Description

The Commercial Transport Portfolio Manager will lead national strategies to improve commercial transport safety and compliance, building influential relationships across government, industry, and regulatory partners. The role is based in Wellington, Auckland, or Christchurch.

In this strategic leadership position within the Regulatory Group, you will shape and deliver targeted strategies that enhance safety and reduce non‑compliance across New Zealand’s commercial transport sectors. You will work closely with the Head of Commercial Transport Regulation to ensure the regulatory approach is risk‑informed, future‑focused, and aligned with NZTA’s overarching strategy.

The Regulatory group, Te Rōpū Waeture, ensures a safe land‑transport system through oversight of regulatory interventions, risk‑based compliance monitoring and an intelligence‑led approach. The Commercial Transport Regulation team delivers efficient licensing, compliance monitoring and regulatory responses for commercial operators.

• Lead development and implementation of sector‑wide safety initiatives beyond compliance.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with senior stakeholders across government, industry and regulatory partners.
• Represent NZTA as spokesperson at industry forums and events.
• Collaborate across NZTA and external partners to deliver integrated regulatory outcomes.
• Translate regulatory strategy into actionable programmes that improve safety and compliance.
• Resolve complex issues where operational realities intersect with regulatory requirements.

Requirements

Successful candidates will demonstrate proven ability to build and maintain senior stakeholder relationships, strong strategic thinking, and excellent verbal and written communication skills. Experience influencing diverse groups, senior leadership or advisory experience in a regulatory or transport environment, and deep knowledge of New Zealand land‑transport regulatory requirements are essential, with an appreciation for Te Ao Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi valued.

• Demonstrated strategic thinking and system‑level insight to turn strategy into programmes.
• Strong verbal and written communication to convey complex regulatory and operational issues.
• Experience influencing and building credibility across diverse stakeholder groups in a complex environment.
• Significant senior leadership or advisory experience in regulatory, transport or similar complex systems.
• In‑depth knowledge of New Zealand land‑transport regulatory and compliance requirements, especially commercial transport safety.
• Formal training or certification in regulatory practice, transport safety or public sector leadership (desirable).
• Knowledge of, or willingness to learn, Te Ao Māori, tikanga, Te Reo Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Benefits

NZTA offers a competitive salary and benefits package, flexible working arrangements (including remote/hybrid options), five weeks of annual leave and income protection and critical illness insurance for permanent staff, all within a culture that values diversity, inclusion and employee wellbeing.

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Flexible working arrangements, including remote/hybrid options (role dependent).
• Five weeks of annual leave plus income protection and critical illness insurance for permanent employees.

Training + Development

Interview process

Visa Sponsorship

Security clearance