Principal - Engineering

He angitūtanga: The opportunity

Join Auckland Council’s Healthy Waters & Flood Resilience department as a Principal in the Northern Operations team, where you’ll be a trusted technical leader shaping the way we operate and maintain Auckland’s stormwater network. 

You’ll bring engineering expertise, contract and risk management capability, and a practical, outcomes-focused approach to support regional and area operations teams on complex issues, emergency repairs and renewal works. 

This role is highly collaborative, working across Council and with key partners including the public to deliver safe, cost-effective solutions that provide value for Aucklanders.

Day-to-day you could expect to work on:

• Responding to Requests for Service (RFS) from local residents and communities and internal and external stakeholders (including Auckland Transport, Watercare, contractors and suppliers)
• Providing senior engineering advice and technical leadership on stormwater network issues, including complex operational problem-solving.
• Leading and overseeing complex emergency repairs and renewal capital works, from scoping through to delivery.
• Managing high-value, high-risk contracts and ensuring strong financial and risk management across work programmes.
• Collaborating with internal and external stakeholders (including Auckland Transport, Watercare, contractors and suppliers) to deliver efficient, best-practice outcomes.
• Contributing to strategic thinking, engineering standards, policies and operational guidance to lift consistency and performance across the business.
• Mentoring and coaching team members, championing continuous improvement, and role-modelling ‘health and safety starts with me’.

Click here to view the Position Description. 

He kōrero mōu: About you

You’re an experienced principal-level engineer with deep knowledge and experience of three waters infrastructure and a track record of delivering pragmatic, safe solutions in an operational environment. You combine strong professional judgement with the ability to translate complex technical information into clear, everyday language. 

Building trusted relationships is a key strength of yours along with leading through influence, and you bring a proactive, mentoring approach that strengthens team culture and capability. 

Specifically, we are looking for:

• A bachelor’s degree in civil, water or environmental engineering (or equivalent).
• Chartered / professional registration (preferred).
• 15+ years’ experience in the three waters infrastructure sector, operating independently at Principal level.
• Strong capability across contract management, site safety (including safety in design), design/design management, and risk management for complex water infrastructure.
• Proven stakeholder management experience, ideally including local government and a politically aware environment.
• Ability to participate in an on-call roster across the two Northern Operations teams.

Please note: Pre-employment drug testing and on-call availability is required for this safety-sensitive role.

Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou: What we offer

At Auckland Council, you will join a dynamic, supportive environment where your mahi (work) will directly impact the lives of over 1.7 million Aucklanders.

We offer flexible working conditions, a focus on well-being, and a culture of continuous improvement. We are proud to be recognised for our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. We are accredited by GenderTick, a signatory of the Pride Pledge. These commitments reflect our ongoing efforts to create a workplace where all staff feel valued, respected, and empowered to thrive.

Together, we can create a Tāmaki Makaurau we can all be proud of.

As part of our organisation, please view a range of our: benefits

Tono Mai: Apply Now!
Application close date: Thursday 2nd of April at 11.59pm

Auckland Council is an equal opportunity employer. We serve the diverse communities of Tāmaki Makaurau and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds - regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, educational background, or religious beliefs. We also welcome applications from our Rainbow communities as well as disabled and neurodivergent people. We are committed to making our hiring process accessible to everyone. If you require any support or adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know.