Site Manager

JobsCloseBy Editorial Insights

Summerset seeks a Site Manager for a fixed term in Palmerston North to lead the construction and handover of a retirement village project. You’ll oversee site setup, safety, quality, subcontractors and documentation, and coordinate with consultants, suppliers and teams from planning to completion. The ideal candidate holds a trade qualification or degree, has proven experience leading commercial construction sites across civil and residential developments, and brings strong commercial acumen and people skills. Proficiency with MS Office and MS Project is helpful; Last Planner experience is preferred. NZ Building Code knowledge, Site Safe and First Aid are preferred. Applications close February 9; apply early and tailor your CV to show leadership, delivery against schedule and budget, a handover, safety and stakeholder relationships.

Company Description

At Summerset, from the moment we start developing a village to when our residents call it home, it’s the passion and dedication of our people that brings our villages to life. We are one team united by being part of something bigger – to bring the best of life to our residents.  

About the role: 

We’re looking for an experienced Site Manager to take ownership of the construction and delivery of our retirement village project in Palmerston North — from early planning right through to completion and handover. This is a key leadership role on site, working closely with project leadership, construction delivery teams, and a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.

This is a fixed term position for 2 years. 

Your day-to-day will include:  

• Plan and organise site setup, logistics, and construction activities.
• Implement and monitor safety, quality, traffic, and construction management plans.
• Oversee daily subcontractor performance, workflow, and programme progress.
• Ensure compliance with design documents, specifications, and quality standards.
• Manage document control, including reports, schedules, projections, and change orders.
• Identify issues early and provide practical solutions to construction challenges.
• Track progress, review status updates, and adjust schedules or forecasts as needed.
• Coordinate and communicate effectively with consultants, contractors, suppliers, authorities, and internal teams.
• Lead, coach, and support direct reports to maintain high performance and strong team culture.
• Support completion and handover activities, ensuring smooth transition to Sales and Operations teams.

About You: 

You re an experienced construction leader who thrives on running an organised, safe, and high‑performing site.

You’ll Also Bring: 

• Relevant trade qualification and/or degree
• Proven experience managing commercial construction sites and teams
• Experience across diverse developments (civil, residential, commercial)
• Strong commercial acumen and understanding of construction financials
• Ability to forecast, problem‑solve, and manage risk effectively
• Excellent relationship‑building, communication, negotiation, and mediation skills
• Competency in MS Office; MS Project and Last Planner experience preferred
• (Preferred) Familiarity with NZ Building Code, Site Safe Gold Card, First Aid

Why Summerset: 

At Summerset, we believe diversity strengthens our team and enriches the care we provide. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences, and walks of life—including those with transferable skills from other industries. You may not tick all the requirements, and that’s okay; we value what you bring to the table and look at the whole individual. We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported to thrive. 

Equal opportunity is at the heart of how we recruit, and we encourage you to bring your unique perspective and passion to our team. 

Summerset's known for its excellent benefits and strong sense of values around care, teamwork and drive for excellence. With some of the best benefits in the sector, some of these include: 

• Exposure to large scale construction projects
• Supplier discounts
• Birthday Leave  

Next Steps: Applications for this role will close on the 9th of February. This role may close early due to an increased number of applications - apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment!