Title:  Network Workforce Manager

Network Workforce Manager

Position Description

• Provide strategic workforce direction
• Drive continuous improvement
• Permanent, Wellington based

He kōrero mō mātou | About us:

At KiwiRail, we connect New Zealanders sustainably, powering economic growth and ensuring vital freight and passenger services run smoothly. Our mission, "Stronger Connections, Better New Zealand," highlights our dedication to sustainability and community well-being. 

Our people make KiwiRail exceptional. By fostering a diverse, inclusive, and supportive workplace, we empower everyone to contribute their best. If you’re passionate about innovation and safety, we’d love to welcome you aboard. 

He whakamārama mō te tūranga mahi | About the role:

The Network Workforce Manager exists to ensure the workforce is supported, skilled, and ready to deliver by people capability, training, wellbeing, safety and workforce logistics across all operational teams. The role provides strategic influence across operational, commercial, and people domains, leading high-value workforce and commercial discussions that shape delivery outcomes and protect KiwiRail’s reputation. You will develop and implement forward-thinking methodologies and ways of working that improve efficiency, resilience, and long-term network performance.

The Network Workforce Manager is the senior leader accountable for the Wellington Metro workforce, ensuring our people are safe, skilled, and ready to deliver.  The role exists to build and sustain a capable, resilient, and engaged workforce by leading people capability, training, wellbeing, and workforce logistics across the network. It provides clear, timely workforce insight and practical support that enables effective operations, strengthens team performance, and ensures the right people with the right skills are in the right place at the right time.

In addition to workforce stewardship, the role drives continuous improvement in how work is done — across both people and equipment — fostering a culture of learning, development, and talent growth that supports long-term network performance and protects KiwiRail’s operational and reputational outcomes.

This role is required to:

• Exercise end-to-end accountability for the Wellington Metro workforce
• Provide strategic workforce direction across the Metro, ensuring the organisation has the capability, capacity, and leadership depth required to deliver current and future operational, maintenance, and capital programmes
• Shape forward-looking workforce strategies, aligning capability development, training pipelines, and succession planning with long-term network investment, access strategies, and organisational priorities
• Direct workforce planning at a network-wide level, aligning people, skills, rosters, and availability with operational demand, access windows, programme sequencing, and delivery risk across multiple functions and time horizons
• Provide authoritative workforce insight and risk advice to senior leaders
• Drive continuous improvement in ways of working
• Build and sustain critical technical and leadership capability across the Metro
• Influence strategy planning and investment decisions, ensuring workforce considerations are embedded early in programme development, access planning and major initiatives
• Lead and develop the Network Workforce team as a centre of expertise, setting clear expectations, building specialist capability, and embedding high standards of leadership, planning and performance
• Act as the operational interface to corporate people and commercial functions, translating corporate frameworks into practical, fit-for-purpose solutions that support safe, efficient, and reputationally sound delivery outcomes
• Champion a culture of safety, professionalism, and continuous improvement
• Work in partnership with the GM Auckland Metro Network and their wider team to develop and implement a consistent, metro-wide approach to workforce strategy, capability development, and deployment models

Ngā pukenga e rapu nei mātou | What (skills) you will bring:

Knowledge and experience 

• You have 12+ years’ experience in leading people to deliver infrastructure works  

• You have managed competencies, tickets and safety-critical work

• You have coordinated training and development with internal and external providers

• You are used to working with rosters, leave balances, workforce data, and managing succession planning effectively

• You have strong demonstrable experience in leading a diverse workforce   

Ways of working / Work-related qualities 

• You put safety first in all workforce decisions

• You are organised and keep on top of multiple deadlines

• You build strong relationships with leaders and front-line teams

• You communicate clearly and turn data into simple actions

• You handle sensitive information with discretion

• You look for better, simpler ways of doing things

• You can influence others without formal authority

Other Requirements 

• You can work in outdoor and operational environments when required

• You can meet required medical, drug and alcohol, and background checks

• You are comfortable wearing PPE and following all site access rules

• You have a current and valid NZ driver’s licence

• You are comfortable using MS Office and collaboration tools

Qualifications 

• You have a relevant tertiary qualification (e.g. Engineering, Business, HR, or similar) or have equivalent experience

• You are open to further training in workforce planning, L&D or change

• You are willing to complete required health and safety training

Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you:

• Competitive salary plus 4% KiwiSaver employer contribution
• 25 annual leave days
• Access to join NZ Rail Staff Welfare Trust where you will enjoy a range of benefits including access to holiday homes across New Zealand, as well as support for optometry, physiotherapy, GP services and prescription costs
• A wide range of discounts at retailers and on scenic trains and Interislander

• Be part of a diverse and inclusive workplace dedicated to innovation, sustainability and community impact

Kua rite, kia rite | Ready to Make a Difference?

Rā aukati | Applications close:  1 April 2026