Position description
Title:
Asset Manager
Group:
Highways & Network Operations
Location:
Blenheim
Reports to:
Principal Asset Manager
Date:
March 2011
Organisation profile
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) is a Crown entity that was established on 1 August 2008, under the
amended Land Transport Management Act 2003, bringing together the functions of Land Transport NZ
and Transit New Zealand to provide an integrated approach to transport planning, funding and delivery.
The purpose of the NZTA is ‘to build a better land transport system for New Zealanders’.
What we do -
Help New Zealanders to travel reliably and safely
-
Invest in moving people and freight to grow New Zealand’s economy
-
Meet our customers’ needs by being people-focused.
Our strategic priorities – the things we are focussing on:
-
Improve customer service and reduce compliance costs
-
Plan for and deliver roads of national significance
-
Improve the effectiveness of public transport
-
Improve the efficiency of freight movement
-
Improve the road safety system.
The NZTA employs approximately 1400 staff throughout New Zealand and is structured into six
business groups. The NZTA encourages staff to work collaboratively across the organisation. It is
committed to linking people together and drawing from the combined skills and knowledge held within
the NZTA, in order to develop innovative solutions and work more effectively with stakeholders.
NZTA values
To achieve our purpose we must exhibit the following values:
To achieve our purpose we must exhibit the following values:
Sign Up: We commit to where we are going and we put our heart into what we do. We get engaged
every day.
Team Up: We enjoy the people we work with and appreciate their talents. We find solutions for our
customers with joined up thinking
1
Front Up: We are courageous. We tackle the difficult issues. We know our value and bring it to our work
with confidence and good judgement.…resulting in a great place to work as a high performing,
innovative organisation.
Business Group Background - Highways & Network Operations
The Highways & Network Operations Group (Highways), one of six business groups within the NZTA,
contributes to optimising the wider transport network by planning, operating, protecting, maintaining
and improving the state highway network. The Group works closely with other parts of the business to
ensure the strategic priorities are achieved. State highways perform a vital national, inter-regional and
regional role in the transport network. State highways carry buses, trucks, cars, motorcyclists, walkers
and cyclists and connect cities, towns, ports and tourist destinations. The Highways customer base is
extensive and is focussed predominately on users of the SH network. The Group operates adjacent to
communities and traverses sensitive and important parts of New Zealand.
The priorities for Highways are to:

Improve its customer service, particularly with road users but also with suppliers, neighbours and
key stakeholders

Undertake all activities on the basis of operating and improving a national network

Develop staff so that decision making can be devolved low into the Highways structure and that
staff are trained and competent in collegial decision making

Contribute to the development of the Organisational Development strategy and implement its intent
over the Group/Business Unit and evidence this by measurement.
Purpose of position
The Asset Manager works as part of a team within Marlborough Roads to provide assurance that the
operation and maintenance of the State Highway network, and management of other selected
improvement projects, contributes to the NZ Transport Agency’s (NZTA) objective of delivering an
integrated, safe, responsive and sustainable State Highway network in the region. The Asset Manager will
also work with the Senior Asset Manager to manage the local roading network programmes as part of the
Local Roads Asset Management Agreement (LRAMA) with the Marlborough District Council.
Key accountabilities – general
Team Contribution

Demonstrates support for all the NZTA initiatives and organisational development activities,
modelling expected behaviours to managers and other staff

Works in a manner that reflects a clear alignment with the values and expectations of the NZTA
staff and works to understand and resolve issues that may be in conflict with these values and/or
expectations

Actively supports an organisational culture based on high quality, innovation, responsiveness,
excellent communication and continuous improvement.
Relationship management

Engages effectively with internal experts/staff across the NZTA so that the best information is
2
available for decision-making, policy development, planning, resource and risk management,
operations and service delivery to our Minister and the public

Actively manages internal client expectations and maintains timeliness of delivery including meeting
service level agreements
Stakeholder management

Establishes and maintains professional relationships with providers of land transport services, local
and central government transport sector agencies, other State agencies, the private sector, interest
groups, the public as appropriate

Attends meetings with key internal and external stakeholders to address specific issues and
generate solutions, and has the ability to influence thinking and decisions that are consistent with
the NZTA strategic direction

Provides meaningful and timely communication to the sector so that stakeholders understand their
requirements in relation to the Government transport sector objectives.
Risk and issue management

Escalates any significant risks and issues to their manager in a timely way

Ensures a comprehensive risk management approach to the way the business is managed on a day
to day basis. Identifies threats to SH Plan, business and the NZTA so that risks within their area of
responsibility are managed, mitigated or minimised

Identifies and takes advantage of opportunities so that there is continuous improvement in
business processes and greater value is delivered to customers and stakeholders.
Customer service

Develops a customer service ethos that focuses on the provision of high quality, proactive and
timely service, support and advice, which is aligned to the NZTA’s needs and strategies.

Actively manages key customer segments of road users, key stakeholders, neighbours and suppliers
by:

encouraging and promoting dialogue and collaboration with road user groups such as
Automobile Association, Road Transport Federation, bus operators, cycling interest groups
so that they play a part in assisting with the setting of priorities, standards and urban
design

developing and maintaining a working relationship with all suppliers so that they have
forward visibility of our programme and can openly discuss issues with the NZTA and see
the NZTA as a premier client

ensuring we are open, honest and available to all our neighbours so that they can advise us
of issues and that they can, through engagement, assist us in finding the best solutions to
our transport problems.
Health and safety

Takes responsibility for own health and safety

Ensures own actions keep self and others safe
3

Identifies, reports and assists to eliminate hazards in their own workplace

Participates in local workplace safety management practices.
Self development

Takes responsibility for personal development and continually develops their own professional
expertise.
Key accountabilities - specific
Travel Time Reliability

Assists in the response to incidents in order to reduce delays
Sustainable Asset

Participates in drive over audits of the network.

