Infrastructure Design Lead

The Infrastructure Design Lead provides portfolio-wide leadership for infrastructure design across Auckland Airport’s major infrastructure programme. Leading Design Managers and multidisciplinary technical specialists, you will bring together design delivery, technical standards, operational requirements and assurance to ensure solutions are practical, safe, high quality and deliver whole-of-life value.

This is a senior leadership opportunity within our Infrastructure Design and Engineering team, reporting to the Head of Infrastructure Design and Engineering.

What you will be doing

Your key responsibilities are: 

• Lead and manage the integrated infrastructure design function across the capital portfolio.
• Establish consistent design management practices, governance, standards and reporting across projects.
• Lead multidisciplinary design reviews, assurance, interface management and Safety in Design.
• Embed constructability, operability, maintainability, resilience and whole-of-life thinking throughout design development.
• Provide coordinated design and technical input into planning, feasibility, procurement and investment decisions.
• Build strong relationships across project teams, operations, asset management, consultants and delivery partners.
• Develop design capability through coaching, knowledge sharing, continuous improvement and a Centre of Excellence approach.

What you will bring to the role

To ensure your success in this role, you will need: 

• A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Engineering, Architecture, or a related discipline
• 10–15 years’ experience across engineering, architecture, infrastructure design, design management, or related roles.
• Proven leadership of multidisciplinary design teams across multiple large-scale infrastructure projects.
• Strong experience in design planning, governance, review, assurance, and interface management.
• Experience developing, applying, and governing design standards and requirements
• Demonstrated ability to embed constructability and whole-of-life considerations into design, including in operational or brownfield environments.
• Strong commercial awareness and experience managing consultants and specialist contracts.
• A collaborative leadership style with the ability to influence, resolve complex issues and exercise sound judgement.

About us

From the arrival of the Tainui Waka into the Manukau Harbour, Auckland Airport has always been a place of journeys. We stand proudly as the gateway to Aotearoa, welcoming travellers beginning their journeys, farewelling Kiwis to new destinations, connecting businesses and workers to new opportunities, and celebrating partners and investors who back us along the way. 

We have ambitions to be a global hub and a comprehensive development programme to deliver this vision. 

With so many moving parts to keep the airport precinct running, it’s our collaboration and passion that keeps everything together. This is what our culture and heritage have been built on. When you work with us, you’ll share our ambition to be a great New Zealand business, and one that’s making a strong contribution to the wellbeing of our communities and economy. 

E mahi ana mātou mō Aotearoa. We are working for New Zealand.

Apply today

It’s our collaboration and passion that keep everything together. This is what our culture and heritage have been built on. When you work with us, you’ll share our ambition to be a great New Zealand business, and one that’s making a strong contribution to the wellbeing of our communities and economy. 

If this role sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you. Click the “Apply” button now.   

Please note that applications will be reviewed continuously throughout the recruitment period, and appointments may be made before the official closing date of the advert. 

#WeAreAucklandAirport 

#aviationcareers 

#MakingJourneysBetter