Development Manager - Marine

RealNZ is seeking a Development Manager – Marine to lead the planning, governance, and delivery of high-value maritime projects across the business. This role is accountable for converting strategic intent into executable project plans and delivering measurable outcomes across safety, cost, schedule, compliance, and asset performance.

This is a senior role suited to an experienced project professional who operates comfortably in complex, regulated environments and applies disciplined project management methodology to deliver predictable results in line with RealNZ’s strategic ambitions.

Reporting to the GM Tourism Development, the role provides structured governance, financial oversight, and performance reporting across the marine development portfolio.

The Development Manager – Marine is accountable for the end-to-end delivery of a portfolio of maritime capital projects, ensuring projects are:

• Clearly scoped with defined inputs, outputs, and success measures
• Delivered in line with approved business cases, budgets, and schedules
• Compliant with New Zealand maritime, safety, and regulatory requirements
• Integrated into operational readiness at handover
• Aligned with RealNZ’s long-term asset, sustainability, and growth strategies

• Deliver a portfolio of marine capital development projects in line with approved scope, budget, schedule, and quality standards.
• Apply the RealNZ Project Management Framework to ensure consistent governance, control, and reporting.
• Proven capability delivering complex marine capital projects to defined scope, budget, schedule, and quality parameters, supported by robust project artefacts and disciplined governance.
• Strong stakeholder management and coordination skills, with experience engaging internal teams and managing external consultants, contractors, suppliers, and regulators across varied and remote operating environments.
• The ability to plan and manage project logistics, ensuring safe, compliant, and efficient onsite delivery.
• Sound risk, safety, and compliance leadership, including safety-by-design, contractor management, and adherence to Maritime NZ, consent, and concession requirements.
• A structured, analytical approach to translating technical, operational, and financial information into clear, decision-ready insights for senior leadership and governance.
• Experience ensuring operational readiness at project completion, including documentation, training, compliance, and seamless handover to Assets and Operations teams.
• Proven delivery of large-scale, high-value capital projects within a regulated maritime environment, supported by strong site safety and contractor management capability.
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in project, engineering, or asset development roles, with a formal project management qualification (PRINCE2, PMP, or equivalent).
• Strong understanding of New Zealand maritime regulations, safety systems, and compliance frameworks.
• Demonstrated financial acumen, including capital budgeting, forecasting, cost control, and performance reporting.
• Advanced stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and engage effectively at executive and board level.
• Highly analytical, structured problem-solver with strong decision-making capability.

• Experience delivering projects across geographically dispersed or remote locations

• Be part of a business that cares deeply about people, place, and the environment
• Enjoy some incredible staff perks! Bring a friend along to experience RealNZ's unforgettable adventures at a fantastic discount. Explore the Te Anau Glowworm Caves, cruise Milford & Doubtful Sound, dine at the famous Walter Peak and discover Rakiura. It's an amazing opportunity to experience the best of New Zealand without breaking the bank
• Medical insurance cover is included

Real people, real places, real experiences. Welcome to Real.

When's the best time to join the Real whānau? Now's good.

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