Operations Manager – Palmerston North/Manawatu

|Civil & Construction - Construction Management|New Zealand

This is a senior operations role with a well-established, multi-trade subcontracting business operating across the lower North Island and Wellington. If you’re a hands-on construction professional who’s moved into management and knows how to keep projects running, this could be for you.

The Role
You’ll be leading the delivery operations across two regions, overseeing project execution across roofing and plumbing workstreams. Based in Palmerston North, with regular travel to Wellington (roughly one to two days per week), you’ll have a team of branch and contracts managers reporting directly to you.

The Company
A privately owned business with a strong regional presence across the lower North Island. They’ve been operating for decades and have a solid reputation for delivery and client relationships. They provide a practical, values-driven, and team-oriented culture and care about their people.

This isn’t a pure business development or P&L role, it’s genuinely operationally focused. You’ll be close to the work, supporting your managers, keeping projects on track, and making sure clients are kept in the loop.

Responsibilities

  • Operational oversight across two regions ensuring timely delivery, within budget to a quality standard
  • Supporting and developing a team of branch managers and coordinators
  • Working alongside contracts managers on WIP, variations, and monthly claims
  • Managing client relationships and resolving issues when they arise
  • Driving H&S compliance and visible leadership across the team
  • Holding the standard on team culture and performance

What You’ll Need

  • A strong background in construction, ideally subcontracting, trade contracting, or similar environments
  • Proven experience managing teams and projects across multiple sites or locations
  • Strong operational instincts, i.e you know what good project administration looks like
  • Comfortable with client-facing responsibilities and difficult conversations when needed
  • Experience with financials at project level (margins, claims, variations)
  • Palmerston North-based or genuinely willing to relocate

Industry background matters here. We’re looking for someone who’s come up through construction, not a generalist manager from outside the sector.

If you would like to join this growing company, then please apply for the role. 

If you would like some more information, then please reach out to me: Adam Bentley on 04 909 7034 or adam@trs.co.nz

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