Contract Manager - North

Te Kaunihera aa Takiwaa o Waikato (Waikato District Council) serves the Waikato District which covers more than 400,000 hectares (418.893ha). It borders Hamilton City from the north, east and west. There are 2,422 kilometres of roads which you can travel throughout the district.

At Te Kaunihera aa Takiwaa o Waikato you will find a welcoming and inclusive workplace that supports, challenges and encourages you to stay continually ahead of the game.

About this role :

Waikato District Council is seeking an experienced Contract Manager (North) to lead the delivery of our multi-million-dollar Road Maintenance and Renewals Contract (RMRC) with Higgins Contracting Ltd.

This role is critical to ensuring the safe, efficient and sustainable operation of our northern roading network, covering 1200 hundreds of kilometres of sealed and unsealed roads, drainage, pavement renewals and emergency-works recovery programmes.

This is a senior operational leadership position within the Transport Operations team and plays a vital role in delivering Waikato District’s “Safe & Reliable Access 24 / 7” vision.

What I do?

• Driving forward-works planning, renewals forecasting and emergency-works response.
• Maintaining strong commercial, operational and partner relationships across Higgins, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, and other stakeholders.
• Supporting the Operations Manager and Transport Manager in reporting, risk management, and long-term planning.
• Day-to-day management of the RMRC, ensuring works are delivered on time, on budget, and to the required standards.
• Monthly and annual reporting, budget control, claims validation and value-for-money assessments.
• Lead and mentor Area Engineers, fostering accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Develop and maintain forward-works programmes (FWPs) for renewals, reseals, rehabs and minor improvements.
• Proactively manage delivery risks, audits and quality controls.
• Lead site assessments, funding applications, and delivery of emergency repairs.
• Build constructive relationships with contractors, consultants, communities, and internal teams.
• Champion data-driven decision making using systems such as RAMM, dTIMS, and One Network Framework.

What I bring :

You are a commercially astute, technically skilled leader who thrives in an environment balancing field delivery, contract compliance and community outcomes.

Why join our team?

At Waikato District Council, we’re shaping a district that’s Liveable, Thriving and Connected. You’ll be joining a high-performing Transport Operations team that manages over 2,500 km of roads and leads innovative resilience and recovery programmes across the region.

Additional Information

Hours of work : 40 hours per week

We have a strong safety culture and as part of this our preferred candidates will be required to undergo pre-employment screening which includes alcohol and drug testing.

For a confidential discussion, contact :

Attinder Singh – Manager Transport Operations

Submit your application today!

Application closing date :

Sunday, 23rd of November 2025 at 11 : 55pm.

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