Critical position where you can make your mark in Transport Services
The role works across delivery, governance, and enabling teams to support effective portfolio management and decision‑making.
Te Whiwhinga mahi | The Opportunity
As our Principal Analyst - Portfolio Performance & Insights (PPI), you will provide senior analytical leadership by delivering portfolio and programme level performance insight, reporting, and commentary that supports effective governance and informed executive decision making.
You will operate with a high degree of autonomy, requiring sound judgement, confidence working with ambiguity, and the ability to determine where effort will add the most value.
You will bring together performance information across portfolios and programmes to provide a clear, trusted view of delivery confidence and emerging issues across the lifecycle. A key part of the role is lifting reporting beyond status to clear strategic storytelling, producing coherent performance narratives that support executive-level governance and leadership decision making, as well as external reporting to central agencies and stakeholders.
You will design and deliver monitoring, reporting, and insights to support effective governance of transport infrastructure portfolios and programmes, while providing leadership and coaching to advisors within the team.
What you’ll be doing
Lead the development of focused internal governance and external reporting that is decision ready, insight led and grounded in evidence.
Apply strong analytical judgement and curious questioning to test assumptions, identify gaps, and ensure performance information stands up to scrutiny.
Provide senior insight and advice on portfolio and programme performance, identifying emerging themes and what they mean for delivery confidence and prioritisation.
Significant experience leading reporting and insights products to support governance and management decision making in a large or complex organisation.
Coach and mentor others, uplifting analytical capability, attention to detail, peer review discipline, and the overall quality of the team’s performance story.
Ko koe tēnei | About you
You’re a Principal Analyst who is comfortable working at portfolio scale and operating independently, with the confidence to ask the right questions and challenge thinking when needed. You can cut through complexity, balance pace with rigour, and deliver clear, decision focused insight without overengineering solutions.
You’ll also bring:
Experience operating at portfolio and programme level supporting governance and senior decision making.
Ability to translate complex portfolio data into clear, meaningful insights that inform senior decision‑making, investment prioritisation, and performance conversations.
Strong capability in working with enterprise systems (e.g. SAP, reporting and analytics tools), including data integrity, analysis, and turning data into fit‑for‑purpose performance reporting.
Proven ability to influence at senior levels, communicate insights clearly, and partner effectively across the organisation to drive understanding, alignment, and performance improvement.
Why join us
PPI exists to deliver trusted, data driven portfolio and programme level reporting and insights that support both governance decision making and external accountability. You’ll work on some of the most significant transport investments in the country, with real influence over how performance is understood, questioned, and acted on.
To view the position description, click HERE
Ko wai mātou | About Us
At the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, it all starts with our people. The organisation's performance and success depend on the people who choose to make this a great place to work and make a difference for Aotearoa. The Transport Agency has a strong future focus, understanding that new technologies and changing customer expectations mean the transport system we know today will not be the one we deliver in ten years' time.
In addition to a competitive remuneration for the successful candidate, Waka Kotahi offer a range of incredible benefits for our employees such as flexible working, five weeks annual leave, insurance benefits, and access to the Marram Trust holiday homes.
Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply:
Please click apply to upload your CV and cover letter detailing your suitability for the role.
Rā Katinga | Applications close:
4 May 2026For further information, email: careers@nzta.govt.nz
To be considered for this position you must have a legal right to live and work in New Zealand.
Waka Kotahi is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We recognise the importance of diversity and inclusion and are committed to providing a working environment that embraces these values. Please let us know if you need any support or have any access requirements that will help you through the recruitment process.
Please note that we may begin shortlisting as we receive applications. We encourage early applications as we may withdraw the advertising at any time.