Project & Branch Development Lead - Christchurch

You've learned how to manage work. What if the next thing you helped build was the business itself?

RESTATE is establishing and growing its Christchurch property restoration operation, and we're looking for a highly capable person with the potential to eventually lead it.

You don't need property restoration experience.

We're particularly interested in people who have developed valuable skills in construction, project management, estimating, insurance repairs, building supervision, facilities or another practical service industry - but feel capable of considerably more responsibility than their current position provides.

This isn't initially a desk-based management job.

You'll learn the RESTATE business from the ground up: restoration work, project management, scoping, estimating, customer management, local business development and the day-to-day operation of a developing branch.

Initially, you'll be our primary person on the ground in Christchurch, supported closely by RESTATE's owners and Auckland management team.

As the operation grows, we intend to add people around you. If you demonstrate that you can help build the operation, manage projects, develop relationships, understand the numbers and lead people, the opportunity is there to grow with it.

Who we're looking for

You might currently be a:

• Project Coordinator or Junior Project Manager
• Construction Supervisor or Foreman
• Estimator
• Insurance Repair Coordinator
• Building professional
• Facilities/Maintenance Project Manager
• Technical Field Service professional
• Experienced tradesperson ready for greater responsibility
• Operations professional with strong practical aptitude

We're less interested in your current title than what you're capable of becoming.

We're looking for someone who takes ownership, learns quickly, works effectively without close supervision, communicates well with customers, is commercially aware and isn't afraid of physical work.

What you'll actually do

Initially - a bit of everything.

One day you could be responding to a water-damaged property and setting up restoration equipment.

The next you could be scoping and estimating a project, managing contractors, completing reports, meeting a property manager, introducing RESTATE to a local plumber or trade partner, following up a quote or undertaking further technical training.

You'll progressively learn to:

• Assess and manage restoration projects
• Perform hands-on restoration and remediation work
• Scope, estimate and quote
• Manage customers and projects from start to finish
• Complete project reporting and administration
• Develop local referral relationships
• Manage equipment and operational requirements
• Understand project costs, margins and profitability
• Eventually recruit and lead people
• Help develop Christchurch into a successful RESTATE branch

Our national insurance relationships are managed by RESTATE Head Office. Your local relationship development will primarily involve residential and commercial property managers, plumbers, trades, commercial cleaners and other appropriate referral partners.

We'll teach you restoration

Restoration experience is highly regarded but isn't essential.

RESTATE has developed its own training system to accelerate the development of capable people within property restoration.

Your initial development will include approximately one month working alongside our experienced Auckland operation, arranged with you.

RESTATE will cover agreed travel, accommodation, local transport and reasonable meal costs during this training.

You'll then receive further side-by-side support in Christchurch.

Where could this lead?

We're not recruiting someone to simply occupy an established position.

We're looking for someone capable of growing into the position we're building.

The potential pathway is:

Hands-on operator → Team leadership → Christchurch Branch Manager → Potential Regional Management

Longer-term South Island growth may create opportunities involving additional locations such as Dunedin, Queenstown/Central Otago and Nelson.

For an exceptional long-term performer, the pathway may ultimately extend beyond management to an ownership interest in the business.

None of this is automatic or based simply on time served.

Greater responsibility, remuneration and opportunity must be earned through capability, leadership and business performance.

What we provide

Starting salary is approximately $70,000–$80,000+, depending on experience and transferable capability. Candidates with significant directly relevant restoration experience may justify a higher starting salary.

You'll also receive:

• RESTATE business-use van
• Phone and laptop
• Tools and restoration equipment
• On-call retainer
• Overtime provisions after 45 total hours
• Branch performance incentives
• Ongoing technical and commercial development
• Potential future profit-sharing at management level

Normal hours are approximately 8am–5pm Monday to Friday. Property damage doesn't always occur during business hours, so after-hours emergency response forms part of the position.

This won't suit everyone

If you want a desk-based management job from day one, this isn't it.

If you need someone constantly telling you what to do next, it probably isn't right either.

But if you're prepared to learn the business, do the work, help build the operation, grow a team and earn the opportunity to lead it, we want to hear from you.