Job Description

Structures and Civils Maintenance Superintendent

• Ensure safety, integrity and performance
• Forward-thinking people leadership
• Permanent, Wellington based

He kōrero mō mātou | About us:

At KiwiRail, we connect New Zealanders sustainably, powering economic growth and ensuring vital freight and passenger services run smoothly. Our mission, "Stronger Connections, Better New Zealand," highlights our dedication to sustainability and community well-being.

Our people make KiwiRail exceptional. By fostering a diverse, inclusive, and supportive workplace, we empower everyone to contribute their best. If you’re passionate about innovation and safety, we’d love to welcome you aboard.

He whakamārama mō te tūranga mahi | About the role:

The Structures & Civils Maintenance Superintendent provides people leadership to the Structures gang, and senior leadership and technical oversight of structures and civil infrastructure maintenance activities across the Wellington Metro network. The role is accountable for ensuring the safety, integrity, and performance of structures and civil assets — including bridges, tunnels, culverts, retaining structures, platforms, earthworks, and drainage — to support safe and reliable rail operations. This role sets the maintenance strategy, manages risk and performance while working closely with operations, engineering, and asset management stakeholders.

The Structures and Civil Maintenance Superintendent provides people leadership to the Structures gang and is responsible for ensuring the right capability is available, deployed safely, and utilised effectively. The role also holds responsibility for all civil and structure maintenance work being delivered in a timely manner to ensure a safe and compliant network.

Accountabilities include:

• Take accountability for the full employee lifecycle of tasks for direct reports, including recruitment, talent management, development and resolution of employment matters, performance and conduct related, with the support of the Human Resources team.
• Ensure structures and civil assets remain code compliant through effective planned and programmed maintenance regimes.
• Own structures and civil maintenance expenditure, ensuring defect responses, and routine maintenance are delivered within approved budgets and aligned to asset risk and condition.
• Shape and improve structures and civil maintenance planning and intervention timing to optimise whole-of-life cost, minimise reactive work, and support long-term network resilience.
• Work collaboratively with the with the Assets Engineers (both Civils and Structural) to ensure compliance, condition, and performance reporting is accurate, complete, and maintained in a timely manner.
• Work collaboratively with the wider maintenance and the planning teams to ensure that maintenance requirements are resourced efficiently.
• Oversee safety critical work, fault response, incident investigations, and implementation of corrective and preventive actions as required.
• Develop and implement preventative, corrective, and predictive maintenance strategies for structures and civil assets to optimise lifecycle value.
• Own the on-time execution of programmed maintenance activities, maintaining strong focus on quality, safety, and efficiency.
• Manage complex maintenance activities, access planning, and resourcing requirements to ensure on-time delivery of work programmes, utilising the Maximo Asset Management system.
• Conduct quality assurance reviews of structures and civil maintenance works to ensure compliance with standards, specifications, and engineering requirements.
• Drive effective planning, prioritisation, and delivery of maintenance works in coordination with the Network Planning and Integrity team.
• Maintenance technical leadership for structures and civils maintenance and provide advanced expert advice to internal stakeholders.
• Support asset management plans, inspection programmes, renewals, and capital delivery projects with structures and civils maintenance expertise.
• Drive continuous improvement, standardisation, resilience, and adoption of modern inspection and maintenance practices and technologies.

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

Knowledge and experience

• Extensive experience in civil or structural infrastructure maintenance.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in safety-critical, engineering, or construction environments.
• Proven people leadership experience.
• Strong understanding of structural, geotechnical, and civil asset standards and inspection regimes.
• Proven experience managing incidents, defects, and infrastructure risk.

Ways of working / Work-related qualities

• Strong safety leadership and engineering judgement.
• Clear communicator with technical and operational audiences.
• You balance risk, performance and practicality.
• Decisive, resilient, and pragmatic in dynamic environments.
• Collaborative and values-driven leader.

Other Requirements

• Ability to obtain and maintain required rail safety competencies.
• Willingness to participate in on-call and emergency response arrangements.
• Current and valid New Zealand driver licence.
• Ability to meet KiwiRail drug and alcohol testing requirements

Qualifications

You need:

• A relevant qualification in civil engineering, structural engineering, or a related discipline, or significant equivalent industry experience in structures and civil infrastructure maintenance.
• Relevant industry certifications and safety-critical competencies

Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you:

• Competitive salary plus 4% KiwiSaver employer contribution
• 25 annual leave days
• Access to join NZ Rail Staff Welfare Trust where you will enjoy a range of benefits including access to holiday homes across New Zealand, as well as support for optometry, physiotherapy, GP services and prescription costs
• A wide range of discounts at retailers and on scenic trains and Interislander
• Be part of a diverse and inclusive workplace dedicated to innovation, sustainability and community impact

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

Rā aukati | Applications close: 4 June 2026