Project Director - Auckland Airport

• Takes ownership for holistic project performance. 
• Understands and actively promotes joint ownership of programme performance and enterprise success.
• Manages projects across all stages to achieve expected benefits and brief requirements, ensuring efficient management of scope, cost, time, quality, risk, safety, stakeholders, and environment.
• Creates and maintains detailed project execution plans outlining tasks, timelines, resources, and key milestones.
• Develops a resource plan to ensure sufficient resources, skill, and care are applied to all project aspects.
• Understands the full scope of the project, including enterprise-wide dependencies and ensures that project(s) programmes take account of airport requirements such as other project(s), operational interfaces, restricted access, peak periods, flight schedules and stakeholder relocations etc.
• Actively manages project/programme dependencies within the enterprise integrated schedule.
• Tracks project progress and performance proactively, adjusting plans as necessary to ensure successful completion.
• Actively manages project interfaces and understands deeply the impact of these on other projects and the enterprise.  Actively promotes enterprise level, best for business solutions even if these may not be to the immediate advantage of projects under direct control.
• Ensures that project dashboards and progress reports are accurate, on-time and complete.
• Ensures regular and effective project meetings are held for progress, control, governance etc. 
• Prepares and presents executive level (C-Suite, AKL Board of Directors) governance papers and presentations.  Owns and ensures successful governance Gate submissions.
• Using a deep understanding of unique airport requirements, proactively identifies and critically analyses project(s) strategic and tactical risk, identifies synergies, opportunities and mitigations, and ensures that these are incorporated into project risk management practice.  Ensures that formal risk management remains throughout the life of the project(s). 
• Actively contributes to programme and enterprise risk capture and mitigation activities.
• Escalates risk and opportunity to senior management where necessary.
• Understands the value of process and ensures the application of infrastructure delivery methodologies. 
• Establishes and monitors processes for efficient and robust management of documents and submittals and ensures that these are reviewed, responded to or otherwise processed in accordance with requirements. 
• Makes time to consider alignment, coordination, working relationships and motivation within the project team and wider business and stakeholder groups.  Provides clear direction on roles and responsibilities and promotes the value of teamwork. 
• Recognises conflicts and resolves them before they affect performance. 
• Recognises and understands the breadth of specialist knowledge within the airport and uses it to the project’s advantage.

• Ensures that business requirements are captured and aligned to optimal business outcomes, and that design is robustly controlled though all phases of asset development.
• Leads the iteration of business requirements with the broader business to achieve best-for -business benefit and cost outcomes.
• Ensures that design deliverables are reviewed for completeness and compliance with project requirements, briefs and Auckland Airport design standards, and that findings are appropriately addressed and closed in a timely manner.
• Ensures that regulatory peer reviews are performed and closed in a timely manner.
• Actively champions tight control of scope and careful management of scope change with all parties.
• Acts to mitigate the impacts of change through decisive action on early warnings.
• Assesses project changes against requirements, proactively engages with the business to negotiate best-for-business outcomes, and expedites change decisions through governance.
• Enables site possession and facilitates project kick-off.
• Develops a permitting plan to ensure compliance and timely approvals.
• Monitors site compliance in collaboration with the Construction Operations Manager.
• Ensures the external appearance of sites is given appropriate care and attention, using hoardings as storytelling opportunities
• Expedites the resolution of non-conforming items ensuring that AKL’s interests as a long term asset owner and maintainer are protected.
• Ensures that Testing and Commissioning Plans are developed and executed in alignment with AKL operational and maintenance activity.
• Facilitates project alignment with ORAT activities.
• Professionally represents the project and wider business in infrastructure communication and public relations activities.
• Ensures that projects have a robust quality assurance programme in place covering all project disciplines.
• Leads post-project evaluations, capturing lessons learned and identifying opportunities for process improvements.  Contributes to process improvement activities with the broader infrastructure business.

• Working closely with the Stakeholder team, forms a stakeholder engagement plan, maintains strong stakeholder relationships, and manages competing interests among diverse stakeholder groups with diplomacy and strategic awareness.
• Uses well developed influencing ability to guide stakeholders towards best-for-business outcomes.
• Facilitates regular updates to stakeholders on timelines, progress, and impacts. 

• Works closely with Commercial and Procurement specialist to define and implement well considered procurement strategies which provide optimal commercial value to AKL for both assigned projects and the enterprise as a whole.
• Ensures that procurement activity is executed efficiently and professionally.
• Supports the Commercial Manager to ensure professional contract administration for project(s), and that this is documented in accordance with departmental procedures. 
• Ensures that airport risk coverage requirements (financial due diligence, bonds, insurances, retentions etc.) are in place throughout the life of the project(s) 
• Ensures that progress payments are properly analysed for entitlement prior to certification.  Processes and approves payments under delegated authority level. 
• Champions active claims prevention by driving the resolution of issues at the early warning stage. 
• Brings strategic thinking to claims resolution activity and ensures that claims are professionally reviewed for entitlement.  Together with Commercial Manager, determines entitlement on behalf of the airport.   
• Ensures that contract deliverables are logged and verified as received throughout the life of the project(s).  Reviews recommendation for Practical and Final Completion certificates and authorises on behalf of the airport where appropriate. 
• Ensures that project estimates and budgets are robust and appropriate for the scope of work, the stage of development, and the operational environment.
• Manages project cost and forecast to complete tightly against budget.  Is able to transparently and quantitatively articulate overall commercial position with reference to cost, change, forecast to complete, schedule and risk at executive / C-Suite / Board of Directors level.
• Ensures all documents created during the project lifecycle are stored, managed and turned over in accordance with business procedures.

