Job Description

General Manager Leadership & Capability

• Shape the Future of Leadership and Capability at KiwiRail
• Auckland or Wellington Based

Position Description

He kōrero mō mātou | About us:

At KiwiRail, we’re proud to be shaping a stronger, more sustainable Aotearoa. Every day, we connect people and goods across the country, helping reduce carbon emissions, ease congestion, and keep communities connected. As we continue to transform and grow, we are investing in the leadership, capability and culture needed to support a safe, high-performing organisation. This is an exciting time to join KiwiRail with leadership development one of the top priorities to enable our transformation and growth. Join us and help build the future of KiwiRail and Aotearoa, New Zealand.

He whakamārama mō te tūranga mahi | About the role:

This is a rare executive leadership opportunity to lead KiwiRail’s newly formed Leadership & Capability function. Reporting to the Chief People & Culture Officer (CPO), you will take ownership of a large national team responsible for all learning, leadership, and organisational development at KiwiRail. , technical, regulatory and safety training, organisational capability and culture initiatives. This newly expanded new role leads an expanded function that brings together established learning, technical and safety training teams with leadership development, organisational development, and culture. and workforce capability. You will provide strategic direction while ensuring operational excellence across a complex, safety-critical environment, helping KiwiRail build the leadership and workforce capability required for our future success.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Leading and developing a high-performing KiwiRail’s Leadership & Capability function that enables KiwiRail people to deliver to our customers now and into the future across technical learning, leadership development and culture initiatives.
• Shaping Designing and delivering an enterprise-wide leadership and capability strategy aligned to organisational goals and priorities.
• Acting as a trusted adviser to senior leaders, the CPO and the Executive Leadership Team on leadership development, organisational effectiveness and culture and organisational effectiveness.
• Leading enterprise-wide leadership development programmes and succession-focused capability initiatives.
• Driving the modernisation of learning systems, delivery models modes and ways of working.
• Building strategic relationships with industry bodies, regulators, learning providers and funding organisations.
• Leading a high-performing team, managing budgets and ensuring strong governance and commercial outcomes.

Ngā pukenga e rapu nei mātou | What you will bring:

We are looking for an experienced senior leader who combines strategic thinking with operational delivery and has a genuine passion for developing people, leaders and organisational capability.

• Proven executive or senior leadership experience in Leadership and Organisational Development, Learning & Development, or leading a broader People & Culture function.
• Experience developing and delivering leading learning, leadership, capability, and organisational development strategies within a large, complex organisation.
• Demonstrated success designing and delivering leadership development tools, resources, and programmes that have positively impact cultural and commercial outcomes. at scale.
• Experience working within operational, regulated or safety-critical environments.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to build credibility from frontline teams through to executive leadership.
• A track record of leading culture and engagement initiatives across diverse workforces, ideally in operational or safety-critical environments.
• Commercial acumen, including budget management, vendor oversight and external partnership development.
• The ability to lead change, modernise functions and drive continuous improvement.
• Tertiary qualification in Human Resources, Psychology, Organisational Development, Learning & Development, , Business or in a related discipline is preferred highly regarded.

Nōu te rourou | What’s in it for you:

At KiwiRail, you’ll have the opportunity to make a significant impact on the future of leadership and capability across one of New Zealand’s largest and most diverse organisations. Ultimately contributing to a safer, more sustainable future for New Zealand.

• A key executive senior leadership role influencing capability and culture across KiwiRail.
• The opportunity to establish and shape and establish a newly expanded Leadership & Capability function.
• Competitive remuneration package and 5% employer KiwiSaver contribution.
• Staff discount on Southern Cross medical insurance.
• Discounted staff travel and access to retail partner discounts.
• Professional development and executive leadership growth opportunities.
• Access to the NZ Rail Staff Welfare Trust and a range of employee benefits.

Kua rite, kia rite | Ready to Make a Difference?

If you're an experienced people leader who can balance strategy with execution, inspire teams, and build capability that enables organisational success, we'd love to hear from you.

Please don’t delay until the closing date as we will be reviewing applications as they come in. Apply now and help shape the leaders, capability and culture that will power KiwiRail's future.

Applications close: Friday 2nd October 2026