Aaron Joseph Thompson
Trentham,New Zealand
Summary
Results-driven facilities management professional with extensive experience in project and asset management. Successfully led teams to optimize operational efficiency, drive strategic procurement initiatives, and ensure compliance with legislative frameworks. Demonstrated ability to manage budgets and mitigate risks, contributing to the sustainable performance of diverse property portfolios.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
National Facilities Manager
KiwiRail
05.2024 - Current
- Lead the nationwide Facilities Management function, overseeing a team of Regional Facilities Managers to ensure safe, compliant, and cost-effective operation of KiwiRail's diverse property portfolio.
- Drive a customer-focused, consultative FM strategy aligned with organisational goals, balancing commercial outcomes with operational needs.
- Develop and manage national OPEX budgets, ensuring accurate forecasting, financial control, and cost efficiency across all FM activities.
- Oversee statutory compliance across all facilities, ensuring alignment with key legislation (HSWA 2015, Building Act, RMA, etc.), and drive Zero Harm culture across the FM function.
- Identified and mitigated operational risks while implementing resilience strategies to maintain business continuity and asset performance.
- Act as the escalation point for complex facilities issues and lead resolution strategies, including coordination with internal service providers and external contractors.
- Applied robust contractor management practices, measuring performance, ensuring contract compliance, and monitoring service delivery.
- Provide transparent reporting on FM performance, compliance status, and financial outcomes to senior leadership.
- Lead, mentor, and develop the FM team to foster innovation, accountability, and high performance.
Senior Project Manager - Facilities Business Transformation
KiwiRail
05.2023 - 05.2024
- Lead insourced management projects at KiwiRail with a focus on planning and delivery.
- Specify project parameters, develop plans, and estimate time/costs for effective implementation.
- Establish timelines, milestones, and project teams/resources for effective project scoping.
- Managed project managers to uphold quality measures, standards, and milestones.
- Coordinated stakeholder input and communication to secure project commitment and buy-in.
- Identified key stakeholders early in project development and managed communications to foster positive relationships.
- Provided subject matter or technical expertise during project execution.
- Manage budgets, cashflows, and regularly present project reports for financial performance optimization.
- Prioritise safety through Zero Harm principles, identifying hazards, and ensuring compliance with HSE regulations.
Contracts Manager - Facilities
KiwiRail
06.2021 - 05.2023
- Ensure current and future service contracts are scoped and procured to achieve the needs of the KiwiRail Group.
- Took responsibility for the effective management of annual budgets and delivery of support service contracts.
- Continually look for ways to drive cost efficiencies through better and effective management of the contract and realigning services with the needs of customers.
- Ensure relevant facility compliances are kept up to date, including BWoF, fire inspections, evacuation procedures, earthquake code and electrical testing.
- Conducted field audits of contractors, ensuring accountability to agreed deliverables and standards.
- Supported Facilities Asset Planning Managers in developing long-term asset plans for 1500 KiwiRail facilities.
- Oversaw facility management risk register to track potential issues.
- Identified service improvement areas and proactively sought solutions to enhance service delivery.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders and customers.
- Work collaboratively with operations to ensure the safety of customers, staff and contractors is paramount.
Contracts & Building Information Manager
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
09.2020 - 06.2021
- Managed facilities-related contracts for capital and minor works, overseeing contractor workforce delivery of contract requirements.
- Performance managed all facilities-related contracts, negotiating, managing, and auditing for service delivery.
- Tender and work in collaboration to negotiate new / updated contracts for all buildings, infrastructure, grounds and reticulated services.
- Prepared contract-related documentation, including business cases, procurement plans, tender documentation, and contract approval forms.
- Manage the Contracts budget, including reporting and compliance with all relevant Te Papa policies and procedures.
- Establish preferred supplier contracts across facilities.
- Establish, build, and maintain productive working relationships with contractors and other key stakeholders.
- Identify and mitigate risks in the delivery of the contract works.
- Undertake routine audits and checks to monitor contract delivery.
- Implement appropriate follow-up and/or remedial action plans for any compliance and performance issues identified.
- Maintained contracts registers, schedules, and records; prepared routine and ad-hoc reports on service contract status and performance.
- Prepare and submit appropriate reports to the Head of Property, Facilities & Security and senior management, to accurately reflect the status of service delivery against agreed contracts.
