivery resource requirements.
• Own and evolve delivery frameworks, methodologies, standards, templates and governance practices so they are practical, consistent and fit for purpose.
• Build delivery capability across the Portfolio Delivery team through guidance, coaching, mentoring, training and promotion of good practice.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives across the delivery lifecycle, using lessons learned, stakeholder feedback and delivery data to improve consistency and outcomes.
• Establish and maintain project health checks, quality review practices and improvement actions that strengthen portfolio delivery quality over time.
• Analyse portfolio performance data to identify trends, systemic risks, bottlenecks and opportunities to improve delivery predictability and success.
  

For a full list of tasks and responsibilities, refer to the attached position description on our careers site.

About You:
You’ll bring proven leadership and management skills, with the ability to build capability across cross-functional teams whilst improving delivery frameworks, methods, standards and practices over time.

Additionally, you will have: 

• 10+ years industry experience with 5 years gained in a project environment such as a Strategy Office, Portfolio Office, Programme Office, Project Management Office or similar.
• 5+ years industry experience supporting capability development and providing reporting to governance groups.
• Relevant Tertiary degree in project management and delivery or equivalent experience in New Zealand/or internationally.
• PMP accreditation or similar professional project management qualification.
• Collaborative approach essential to fulfil key stakeholder needs and bring a continuous improvement approach to delivery support practices and reporting.
• Knowledge and experience with the practical application of different project management methodologies, models, and PPM tools (such as Sentient, Project Server/Project Online, PlanView, Microsoft pmo365, etc.).
• Ability to work in a dynamic business environment, influence and collaborate with people internally and externally, show resilience and agility, take ownership and focus on delivering successful business outcomes.
  

Beneficial:

• Professional qualifications in Portfolio Programme Project Management (P3M3) or Project Portfolio Management (PPM).
• Ability to identify and manage resource constraints and appropriately deploy staff to support.
  

To Apply:
Join our newly established Delivery team and expand your career at a State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) with an international reputation for innovation and success. This is your opportunity to effect real change by submitting your application (CV and cover letter) via the Airways careers site or Seek.

Please note that you must be legally eligible to work in New Zealand to be considered.

This role will require the successful candidate to undergo pre-employment background checks including but not limited to references, drug and alcohol screening and criminal conviction.

Application closing date is Wednesday, 23 September 2026.

At Airways, our people are at the heart of what we do to keep NZ skies safe. We are committed to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace where people feel they belong and can bring their whole self to work. We currently hold the Rainbow Tick and NQTick (neurodiversity) and are working towards Gender Tick. We make our recruitment decisions based on the best candidate for the job and therefore encourage applications from diverse candidates.

Position description Apply now

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