Programme Manager - Innovation and Strategic Change

• 12-month fixed term role in Wellington. Build enduring relationships.
• Lead and support enterprise innovation and change programmes
• Help turn ideas into evidence-based decisions and new ways of working

Join a critical utility in a small but mighty team driving enterprise-wide innovation. Lead our flexibility and non-transmission solutions programme.

Our core purpose is to empower the energy future for New Zealand – a future that delivers a net-zero carbon economy and a reliable and secure electricity system.

About The Team

The Innovation and Strategic Change team sits in our Strategy, Regulation & Governance division, at the centre of the organisation. We develop and deliver the enterprise programme of work that drives organisational efficiency, and lead Transpower’s innovation and change practice as the subject matter experts. We’re a small, focused team with strong sponsorship, and we work closely with colleagues across Strategy and Regulatory Affairs, Customer and Commercial, Asset Planning, System Planning, Grid Works Delivery and Operations.

The Opportunity - a 12 month fixed term role (due to internal promotion)

As Programme Manager, you’ll support the Head of Innovation and Strategic Change to deliver key enterprise innovation and change programmes, and to drive flexibility and the use of non-transmission solutions. Read more about those here www.transpower.co.nz/our-work/distributed-energy-resources/non-transmission-solutions-explained

You’ll provide management and strategic oversight, bring together focused teams from across the business, and use the right delivery approach and governance to make sure change lands and sticks. You’ll hold accountability for delivery until it has been successfully transitioned to the business.

You’ll enjoy variety in your work as you:

• translate strategic opportunities and innovation roadmaps into scoped discovery, design and delivery activities with clear outcomes and decision points
• run sprints, prototypes and pilots that generate the evidence to proceed, pivot, pause or stop an initiative, and report on the pipeline, risks, dependencies and benefits to governance groups in a concise, decision-focused way
• oversee the flexibility and non-transmission solutions (NTS) programme from planning and procurement through to transition into business as usual and close, while engaging flexibility providers and industry participants, tracking emerging trends and coaching others to build innovation and change capability
• manage programme workstreams and coordinate the staff delivering them

What will you bring?

You’re a strategic thinker who distils big ideas into practical action. An inquisitive problem-solver, you enjoy understanding how assets, networks and large infrastructure businesses work. With relevant experience underpinned by a tertiary qualification you are known for your critical thinking, clear communication and ability to build strong working relationships across teams and business functions, to bring people with you, from senior leaders through to the teams delivering the change.

Calm and considered but happy to work and manage multiple priorities and deliverables at pace, you have exceptional internal and external stakeholder engagement which will help achieve Transpower’s goals and build trust from industry and regulators. You can accommodate infrequent and well-planned overnight travel.

To be considered, your CV and cover letter will demonstrate:

• Experience in asset management, risk management or a large infrastructure business, with an understanding of the operational, regulatory and governance realities that shape what can be delivered
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex programmes end to end, owning scope, plan, budget, risks, dependencies and benefits, and operationalising new practices rather than simply coordinating them
• An innate ability to analyse complex problems, bring forward innovative ideas, run rapid evidence-based tests, and make disciplined recommendations on what to pursue and what to stop
• A track record of embedding change into business as usual and staying accountable until formal close, raising risks and slippage early, and keeping governance reporting accurate, current and decision-focused
• Astute stakeholder engagement, and strong facilitation and communication skills, across senior leaders, delivery teams and external parties (including flexibility providers, industry participants and regulators)
• Experience leading workstreams and staff, setting clear expectations and addressing delivery issues early through direct, professional conversations

Not essential, but we’d view these as advantageous:

• Experience in data analysis and modelling complex systems
• An understanding of the electricity industry, ideally including exposure to non-transmission and flexibility solutions (e.g. demand response or distributed energy resources)
• A project or programme management qualification

Join us at Transpower

Aotearoa is powered by the people who work here. Every home, every marae, every hospital and every electric vehicle relies on the electricity we manage and deliver. With over 31 ethnicities, our people bring diverse perspectives, knowledge, and experience that we value, share, and celebrate.

In the Innovation Team, we work in the office or on-site for a minimum of four days each week, which helps us build and maintain relationships, support learning, deliver outcomes and sustain our culture, while offering flexibility for personal and work commitments.

Next Steps

Bring your programme management and critical thinking to the heart of the electricity sector. Help lead innovation and change that powers Aotearoa! Help shape how we test new ideas, deliver enterprise change and embed what works into the way we operate.

Please review the position description on our careers site and apply Without delay.

Role closes: Monday 23rd November; however, applications will be reviewed as they are received, and exploratory conversations may commence prior to the close date to support shortlisting as we are keen to appoint pre-Christmas! Start date by mutual agreement.