Programme Manager

HR Connect Ltd

Programme Manager leading IRIS NextGen digital transformation programme for New Zealand councils. Ensuring project delivery on time and within budget, while aligning stakeholders and managing change.

Posted 4/22/2026full-timeRemote • 🇳🇿 New ZealandMid-LevelSeniorWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead one of New Zealand’s most significant public-sector digital transformation programmes.
Play a pivotal role in delivering IRIS NextGen, a complex, multi-year programme to modernise regulatory systems across regional councils nationwide in the replacement of the legacy IRIS Classic application.
Be responsible for coordinating, leading and supporting multiple, interdependent workstreams spanning: Software design, build and test; Cross‑council implementations over a tightly sequenced, three‑year deployment schedule; Sector alignment around consistent good practice; Stakeholder engagement and governance across councils, vendors and stakeholder groups.
Ensure outcomes are achieved on time and within agreed funding.
Maintain alignment and momentum with councils, clients, product management and governance groups.
Coordinate multiple concurrent council implementations with minimal tolerance for slippage.
Provide clear, timely and professional reporting to senior stakeholders and programme governance groups.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Proven experience leading complex digital or enterprise software programmes;
Strong understanding of software development lifecycles and SaaS implementations;
Exceptional stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build consensus across diverse stakeholder groups;
Confidence managing delivery environments with little slack in timelines;
A strategic, future focused mindset paired with hands on delivery discipline;
Excellent communication skills and professional credibility at senior levels;
Experience working with councils, shared services, or collaborative sector programmes will be highly regarded.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Permanent, full‑time role
Fully flexible location (work from home, with council offices available as required)

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Hard Skills & Tools

software designsoftware development lifecycleSaaS implementationdigital transformationregulatory systems modernizationproject managementstakeholder engagementreportingcross-council implementationprogramme governance

Soft Skills

leadershipcommunicationstrategic thinkingconsensus buildingprofessional credibilitydelivery disciplinestakeholder managementorganizational skillstimelinesscollaboration