Science & Research Jobs in Lower Hutt, New Zealand (Now Hiring) — 5 open

Earth Sciences NZ was established on 1 July 2025 through the merger of GNS and NIWA, with the upcoming acquisition of MetService further strengthening its capabilities. Bringing together multidisciplinary expertise and advanced technology, it will excel in earth, environmental, and natural resources science across six core missions: Geological Hazards, Weather and Climate, Energy, Land and Freshwater, Atmosphere and Climate, and Oceans.

This new entity forms part of the most significant reform to New Zealand’s science and innovation system in more than three decades, designed to create a more dynamic, collaborative, and impactful science system. Following the acquisition of MetService, Earth Sciences NZ will comprise around 1,500 staff across 22 sites, with assets of approximately $400 million and annual revenues of $370 million, including substantial commercial streams. This provides a unique opportunity to shape the future of science delivery for Aotearoa New Zealand and position the organisation as a globally recognised leader in its field. For more information, visit https://www.earthsciences.nz/.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager to lead the delivery and implementation of several initiatives, from business case through to project closure. These initiatives will typically have a strong data and digital component, requiring technical delivery expertise and experience in cloud and infrastructure transformation.

The specific initiatives that the Senior Project Manager will manage are as follows:

• HRIS Consolidation Project
• Health and Safety System and Lone Worker Project
• Cloud Enablement Programme
• Reprographics Project
• Service Desk Platform Consolidation Project
• Measurement Standards Laboratory Integration Project

What You’ll Do

In this role you will:

• Work with sponsors to define programme and project requirements, establish scope, and develop business cases.
• Manage programmes and projects across the full lifecycle, ensuring delivery is on time, within budget, and meets agreed specifications.
• Lead internal and external project teams.
• Ensure programme and project controls are maintained and reported accurately to support informed decision-making.
• Lead organisational change management to support successful technology adoption.
• Contribute to the wider DS&I team by supporting colleagues where needed.

What you’ll bring

• Axelos, PRINCE2 Practitioner certification, Project Management Institute (PMI), PMP certification or demonstrable equivalent programme and project management experience.
• Minimum of 10 years’ recent experience in the IT industry with an emphasis on managing complex business and technology programmes/projects.
• In-depth experience in programme and project management delivery frameworks and methodologies, including but not limited to Agile and waterfall.
• Extensive experience with large-scale organisational change programmes, preferably in cloud and infrastructure transitions.
• Strong commercial experience working with multiple IT vendors.
• Strong leadership skills, with a focus on outcome.

For a full list of specifications, please refer to the position description.

What we offer

• Varied, challenging and important work with talented colleagues in an organisation devoted to earth science.
• A high performing organisation with a focus on employee development and wellbeing
• A fixed term, full time (38 hours per week) role based primarily at our campus in Avalon, Lower Hutt.
• Flexible working arrangements.

Apply now

If this sounds like the next step in your career, we’d love to hear from you.

To apply for this vacancy, you MUST be a New Zealand citizen, resident, or have already secured the right to work in New Zealand and therefore hold a valid visa order to be considered for this role, we are unable to endorse any application for Visas.

View the full position description for this role here - https://www.gns.cri.nz/careers/.  Please contact [email protected] with any questions or queries.

Applications close:  11.55 pm on Friday, 10 July 2026