• Acts as day-to-day manager for Infrastructure functional staff (engineering, controls, commercial) assigned to project, providing direction, support, guidance and mentorship.
• Works with other AKL Business Unit functional teams to support their specialist activities across legal, communications, stakeholder, safety, customer and operations
• Monitors resource utilisation and ensures allocations as required.  

• Sets and effectively communicates project purpose, vision and strategic plan to project participants.
• Leads cross-functional teams including Senior Project Managers, Project Managers, Design Managers, Commercial Managers, Construction Operations Managers, Cost and Controls Managers etc., fostering a high-performance, collaborative work environment.  
• Guides and supports internal staff, consultants, and contractors to meet project goals, setting clear expectations, providing feedback, and fostering a high-performance culture.
• Promotes effective communication and collaboration across business departments and stakeholders to ensure project alignment and smooth execution.
• Leads teams through project changes and shifting priorities while maintaining focus, morale, and momentum.
• Manages by empowering people to provide solutions. 
• Contributes to team growth through mentoring, performance evaluation, and identifying development needs.
• Develops and maintain a productive, harmonious and motivated team through the implementation of Auckland Airport’s People & Capability strategies and policies
• Leads by example, living the Auckland Airport values every day

• Role models Auckland Airport’s commitment to “People First” Health, Safety & Wellbeing approach
• Leads by example, demonstrating and communicating visibly safe work.
• Ensures all incidents are reported and investigated in a timely manner to enable continuous learning and improvement.
• Consults, engages and communicates within your team and to others, to manage and improve Health, Safety and Wellbeing.
• Understands and communicates the Health, Safety and Wellbeing risks and controls across all the work your team carry out and maintain high levels of risk awareness within your team.

• Leading a multi-million to billion dollar project(s) within an operational airport with competing priorities and multiple interdependencies within the programme and other programmes.
• Ensuring the project goals remain aligned with evolving operational/stakeholder needs and regulatory requirements.
• Managing and influencing multiple internal and external stakeholders balancing competing priorities and maintaining buy-in while continuing to deliver against target deliverables
• Proactively managing any risks to ensure the project(s) are delivered on time and within budget.
• Managing resources, balancing timelines, budgets and staff to meet project objectives without compromising quality.
• Ensuring the project(s) comply with all regulatory and operational requirements throughout their lifecycle.
• Leading collaboration, internally within cross-departmental and functional teams but also externally with stakeholders and contractors

• Gaining co-operation, advising, liaising, resolving conflicts.
• Providing information, influencing and negotiating mutually beneficial outcomes, stakeholder management, collaboration.
• Explaining things to people, clarifying, giving clear understanding.

• Extensive experience (20+ years’) in project management across a variety of infrastructure.
• 10+ years experience as project manager for complex infrastructure over $0.4B in value.
• End to end project delivery including strategic front end shaping of projects through to close out and transition to operations.
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of project delivery and construction and well-established networks in the industry.
• Proven leader of people with the ability to work with professional, operational, technical and trades staff and contractors
• Ability to both think and act efficiently in a changing and complex environment with project-specific objectives in mind
• Demonstrated ability to leverage optimal outcomes from diverse and sometimes conflicting priorities 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills including working with Senior Management, C-Suite Executives and Boards of Directors.
• Outstanding stakeholder management skills
• Demonstrated strong commercial acumen and ability to successfully navigate and resolve significant challenges effecting project performance and/or outcomes 
• Proactive in finding and implementing practical solutions to technical problems
• Private sector experience
• Client-side experience is an advantage

Internal                                                                                                Purpose of contact with this person/s                                     

• Programme Director, Infrastructure Leadership Team (including the Chief Infrastructure Officer), other AKL C-Suite executives and AKL Board of Directors at times.
• Wider Infrastructure team, particularly those in programme and functional support. 

• ORAT, Operations and Retail, Airport Emergency Services (AES), Engineering Services (ES), Finance, Safety and Risk, Compliance and Legal teams.  

• All sponsoring customer facing business units   

• Business Unit Managers and other Internal stakeholders   

• Gaining co-operation, advising, liaising, resolving minor conflicts
• Facilitating, motivating, influencing and persuading

External

• Consultants, contractors, Airlines, Border Agencies, Government Agencies, suppliers, passengers and public.

• Providing information and key updates 
• Influencing and negotiating mutually beneficial outcomes 
• Stakeholder management 

• A tertiary qualification, preferably in Engineering, Construction, Science or Management

• Post-graduate qualification in project or programme management
• Membership of an appropriate professional institution

Desirable

• Extensive experience (20+ years’) in project management across a variety of infrastructure.
• 10+ years experience as senior project manager and/or project director for complex infrastructure over $0.4B in value.
• End to end project delivery including strategic front end shaping of projects through to close out and transition to operations.
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of project delivery and construction and well-established networks in the industry.
• Proven leader of people with the ability to work with and motivate professional, technical and trades staff and contractors
• Ability to both think and act efficiently in a changing and complex environment with project-specific objectives in mind
• Demonstrated ability to leverage optimal outcomes from diverse and sometimes conflicting priorities 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills including working with Senior Management C-Suite Executives and Boards of Directors.
• Demonstrated commercial acumen and ability to successfully navigate and resolve significant challenges effecting project performance and/or outcomes 
• Private sector experience

• Client-side experience is an advantage

• Outstanding stakeholder management skills
• Organised, rational and understands the critical details
• Acts assertively, communicates constructively and makes timely decisions.

• People first

• Seek understanding
• Acknowledge others
• Empathise and support
• Diverse & inclusive

• Explore and solve together
• Curious and open
• Bring your voice & share your skills
• Unite and collaborate
• Right people in the room

• Challenge yourself
• Take pride
• Act with intent and integrity
• Keep your word
• Deliver excellence