Senior Transport Planner

About the role

The NZ Transport Agency (Waka Kotahi) is seeking a Senior Transport Planner on a fixed‑term contract to February 2027. This full‑time position is preferably based in Christchurch or Dunedin, but remote candidates in New Zealand may be considered. You will apply system‑level integrated thinking to a range of transport projects, from strategic regional plans to large‑scale investment cases.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the transport outcomes of projects from inception through delivery, shaping investment narratives with rigorous analysis.
• Develop and appraise investment cases ranging from multi‑billion‑dollar programmes to minor interventions.
• Collaborate with local councils, agencies and internal NZTA teams on strategic plans and plan‑change reviews.
• Provide technical transport planning expertise for development applications and support other NZTA units.
• Manage and review consultant outputs, ensuring alignment with subject‑matter expertise.

Required profile

• Confident self‑starter with a collaborative mindset and strong communication skills.
• Proven experience delivering transport planning work in an investment‑case context, including option development, appraisal, stakeholder engagement and project approvals.
• Experience leading consultant activity and reviewing technical outputs.
• Working knowledge of project development and investment‑case principles.
• Growth mindset with a willingness to mentor and share knowledge.

Required skills

What we offer

• Opportunity to work on high‑impact transport projects across New Zealand.
• Engagement with a diverse range of stakeholders and agencies.
• Professional development within the nation’s largest infrastructure delivery agency.