Emergency Response Engineer

CGR Services; Auckland; On-site; NZD 110,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Hamilton City Council is seeking an Emergency Response Engineer to strengthen the resilience of water networks and readiness for significant emergencies. Reporting to the General Manager Operations, you will lead development and continuous improvement of emergency plans, risk assessments, and documentation to protect essential services and communities.

You will drive preparedness across the organisation, coordinating with multiple teams to ensure systems and processes are ready to respond

Qualifications

• Advanced emergency management qualification or tertiary degree in engineering/science or management.
• Min. 10 years technical experience in water industry or local government, with at least 3 years in business process analysis and risk management.
• Expert and extensive experience in emergency management.
• Sound understanding and practical experience operating under emergency response protocols.
• Experience in processing or utility environments (water/wastewater, mining, food processing, manufacturing).
• Experience with development/maintenance of ISO quality management systems (ISO 9000/14000/20000).
• Strong problem-solving, coordination, and integration of technical information into business systems.
• Commercial acumen and understanding of business and customer drivers.
• Knowledge of business improvement practices and systems analysis/evaluation.
• Ability to train and motivate others.
• Understanding of regulatory requirements.
• Influencing skills to drive outcomes.
• Collaborative working style for strong relationships.
• Self-motivation and time management to achieve results.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines under pressure.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Full driver's license

Responsibilities

• Lead development and continuous improvement of emergency preparedness, response, and recovery plans.
• Drive risk assessment, process mapping, and systems documentation.
• Coordinate across teams and stakeholders to build a culture of preparedness.
• Ensure critical information is captured, managed, and reported effectively.
• Support initiatives that strengthen asset and operational resilience.
• Ability to train and motivate others.

Skills

Verbal & written communication

Emergency management expertise

Regulatory knowledge

Stakeholder engagement

Time management

Problem solving

Project management

Collaboration

Commercial acumen

Self-motivation

Influencing skills

Education

Advanced emergency management qualification or tertiary degree in engineering/science/management

Tools

ISO quality management system (ISO 9000/14000/20000)

Job description

Make a real impact when it matters most. As our Emergency Response Engineer, you’ll play a key role in strengthening the resilience of our waters networks and ensuring we’re ready to respond when significant emergency events occur. Reporting to the General Manager Operations, you’ll lead the development and continuous improvement of emergency preparedness, response, and recovery plans, helping to protect essential services and support communities when they need them most.

This is an opportunity to champion operational readiness across the organisation, driving improvements through risk assessment, process mapping, systems documentation, and emergency planning. Working across a range of teams and stakeholders, you'll help build a culture of preparedness, ensuring people, processes, and systems are equipped to respond effectively and confidently during emergency situations.

Success in this role will come from your ability to think strategically, identify opportunities for improvement, and turn complex information into practical solutions. You’ll help shape decision‑making by ensuring critical information is captured, managed, and reported effectively, while supporting initiatives that strengthen both asset and operational resilience across the business.

Qualifications

• Advanced emergency management qualification or tertiary degree in engineering/science or management
• Minimum of 10 years technical experience in the Water industry or local government, with at least 3 years’ experience in business process analysis and risk management.
• An expert and extensive experience in emergency management being able to represent views at industry forums.
• Sound understanding and practical experience operating under emergency response protocols.
• Previous experience operating in a processing or utility environment – e.g., water and/or wastewater, mining, food process or manufacturing.
• Experience with the development or maintenance of an ISO quality management system ISO9000, 14000 or 20000.
• Problem‑solving skills required with a high level of expertise in coordination and integrating technical information into business and corporate systems to support HCC strategy.
• Commercial acumen and understanding of business and customer drivers.
• Knowledge of business improvement practices and systems analysis and evaluation.
• Ability to train and motivate others.
• Understanding of regulatory requirements.
• Influencing skills, able to encourage others behaviour and outcomes to support goals.
• Collaborative working style builds strong relationships with team members.
• Ability to self‑motivate and utilise project management, time management to achieve results.
• Ability to effectively manage time and meet multiple deadlines often under pressure.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Full Drivers License

He aha te wariu o te utu kaimahi? | What’s the salary?

Circa $117k dependent on skills and experience.

Applications close on the: 28 Sept 2026

We will be shortlisting as we receive applications.

All candidates will be notified of the outcome on their application via email. Short-listed candidates will be required to complete an interview process, reference checks and a criminal check. Further background checking will be required when relevant to the role.

It is important to us that we support you throughout our selection process (interview and assessments). If you have any access needs during this process, let us know in advance so we can make sure these are met.

As a council, we believe in creating a welcoming environment where everyone feels valued and belongs. We value inclusiveness (Kotahitanga) – we respect and value the unique perspectives, experiences, and talents that everyone brings.

This role is being sourced directly. If/where Hamilton City Council requires the support of a recruitment agency, we will seek this support from our panel of selected agencies. Hamilton City Council will not be responsible for, and will not pay, any commissions, fees or other payments related to unsolicited contact.

Emergency Response Engineer • Hamilton, Waikato Region, New Zealand