Project Manager (Junior)

Lakes Consultancy Limited is a fast-growing business delivering high quality commercial landscaping services across New Zealand, primarily based around Waikato and Rotorua. We currently have a fantastic opportunity to bring on board a Junior Project Manager (or a Project Manager, with relevant experience) to help grow our Rotorua & Bay of Plenty team, we are looking for a hard working, driven and enthusiastic individual that can support teams to produce a quality product, navigate contractual obligations and identify contract risk, ensure teams are operating safely and have excellent communication and time management skills.

Lakes Consultancy – Junior Project Manager (J. PM)

Reports To: Commercial Manager (CM)
Direct Reports: Site Leaders, Site Teams
Primary Locations: Rotorua / Bay of Plenty
Travel: Some out-of-region travel may be required to support projects.

Role Purpose

The Junior Project Manager (J.PM) is a site-focused, client-facing leadership role, responsible for overseeing delivery of landscaping projects in their assigned region.

The PM ensures:

• Projects are delivered safely, on time, and within budget

• Excellent planning and communication of projects for efficient and quality execution

• Teams are led effectively on-site, supported, and motivated

• Clients are engaged with positively throughout projects

• Operational and financial reporting is accurate and timely

• Regional planning supports multi-regional growth and company strategy

This role is hands-on and will spend the majority of time on-site, while also attending office-based planning, reporting, and meetings as required.

Key Responsibilities

1. Leadership & Culture

• Model and embed Lakes Consultancy’s values: Whenua, People, Culture, Pride

• Lead, mentor, and support site teams to maintain high-quality work standards

• Foster a safe, professional, and values driven culture on all sites

• Conduct team toolbox sessions, training, and engagement activities

• Escalate project or company risks immediately to the CM

2. Project Delivery & Operations

• Oversee and support daily prestarts and site activities

• Ensure tasks and resources are scheduled and delivered efficiently

• Set detailed daily, weekly, and monthly delivery plans for crews

• Monitor project progress, quality, and safety compliance

• Upload all H&S and project documentation into Lakes systems

• Communicate excellently with staff and stakeholders in all phases of the project

3. Financial & Administrative Management

• Create and send accurate, completed work invoices to clients weekly

• Maintain detailed project financial forecasts and cost-to-complete reports

• Submit weekly project reports for all projects to all stakeholders, Commercial Manager, and Directors using Lakes templates

• Review and submit teams’ timesheets weekly to CM

• Conduct monthly P&L reviews with CM for assigned projects

• Effectively document project plans and methodologies that are informative and contribute to the safe and quality finish of tasks on budget and on time.

4. Health, Safety & Compliance

• Ensure 100% compliance with Health & Safety legislation and company policy on all sites

• Conduct monthly H&S audits for your region

• Perform machinery and vehicle audits using fortnightly checklists; ensure all equipment is safe, legal, and serviced

• Lead toolbox talks and on-site H&S discussions, ensuring accurate recording

• Promote and lead the timely completion of reflections documents ensuring their purpose within teams sinks deeper than the piece of paper.

5. Client Management

• Build and maintain strong client relationships; represent Lakes professionally on-site and in all communications

• Complete lessons learned and client feedback reports after project completion; use opportunities for client engagement (e.g., lunch, coffee meetings)

• Escalate client issues immediately to CM

• (with support and training) Develop a basic understanding of contracts and early identification of issues or risks and promptly notify the CM.

6. Strategic Contribution

• Contribute to regional and company strategy by providing market insights and opportunities to CM

• Assist CM with quarterly and annual work planning, seasonal alignment, and revenue growth initiatives

• Bi-annually, propose at least one initiative to increase revenue or market share

Recurring Task Calendar

One-Off / As Needed

• Complete reflections documents and client feedback after project completion

• Raise project or company risks immediately with CM

• Engage with clients, stakeholders on all job matters

• Lead and direct staff and teams of people, resolve minor issues and escalate promptly where required

Daily

• Ensure daily prestarts are completed for all sites

• Touch base with all sites or Site Leaders

• Oversee site works and attend where time allows

Weekly

• Create and send invoices for completed works; ensure accuracy

• Create effective planning documents for the completion of projects (ie. methodologies, job cards)

• Work with CM, other PMs, and SLs to schedule weekly and monthly works

• Set detailed delivery plans for site crews

• Check upcoming procurement to avoid delivery risks

• Submit weekly project reports for all projects to all stakeholders, Commercial Manager, and Directors

• Review and submit timesheets for all teams

• Conduct weekly toolbox sessions for all sites under your control

• Upload H&S and project documentation into Lakes systems

Monthly

• Set detailed forward delivery plan for the month with CM and other PMs/SLs

• Assist CM with the monthly regional H&S toolbox

• Deliver 30-minute training session during site toolbox; record in training register

• Complete detailed monthly project financial forecast and cost-to-complete updates

• Conduct 1 monthly H&S audit for all sites

• Audit machinery and vehicle safety using fortnightly checklists

Quarterly

• Plan and align regional work with CM, focusing on seasonal delivery priorities

• Conduct P&L deep dive on winning or losing projects with CM

• Perform safety and process audits, including incident reports and site safety documents

Bi-Annually

• Complete regional market review to support CM strategy

• Propose 1 initiative to help grow revenue or market share

• Support the CM and contribute in the upkeep of the Competency Register for all staff

Annually

• Assist CM with strategic plan preparation for the coming year

• Provide market research insights and tangible recommendations

Experience & Skill Requirements

• Proven experience in landscaping, construction, or commercial project management

• Strong leadership and client-facing skills

• Ability to plan and coordinate multi-site operations effectively

• Strong understanding of Health & Safety, project delivery, and financial management

• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills

• Results-driven and hands-on professional, able to lead teams on-site while managing administrative tasks

Caveat / Philosophy

• This role will require a person that has an excellent work ethic and time management skillset, is resilient, adaptable, approachable, detail-oriented and hardworking.

• The role is primarily site-based, with office work as required for planning and reporting

• Occasional out-of-region work may be required, but personal commitments will always be considered

• Jnr PMs are critical leaders in the business: they represent Lakes to clients, lead teams, and ensure operational excellence

• Lakes Consultancy values high dedication and accountability, balanced with a lifestyle that allows staff to enjoy personal commitments. The expectation is to deliver excellence, go the extra mile when needed, while maintaining a sustainable, healthy work-life balance.