Title:  Signals Workforce Manager

Signals Workforce Manager

Position Description

• People leadership focus
• Collaborative, operational direction
• 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 Signals Workforce Manager is responsible for the people leadership, capability, and availability of Signals staff, ensuring KiwiRail has a safe, competent, and sustainable signals workforce to support maintenance and network intervention activities. The role provides line management for Leading Hands, Technicians and Signals Maintainers. 

The Signals Workforce Manager does not own delivery outcomes, work scope, or sequencing. Instead, the role works in close partnership with the Signals and Telecoms Superintendent, who provides operational direction for what work is done and when, while the Signals Workforce Manager ensures the right people are available, competent, and supported to do it. 

This role is required to: 

• Provide people and technical leadership to the signals workforce, including Leading Hands, Technicians, and Signals Maintainers, in line with KiwiRail policies and employment agreements.
• Act as, or engage, a technical subject matter expert across signalling discipline, to actively coach, mentor, and support staff in the safe, compliant, and effective execution of work, by reinforcing standards, system knowledge, and best practice.
• Assure workforce competence, certification, and medical fitness, ensuring personnel are appropriately trained, assessed, authorised, and fit to perform safety-critical roles.
• Own the coordination of signalling training, assessments, and recertification, maintaining robust competency records and proactively identifying and addressing capability gaps and emerging skill risks.
• Ensure readiness, availability, and safe use of plant, tools, test equipment, and systems, embedding disciplined asset care and escalating defects or constraints promptly.
• Manage workforce deployment and availability, including rostering and leave, to meet agreed delivery requirements while supporting fatigue management, wellbeing, and safe hours of work.
• Lead recruitment, onboarding, succession planning, and retention for signals roles, building depth of technical capability and resilience across safety-critical positions.
• Drive performance management and continuous professional development, providing clear expectations, structured coaching, and regular feedback to lift individual and team performance.
• Champion health, safety, and wellbeing across the signals workforce, role-modelling safe behaviours and reinforcing personal accountability at all levels.
• Work in close partnership with the Signals & Telecommunications Superintendents and Planning teams, ensuring workforce capability, capacity, and technical input are aligned with planned works, access strategies, and system interfaces.
• Ensure compliance with employment legislation, MECA provisions, KiwiRail people policies, and safety-critical role requirements, applying them consistently and pragmatically within the operational environment.

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

Knowledge and experience 

• Proven experience leading operational or field-based workforces

• Strong understanding of safety-critical environments

• Experience with workforce planning, industrial agreements, and people management

• Exposure to rail, construction, or infrastructure environments desirable

Ways of working / Work-related qualities 

• Strong people leadership and interpersonal skills.

• Calm, fair, and consistent decision-m 

• Able to work collaboratively with delivery-focused roles without role overl

• Comfortable managing difficult conversations and industrial matters

• Committed to safety, wellbeing, and workforce sustainability

Other Requirements 

• Ability to pass drug and alcohol screening requirements

• Current and valid NZ driver’s licence

• Willingness to travel and work flexible hours as required

Qualifications 

• Relevant trade, operational, or management qualification, or equivalent experience

• Leadership or people management training desirable

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:  6 April 2026