Technical Project Lead

About the role

We are looking for an experienced Technical Project Lead to join KiwiRail’s engineering team in Wellington. The role will oversee the planning, coordination and delivery of maintenance, repair, upgrade and dry‑dock projects for the Interislander fleet and related shore assets, ensuring safe, compliant and on‑time outcomes.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and support delivery of maintenance, repair, upgrade, dry‑dock and wet‑dock projects across the Interislander fleet and shore facilities.
• Plan, coordinate and supervise major out‑of‑service works to meet safety, regulatory and budget requirements.
• Manage contractors and suppliers, overseeing performance, issue resolution and compliance with Flag State, Classification Society and Zero Harm standards.
• Provide regular reporting on project progress, costs, risks and assurance to senior engineering management.
• Support day‑to‑day engineering operations, including requisitions, reporting and delegated tasks.
• Contribute to asset management planning, capital works programmes and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Act as liaison between ship crews, shore teams and internal stakeholders to minimise customer disruption.

Required profile

• Engineering or trade qualification (essential); project management qualification is desirable.
• Strong experience in heavy engineering environments, preferably maritime or similar industries.
• Proven track record delivering engineering projects and managing contractors.
• Solid understanding of safety, regulatory and compliance requirements in complex operational settings.

Required skills

• Project management
• Engineering principles for maritime and shore assets