Civil Leading Hand | Queenstown

About The Role

‍‍Good Leading Hands don't just give directions—they get stuck in and lead by example.

Max People are looking for an experienced Civil Leading Hand to join a major civil construction team delivering infrastructure and subdivision projects throughout Queenstown.

This is a hands-on leadership role where you'll supervise a crew of around 3–8 people while staying actively involved in the work. You'll help coordinate daily activities, keep the crew productive, and make sure work is completed safely, efficiently, and to a high standard.

Working alongside one of New Zealand's leading Tier One civil contractors, you'll be involved across drainage, earthworks, kerb and channel, footpaths, and subdivision works. With a strong project pipeline, modern equipment, and plenty of opportunity to develop your leadership skills, this is a role where you can build a career—not just run a crew.

If you're an experienced civil operator who knows how to get the best out of a team while still being prepared to pick up the tools, we'd like to hear from you.

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‍What's In It For You

• $38–$45 per hour, depending on experience
• Full-time hours with consistent workflow
• Long-term work with a leading Tier One civil contractor
• Work across major Queenstown infrastructure and subdivision projects
• Opportunity to step up and develop your leadership career
• Modern equipment and well-resourced sites
• Supportive and experienced management team
• Immediate start available

What You Will Be Doing

• Leading and supporting a crew of 3–8 civil workers
• Coordinating daily tasks, labour, materials, and plant
• Keeping work progressing safely and to programme
• Reading and interpreting plans and construction drawings
• Working across drainage, earthworks, kerb and channel, and footpath construction
• Supporting subdivision and infrastructure works
• Liaising with Site Managers and Project Managers
• Monitoring quality and ensuring work is completed correctly
• Operating machinery when required
• Running pre-starts and supporting strong site safety practices
• Keeping the crew motivated, productive, and working as a team

What We Require

• Minimum 5 years' civil construction experience
• Previous experience leading civil crews
• Strong knowledge of drainage and earthworks
• Experience across subdivision and infrastructure projects
• Confident organising labour, materials, and plant
• Strong communication and leadership skills
• Full Class 1 Driver Licence
• WTR Endorsement
• Class 2 Licence preferred
• Site Safe Passport preferred
• First Aid Certificate advantageous
• Confined Space certification advantageous
• Traffic Management qualifications advantageous
• Ability to pass a pre-employment drug test

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ALL APPLICANTS MUST HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND
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Why Choose Max People?

‍Max People is a trusted recruitment partner with 15+ years’ experience connecting great people with great workplaces. What started in construction has grown into one of the country’s leading labour-hire and recruitment providers across construction, civil, agriculture, dairy, manufacturing, and logistics.

When you join Max People, you’re backed by a team that lives its values: Passion, Empathy, Optimism, Professionalism, Loyalty, and Empowerment. We’re here to support your journey, champion your growth, and help you build a future you’re excited about.