Assists staff participation in Network Safety Coordination projects and Crash Reduction studies.

Participates in safety audits on worksites, the network and various projects and activities.

Scopes activities and projects for prioritisation and inclusion in work programmes.

Assists with utility corridor management and as required may be appointed as Corridor Manager in
terms of the Infrastructure Act.

Assists in delivery of approved programmes.

Assists in financial management by running reports and manipulating spreadsheets as required.

Assists in the preparation of reports gathering and manipulating data, and preparing text and visual
representations.

Establishes and maintains relationships with key stakeholders by communicating with them in a polite
and professional way at all times.

Responds to enquiries and requests for service in a timely and professional manner.

Participates in technical audits in the region and in other networks and regions.

Contributes to the environmental goals of NZTA’s Environmental Plan.

Assists in the annual update of bylaws.

Ensures the data in these inventories is accurate and up to date.

Under supervision, provides engineering input into resource consent applications to protect the
operation and maintenance of the state highway network.

Ensures work is completed in accordance with the conditions of the consent which should reflect
NZTA policies and standards, before being accepted into the network.

Provides administrative support for the management of Limited Access Requirements on appropriate
state highways

Ensures deeds and licenses are in place to enable work to be carried out within the state highway
reserve, safely and with minimum disruption to road users
4

Assists in ensuring all reinstatement is completed to NZTA policies and standards.
Network Improvement

Assists in Identifying improvement opportunities for strategic studies and capital works.

Participates in the formulation and improvement of local and national policies and procedures.
Construction Excellence

Assists in delivering projects on time and to standard.
Financial Dimensions
Not applicable
Committee / Steering Group / Team memberships
Business/Technical/Operational Teams – responsible for contributing to specialised teams and groups
ensuring business procedures are reviewed, updated and improved as required to meet business need.
Key relationships
Internal

Senior Asset Manager

Principal Asset Manager

Marlborough Roads Manager

Marlborough Roads Safety Engineer

Regional staff

Other NZTA managers and staff
External

Other Government Departments / agencies

Marlborough District Council staff and elected members

Consultants and contractors

Members of the community

Territorial / Regional Authorities

NZ Police

Iwi

Equipment Suppliers
5
Person specification
Education and training

A four year Bachelor of Engineering (BE or equivalent) or a degree that is benchmarked to the
Washington Accord is preferred although a person with equivalent experience will be considered.

A current and valid New Zealand Driver’s Licence (or equivalent) is required for this position.
Knowledge and experience

Experience in managing a state highway network maintenance contract at a regional level and an indepth knowledge of asset management as it relates to the roading industry.

Understanding of the principles of traffic operations and the systems that can be implemented to
impact traffic flow.

Experience in delivering safety programmes on the network.

Knowledge and experience in dealing with the management of multiple issues in a sensitive and
political environment in a systematic way.

An understanding of the Land Transport Management Act, Resource Management Act and Local
Government Act, and a working knowledge of and land use planning processes is required.
Personal attributes

Demonstrates excellent problem solving skills and the ability to apply an analytical approach to
arrive at a solution that reflects best practice.

Demonstrates exceptional oral and written communication skills and a strong ability to collaborate
with others outside the transport sector, particularly in the various communication channels
available.

Ability to think strategically and be innovative.

Possesses the creditability and confidence to command the respect of their peers, enabling the
establishment and management of key internal relationships, and identified stakeholder groups

Good computer skills and knowledge of current industry software packages as well as a proven
ability to use these systems to analyse data are essential.

Actively demonstrates, promotes and models desired organisational behaviours and values

Displays strong interpersonal skills

Experience in building and fostering relationships

Displays a strong customer service ethos

Possesses a strong achievement/delivery focus – sets high standards including accuracy and attention
to detail, meets deadlines etc

Promotes a high quality climate of innovation, collaboration, change and adaptation in own area
6

Actively looks for opportunities to improve services and support organisational change

Displays strong team skills, contributing to team success

Takes accountability for the responsibilities of the position and own actions.
Competencies – technical competence standards
The twelve elements of the competence standard for Professional Engineers are set out below:
Element One - Knowledge
Comprehend and apply knowledge of the accepted principles underpinning widely applied good practice
in professional engineering (Washington Accord degree level)
Element Two – Local Knowledge
Comprehend and apply knowledge of the accepted principles underpinning good practice for
professional engineering that is specific to the jurisdiction in which he/she practices (NZ)
Element Three – Analyse Problems
Define, investigate and analyse complex engineering problems in accordance with good practice for
professional engineering
Element Four – Design or Develop Solutions
Design or develop solutions to complex engineering problems in accordance with good practice for
professional engineering
Element Five – Decision Making
Be responsible for making decisions on part or all of one or more complex engineering activities
Element Six – Management
Manage part or all of one or more complex engineering activities in accordance with good engineering
management practice
Element Seven – Risk Management
Identify, assess and manage engineering risk (in the context of complex engineering problems)
Element Eight – Ethical Conduct
Conduct engineering activities to an ethical standard at least equivalent to the relevant code of ethical
conduct
Element Nine – Recognise Foreseeable Effects
Recognise the reasonably foreseeable social, cultural and environmental effects of professional
engineering activities generally
Element Ten – Communication
Communicate clearly with other engineers and others that he or she is likely to deal with in the course
of his or her professional engineering activities
7
Element Eleven – Maintain Currency
Maintain the currency of his or her engineering knowledge and skills
Element Twelve – Judgement
Exercise sound professional engineering judgement
8