Programme Manager - Landside Development

About the Opportunity Queenstown Airport Corporation (QAC) is seeking a Programme Manager to lead delivery of a comprehensive landside precinct transformation, forming a critical workstream within QAC's broader redevelopment programme. This role encompasses the planning and delivery of upgraded car parking facilities, a new rental car hub, improved traffic flow and road widening, public transport connection upgrades, and waste management infrastructure, all designed to support the airport's long-term growth and significantly improve the groundside passenger experience. Working alongside specialist consultants, the Programme Manager will manage a programme of approximately $55m and will oversee planning, contractor procurement, consenting processes, and delivery governance from concept through to construction. A key challenge of this role is coordinating works within and around an operating airport environment, managing interface risks with the terminal programme, and engaging effectively with Queenstown Lakes District Council, transport agencies, and other key stakeholders. This role sits within QAC's precinct-based capital delivery structure, following the approval of the Queenstown Airport 2032 Master Plan, and reports into the newly appointed Chief Infrastructure Officer as part of a wider, multi-year infrastructure investment programme. The Role: Owning end-to-end delivery accountability for the landside programme, including scope, budget, timeline, and interdependencies across multiple concurrent workstreams; Leading programme planning covering car parking, rental car hub, traffic and road widening, public transport connections, and waste management infrastructure; Managing contractor procurement, consenting processes, and delivery governance from concept through to construction; Coordinating closely with the terminal redevelopment programme to manage interface risks and ensure integrated delivery outcomes; Engaging and building strong relationships with Queenstown Lakes District Council, transport agencies, regulators, and other key external stakeholders; Identifying and escalating technical, safety, financial, and operational risks — particularly those arising from delivering works within a live, operating airport environment; Providing performance reporting on programme progress, including financial, safety, and risk insights; and Embedding safety-by-design principles and safety leadership across all stages of programme delivery. Required Skills & Experience: You will be an experienced infrastructure or civil programme manager with a strong track record of delivering complex, multi-workstream projects on time and within budget; and You will be comfortable juggling several interdependent work streams at once, and confident coordinating delivery within a live, operational environment. You will also bring: Demonstrated experience delivering complex, multi-year infrastructure or civil programmes at scale; Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage effectively with council, transport agencies, contractors, and community groups; Sound understanding of NZ construction and procurement processes, including consenting and contractor management; The ability to manage interface risk across concurrent, interdependent programmes; Excellent organisational and communication skills, with a collaborative, solutions-focused approach; and Experience in aviation, transport, utilities, or major precinct development is highly regarded. Why join Queenstown Airport? QAC's vision is to be an innovative airport that people love to travel through, and the community takes pride in. Guided by their values: Do the Right Thing, Remarkable Every Day, and We Get It Done; you will be joining a team that genuinely cares about the outcomes it delivers for its people, partners, and community. This is a pivotal role in transforming how passengers and the community experience Queenstown Airport's front door, based in one of New Zealand's most spectacular locations. #J-18808-Ljbffr