Electrician

Silver Fern Farms Ltd; Timaru; On-site; NZD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounted staff meat sales

Paid sick leave from day one

BOOST employee discount scheme

Confidential support services

Free onsite parking

Company clothing

Job summary

Silver Fern Farms is hiring a Maintenance Electrician for the Pareora site in Timaru. You will deliver electrical maintenance, repair and technical support across the processing plant, covering PLCs, drives, instrumentation and control systems to keep equipment safe, efficient and reliable.

You’ll join a collaborative Engineering team on a rotating roster, working 45 hours per week plus overtime across day and night shifts, with strong earning potential during peak season.

Qualifications

• Qualified electrician with NZ registration and practising licence.
• Relevant electrical trade qualification and hands-on industrial experience.
• Strong knowledge of control systems and fault diagnostics.
• Experience with PLCs and variable speed drives is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Carry out planned electrical maintenance to ensure plant assets perform to specification.
• Diagnose and respond to electrical faults and breakdowns, restoring production safely and efficiently.
• Maintain and support PLCs, variable speed drives, instrumentation, and control systems.
• Assist with installation and commissioning of new plant and equipment.
• Promote and actively contribute to a strong health and safety culture.
• Ensure all work complies with food safety, MPI regulations, and site hygiene standards.
• Accurately record maintenance activities and contribute to continuous improvement.

Skills

Electrical maintenance

PLC troubleshooting

Instrumentation

Control systems

Problem solving

Education

Electrical trade qualification

NZ Electrical registration

Job description

Te Tūranga / About the role

Our Pareora site in Timaru is the second largest within the Silver Fern Farms network, employing over 700 people at peak season. We’re seeking a capable and proactive Maintenance Electrician to join our high-performing Engineering team.

In this hands-on role, you’ll be responsible for delivering electrical maintenance, repairs, and technical support across our processing plant. From PLCs and drives to instrumentation and control systems, you’ll play a vital role in ensuring our equipment runs safely, efficiently, and reliably.

You’ll be part of a strong, collaborative team that thrives on solving problems, improving performance, and keeping production moving.

This role operates on a rotating roster across production hours, working 45 hours per week plus overtime, covering both day and night shifts. Flexibility to meet seasonal demand is key to success in this role.

This is an excellent earning opportunity, with significant overtime available throughout the season. Top performers can earn very strong annual incomes through a combination of rostered hours and overtime, making this a highly rewarding role both professionally and financially.

Te Mahi / Key Responsibilities

• Carry out planned electrical maintenance to ensure plant assets perform to specification


• Diagnose and respond to electrical faults and breakdowns, restoring production safely and efficiently


• Maintain and support PLCs, variable speed drives, instrumentation, and control systems


• Assist with installation and commissioning of new plant and equipment


• Promote and actively contribute to a strong health and safety culture


• Ensure all work complies with food safety, MPI regulations, and site hygiene standards


• Accurately record maintenance activities and contribute to continuous improvement

Ōu Pūkenga / About You

You’re a qualified electrician who enjoys working in a fast-paced production environment and thrives on solving problems at their root cause.

You bring strong analytical thinking, a proactive mindset, and the ability to communicate technical information clearly to a wide range of stakeholders. You’re someone who takes ownership, works well under pressure, and contributes positively to team success.

You’ll also enjoy the variety this role offers - from breakdown response to project work and new equipment installations.

You Will Also Bring

• Current NZ Electrical Registration and practising licence


• Relevant electrical trade qualification and hands‑on industrial experience


• Strong knowledge of control systems


• Excellent fault-finding and diagnostic skills


• Good communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain technical issues clearly


• A strong commitment to health and safety and safe work practices


• High attention to detail and strong organisational skills


• Ability to work both independently and as part of a tight‑knit team

Te Ahurea / Why work at Silver Fern Farms?

At Silver Fern Farms, we’re driven by our purpose: Creating Goodness from the Farms the World Needs.

“Goodness” goes beyond what we produce - it’s about our people, communities, animal welfare, and respect for the environment. Our people are at the heart of everything we do.

For You, That Means

• Discounted staff meat sales through our onsite Butcher’s Block


• Paid sick leave from day one


• BOOST employee retail discount scheme


• Confidential support services (career, financial, and wellbeing)


• Free onsite parking and company clothing

Silver Fern Farms welcomes people from all backgrounds and walks of life. We’re proud of our inclusive culture and are committed to equal opportunities for all.