Whakatakoto te tūāpapa | Laying the foundation

At Contact Energy, our purpose is clear, to improve the wellbeing of Aotearoa through smarter, cleaner energy. We are proudly Kiwi, deeply connected to the communities we serve, and committed to leading New Zealand’s decarbonisation journey. Our Renewable Growth team is delivering an ambitious pipeline of major infrastructure projects across geothermal, wind, solar and battery storage, all designed to create long‑term value for generations to come.

A key part of this journey is Tauhara 2, our next major geothermal development near Taupō. Building on decades of geothermal expertise, Tauhara 2 represents an exciting opportunity to deliver a future‑focused, renewable power station while working closely with iwi, hapū and local communities. It’s a project with scale, complexity and purpose, and one that will leave a lasting legacy for Contact Energy and Aotearoa.

Te āhua o te tūranga | The nature of the role

As Senior Project Manager, you’ll be at the heart of delivering our new Tauhara 2 plant, from early definition through to commissioning and handover. You will take ownership of the full project execution phase, leading detailed design, procurement, construction and commissioning, while keeping people safe, outcomes clear and progress on track. Working closely with the Project Director and a diverse group of technical and delivery leaders, you’ll help shape how the project comes to life and how success is achieved.

This is a role for someone who enjoys complexity and collaboration in equal measure. You’ll bring people together, align teams around a shared purpose, and foster a true one team mindset across Contact Energy and our delivery partners. Along the way, you’ll balance technical, commercial and delivery priorities, manage risk, cost and schedule, and ensure the project is delivered safely, efficiently and with pride. You’ll also play a meaningful role in supporting stakeholder relationships and enabling opportunities for community and hapū participation, recognising the wider impact these projects create.

Ko wai koe | About you

You’re a seasoned project leader who knows that great outcomes come from clear thinking, strong relationships and calm leadership under pressure. Ideally, you bring deep experience delivering large, complex infrastructure projects in power generation, energy or adjacent sectors, and you’ve seen projects through from early definition to operational handover. You understand the importance of robust front‑end planning, disciplined project controls, and visible leadership on site, especially when it comes to health, safety, wellbeing and environmental care.

There are a few must‑haves for this role. You’ll need a relevant engineering degree or equivalent qualification, along with significant experience delivering major projects across the full lifecycle. Experience as a senior project manager on large design and build projects is essential, as is confidence working within structured contracting environments and regulatory frameworks. Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, are also key, as you’ll be engaging with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.

There are also some nice‑to‑haves that will help you hit the ground running. Experience in geothermal projects, oil and gas, or working across different cultural and international environments would be a bonus. Familiarity with front‑end engineering design, project execution planning, and mentoring technical professionals will also set you up well.

Just as important as your experience is how you show up. You’re decisive yet collaborative, outcome‑focused yet people‑centred. You take pride in developing others, you’re comfortable navigating ambiguity, and you keep the bigger picture in mind, understanding the legacy our projects create for Contact, our communities and Aotearoa!

There are a bunch of perks to being a permanent Contact kaimahi. Along with great leadership, teammates, development, and growth and progression opportunities, free health insurance cover, better-than-your-average leave, access to Contact Shares, a ‘Good to be Home’ annual payment toward your home set up & wellbeing, a trail-blazing parental leave policy, bi-annual payments towards Contact Energy products, and more!

Here at Contact Energy (Te Mata Hiko), we know our strength lies in developing a sense of belonging - one that helps us attract and retain people with a broad range of perspectives and experiences.

We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to bring their whole selves to work. Our goal is to reflect the diversity of our customers and communities to help build a better Aotearoa New Zealand.

We have a rich community of talented people that we support to thrive at Contact.

Our inclusive hiring process is designed to embrace the diversity of Aotearoa New Zealand, ensuring a wide range of perspectives are included in our decision-making and helping reduce bias along the way.

The wellbeing of our kaimahi is super important to us.

We use employee insights to offer a range of initiatives and resources to support physical, mental, financial and emotional wellbeing – including flexible working arrangements, employee network groups and a market-leading parental leave policy.

At Te Mata Hiko, we want everyone to thrive. We welcome applicants far and wide - of every age, stage, background, and pride. Join us and be part of a team that values your passion and attitude just as much as your experience and skills.

Please note, only candidates with the right to live and work in New Zealand will be considered for this role.

Research shows that while men apply to jobs where they meet 60% of the criteria, women and those in underrepresented groups tend to only apply if they tick every box. We're not about box ticking, so if you think you have what it takes but don't meet everything stated above, please still get in touch. We'd love to kōrero.

Te Mata Hiko (Contact Energy) does not accept any CVs received from recruitment agencies where a formal engagement has not been confirmed and agreed to with our Talent team. In the event that unsolicited CVs are submitted by recruitment agencies, Te Mata Hiko (Contact Energy) reserves the right to contact these candidates directly and consider them for current/future vacancies without any financial obligation to the recruitment agency in question. This will also apply to any CVs sent directly to line managers.