- Lead MainPower's delivery engine as a member of the Executive Leadership Team
- Own delivery, capital works, major projects & field operations
- Rangiora, North Canterbury based
About the Company:
MainPower has been distributing electricity to the North Canterbury region for around 100 years, delivering power to over 46,000 homes and businesses across the Waimakariri, Hurunui and Kaikōura districts. Based in Rangiora, MainPower is consumer-trust owned, with a strong and growing focus on the outcomes that matter to the people it serves.
MainPower delivered a strong financial result in FY2025/26, with profit after tax of $14.4 million and comprehensive income of $27 million following a network revaluation. Reflecting this performance, the Board is lifting the consumer rebate returned to customers from $10 million to $14 million for FY2026/27 — meaning more than 80% of customers on the network can expect no increase, or even a decrease, in their lines charges, even as costs rise elsewhere in the industry. $37 million was invested in the network during the year, reflecting the need to support one of New Zealand's fastest-growing electricity networks in a thriving and rapidly expanding region.
MainPower's strategy is built around three priorities: building a resilient, adaptable system through long-term investment and innovation; enabling real customer choice as the energy system evolves; and scaling impact through smarter, more disciplined delivery. This role sits at the centre of that third priority, with a growing and increasingly complex work programme to match.
About The Role:
As General Manager Delivery you'll be a member of the Executive leadership Team (ELT), reporting directly to the Chief Executive, and deputising as required. This role leads MainPower's whole delivery engine: capital, maintenance, major projects, vegetation and customer-initiated works, delivered safely, on time, to standard and at the lowest sustainable cost. It also owns the supply chain, stores, logistics and fleet that make delivery possible.
Following a recent consultation, Major Projects moves into this portfolio, consolidating all delivery under one role and enabling a single, consistent project management framework across programme and project work. You'll be the counterpart to the asset owner: Network & Future Energy decides what is done and to what standard; you decide how it's delivered, by whom and at what cost, and you're accountable for delivering it safely.
This is fundamentally an operational leadership role. You'll lead field services and depot operations across Rangiora, Culverden and Kaikōura, own works planning and resource optimisation across a mixed internal and contracted workforce, and build the delivery capacity MainPower needs ahead of a larger, more complex programme. Safety leadership runs throughout — from officer due-diligence duties to personally verifying critical-risk controls in the field. You will be an active and visible leader, lifting the culture with the field and delivery teams, with a focus on continually improving and innovating, building empowerment and trust, and holding to account.
Skills & Experience:
We're looking for an experienced delivery leader who brings:
- Large-scale field operations or infrastructure delivery leadership in a safety-critical utility, construction or infrastructure environment, ideally at executive level
- Proven delivery of large, complex capital projects, including commissioning of operational assets
- Works management, planning, scheduling and resource optimisation across a mixed internal and contracted workforce
- Supply chain, inventory, logistics and fleet leadership at scale
- Commercial and contract management of major delivery contracts and contractor performance
- A demonstrable safety leadership track record in a high-hazard operational environment
- A track record of measurable productivity and cost improvement without compromising safety or quality
- Confidence reporting to a Board and its committees
A relevant tertiary qualification, or equivalent depth of executive experience, is essential; a postgraduate management or leadership qualification and Institute of Directors governance education are desirable.
Benefits:
MainPower supports its people with flexible, inclusive ways of working, including a nine-day fortnight, flexible hours, hybrid working arrangements, phased retirement, sabbatical leave and the option to purchase extra annual leave. The Rangiora area combines a laid-back, connected lifestyle with a 20-minute drive to central Christchurch — the best of both.
Culture:
This role sits at the centre of MainPower's delivery and safety agenda. As the executive holding day-to-day accountability for the safety of everyone doing the work — employees and contractors alike, across some of the network's highest-hazard activities — the successful candidate will be expected to provide visible, felt leadership on safety and to personally verify critical-risk controls in the field. The role also calls for genuine field credibility: someone trusted by crews and depots, who holds high standards while empowering people to take ownership of their work.