Acting Asset Manager
CentrePort Wellington
11.2019 - 09.2020
- Prepare, implement, and review Centerport's asset management plan.
- Developed asset lifecycle management plan to enhance asset performance and longevity.
- Prepared and presented specialised technical advice on maintenance strategies for CentrePort's assets, ensuring optimal operational efficiency.
- Developed asset management procedures to standardize practices and improve compliance.
- Created a risk management plan to identify and mitigate potential infrastructure vulnerabilities.
Maintenance and Project officer
CentrePort Wellington
06.2018 - 11.2019
- Maintained compliance of building portfolio and conducted annual Building Warrant of Fitness inspections.
- Developed and implemented maintenance procedures to enhance operational effectiveness.
- Managed relationships with contractors and service providers to ensure seamless service delivery.
- Supervise the implementation of health, safety, and environmental procedures for a project.
- Lead a team and plan, coordinate, and monitor work, and resources required for a project.
- Execute contract requirements for a project.
- Implement quality assurance and industry best practice for a project.
- Developing, monitoring, and reporting on the progress of the contract (including schedules, financials, KPIs, risk monitoring, engaging in box meetings).
Facility's Maintenance and Energy Manager
Porirua City Council
08.2016 - 06.2018
- Ensuring all the Councils buildings are well maintained and able to be used at all times for their intended purpose (200+ buildings).
- Identified energy savings opportunities and monitored consumption to reduce overall energy use for Council.
- Managed utility costs and payments for all designated buildings to ensure budget adherence.
- Prepare, submit and manage, annual maintenance budgets for all buildings within my portfolio.
- Scheduled annual Building Warrant of Fitness inspections for Council buildings.
- Manage Councils major construction projects (from initiation to close-out) including preparation and management of tenders and subsequent contract award.
- Influence and persuade the diverse groups and individuals involved in major maintenance and projects to ensure the needs of Council and the community are met.
- Assist the Property Manager in the development and the implementation of Councils' LTP.
- Prepared and presented specialised technical advice to support effective maintenance of Council's building assets.
- Inspect all designated buildings on a monthly basis and maintain a constant status report on individual building condition.
- Negotiate and manage all property related service contracts.
Facility's Maintenance Officer
Porirua City Council
06.2014 - 08.2016
- Develop and implement planned and preventative maintenance schedules to ensure the needs of Council and the community are met.
- Managed maintenance projects, analyzing and resolving problems for the Facilities Maintenance and Energy Manager.
- Inspected designated buildings monthly, maintaining status reports on individual building conditions to facilitate timely maintenance decisions.
- Managed public safety issues for public halls, Gear Homestead, and Mungavin Homestead, conducting six-monthly evacuation trials to ensure compliance with safety standards.
- Coordinated subcontractor activities to ensure adherence to project specifications, improving overall project compliance.
- Prepare and present technical advice relating to the maintenance of Council's building assets.
- Manage existing and new service contracts within the Property Office.
- Undertake and prepare equipment inspection reports.
Education
NCEA - Level 1 (127 Credits), Level 2 (117 Credits), Level 3 (27 Credits)
St Bernard's College
Lower Hutt01-2009
Skills
- Facilities management
- Asset management
- Strategic Procurement
- Contract management
- Contract Oversight
- Budget management
- Planning and Funding
- Project management
- Risk assessment
- Contractor management
- Change management
- Stakeholder engagement
- Building maintenance
- Asset oversight
- Leadership
Personal Information
- Citizenship: New Zealand
- Date of Birth: 05/08/91
Timeline
National Facilities Manager
KiwiRail
05.2024 - Current
Senior Project Manager - Facilities Business Transformation
KiwiRail
05.2023 - 05.2024
Contracts Manager - Facilities
KiwiRail
06.2021 - 05.2023
Contracts & Building Information Manager
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
09.2020 - 06.2021
Acting Asset Manager
CentrePort Wellington
11.2019 - 09.2020
Maintenance and Project officer
CentrePort Wellington
06.2018 - 11.2019
Facility's Maintenance and Energy Manager
Porirua City Council
08.2016 - 06.2018
Facility's Maintenance Officer
Porirua City Council
06.2014 - 08.2016
NCEA - Level 1 (127 Credits), Level 2 (117 Credits), Level 3 (27 Credits)
St Bernard's College