Senior Transport Planner

• Showcase your transport planning and investment case expertise on some of New Zealand's most important transport projects.
• Apply system-level integrated thinking, with a focus on agile problem solving, critical thinking and leading the way as a smart client for our organisation.
• Can be based in any NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi office

The opportunity | Te Whiwhinga mahi

We have a Senior Transport Planner opportunity available in our Transport Planning Team. The team is geographically spread across New Zealand, and we collaborate and operate as a national practice-based team.  This means you could work on projects throughout the country no matter your office location.

This role is more than Transport Planning expertise - you will be responsible for the Transport Outcomes of a project from inception to pre-implementation, helping to deliver the investment narrative based on robust analysis with multi-disciplinary teams and stakeholders, managing risk, and operating efficiently and effectively throughout.  You will operate as a smart client, using the decision-led approach to deliver options that are right sized and appropriate and drive your projects to meet delivery expectations.

A typical day in the life of a Senior Transport Planner could involve working on investment cases of wide-ranging sizes, from billion-dollar projects to minor interventions and improvements. You may also work on strategic-level plans that map out the long-term priorities for a region, or alongside Approved Organisations such as City Councils as they develop plans and investment cases of their own. You will also be working with teams across the Agency providing your technical transport planning expertise and knowledge, supporting them with their deliverables such as reviewing plan changes and development applications.  

View the position description here.

Appointment base salary is from $109,408 – $133,720 depending on relevant knowledge and experience. Along with our other benefits, we offer 5 weeks annual leave, and a Life, Income Protection and Critical-illness Insurance scheme for all permanent employees. 

About you | Ko wai tēnei

Ideally you will be a confident self-starter, who thrives on working collaboratively with diverse and varied stakeholders and disciplines.  You will have a natural curiosity, be solutions focussed, have a proven ability to communicate a compelling story, and demonstrate your growth mindset.

What are we looking for:

• Proven experience as a transport planner, that delivers in an investment case context, including option development, appraisal and evaluation, stakeholder engagement and project approvals.
• Design experience and sound project leadership skills, including a high delivery focus and excellent attention to detail.
• Experience managing professional services contracts to quality, reviewing outputs in association with subject matter experts.
• The ability to connect people and navigate legislative processes and political drivers to deliver great outcomes for our customers.
• A working knowledge of project development / investment case principles, to ensure proposals are evidence based, aligned, and represent a compelling case for investment.
• A growth mindset and willingness to both mentor and share your knowledge with others in the team and receive mentoring from Principal-level Transport Planners to assist your continued capability uplift.
• The behavioural skills to successfully lead regional projects and work alongside Approved Organisations (such as City and District Councils).
• Experience working with partners and stakeholders to shape priorities
• A good understanding of economic evaluation principles
• Strong analytical skills
• Excellent communication skills

Ko wai mātou | About us

The NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is the largest infrastructure delivery agent in New Zealand, our work touches the lives of all New Zealanders by planning, designing, delivering, managing and operating an integrated transport system along with our partners. We have some of the most capable and motivated people in the industry providing a transport system that enables New Zealanders to live, travel, work and connect. 

Our projects incorporate a range of solutions including infrastructure, digital and Intelligent Transport Systems, travel behaviour change, network optimisation, travel demand management and road pricing.

There has never been a more exciting time to join NZTA and help to create positive transport outcomes for Aotearoa!

Rā Katinga | Applications close:

28 November 2025

For 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.