Team Leader - Landowner Relations and Property, Operations

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Lead a national team of advisors working with landowners and stakeholders
• Bring your understanding of land-based regulatory frameworks
• Work collaboratively with our service providers who maintain the grid

New hands-on leadership role. Ensure effective landowner relations and property portfolio management across Aotearoa!

Transpower is a State-Owned Enterprise which owns and operates the National Grid - the transmission network made up of over $5b of assets, which carries electricity around the country. 

Our assets, situated across Aotearoa on public and privately-owned land, include ~12,000km of high voltage transmission lines, 60km of underground and submarine cable, over 40,000 supporting towers and poles, and over 175 substations. 

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 Landowner Relations and Property Team ensures Transpower's physical access to the grid throughout the asset lifecycle. The team is responsible for acquiring property rights and land access arrangements for Transpower assets, managing Transpower's property and property rights portfolio, and developing and maintaining effective long-term landowner relationships.

By working with our customers, service providers, landowners, tenants, and other stakeholders, the team ensures that our landholdings, property rights and landowner relationships enable the effective operation of the grid.

About the opportunity  

Based in Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, or Christchurch, in this new role you'll lead, direct, plan, manage, and deliver all operational landowner relations and property services to internal and external stakeholders, with the aim to deliver services and advice of the highest standard and in line with our Landowner Relations Strategy and best practice.

You'll lead a national team of 6. The team works closely with service providers, applying best practice to ensure 24/7 access to our assets and a seamless landowner experience. Your team also actively manages Transpower's property rights portfolio, managing tenancies, and ensuring Transpower's rights are protected, and obligations are met. You'll provide leadership and influence across our service provider network, and their specialists who support work delivery on the ground. You'll enjoy working with a team with a balance of newer and experienced advisors, and a supportive one-up manager and a collaborative team culture across the wider Landowner Relations & Property team.

Naturally, the role requires some travel, with a geographically based team working around NZ, with some field-based work. It's exciting and challenging mahi, with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.

What will you bring? 

You'll be an experienced people leader, with good working knowledge of land-related regulatory frameworks ideally underpinned by a relevant tertiary qualification. You'll be an expert communicator and relationship builder, able to engage with stakeholders from a wide range of backgrounds and be well versed in negotiation and dispute resolution.

Ideally, previous roles will have required you to proactively and concurrently "do and lead" at pace, using your well-developed ability to manage multiple competing priorities and delivering to deadlines, under pressure.

To be considered your CV, cover letter, and experience to date will show: 

• Experience in team leadership, including coaching, motivating, and developing high performing teams. You'll be an expert at building capability and prioritising and managing multiple competing priorities.
• Exceptional relationship management, influencing, and communication skills.
• Working knowledge of New Zealand land-based regulatory frameworks, and application in an operational context.
• Skilled in effective dispute management, resolution, and negotiation.

Join us at Transpower! 

Aotearoa is powered by the people who work here. Every home, every marae, every electric vehicle, every hospital relies on the electricity we manage and deliver. This is your opportunity to join us on mission that affects all New Zealanders, every day and long into the future. 

With over 28 nationalities, our people provide diverse perspectives, knowledge, and deep and varied experience which they love to share. We work in the office or on-site for a minimum of three days each week, which helps us build and maintain relationships, support learning, deliver outcomes, and sustain our culture. This approach also offers staff the flexibility they need for both work and personal commitments, with adaptable daily start and finish times.

Employee wellbeing is prioritised with a range of health and wellness benefits—check them out here: Staff benefits | Transpower

Next steps 

To join our busy, fun, supportive, and experienced team that has a real impact on our business and the community we serve, please review the position description via our Careers site https://careers.transpower.co.nz/search and apply without delay. 

Role closes Tuesday 25 February; however, applications will be reviewed as they are received, and you may be contacted for an initial chat via Microsoft Teams prior to the close date to facilitate shortlisting.

Existing eligibility to work in New Zealand is a requirement.