Emergency Response Engineer

Hamilton City Council; Hamilton; On-site; NZD 110,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Hamilton City Council is seeking an Emergency Response Engineer to strengthen resilience of water networks and readiness for major emergencies. You will lead planning, risk assessment, and documentation, reporting to the General Manager Operations.

The role requires strategic thinking to translate complex information into practical solutions and cross-team collaboration to ensure robust response capabilities.

Qualifications

• Advanced emergency management qualification or tertiary degree in engineering/science or management.
• Minimum of 10 years technical experience in water, local government, with 3+ years in business process analysis and risk management.
• Experience representing views at industry forums and operating under emergency response protocols.
• Experience with ISO quality management systems ISO9000/14000/20000 and regulatory requirements.
• Ability to train and motivate others and strong time-management under pressure.
• Knowledge of business improvement practices and systems analysis to support HCC strategy.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and continuous improvement of emergency preparedness, response, and recovery plans.
• Champion operational readiness and drive improvements through risk assessment and process mapping.
• Shape decision-making by capturing, managing, and reporting critical information.
• Collaborate across teams to strengthen asset and operational resilience.

Skills

Emergency management

Business process analysis

Risk management

Regulatory knowledge

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

Self-motivation

Team collaboration

Education

Advanced emergency management qualification

Engineering/science/management degree

Job description

Hamilton City and Waikato District Councils have formed a publicly owned, Council-controlled Organisation (CCO) to deliver water services across Hamilton city and Waikato district. The company is called IAWAI - Flowing Waters and will take over the provision of water services from 1 July 2026. This transition will occur in stages such as the current Watercare contract for Waikato District Council transferring to the CCO on 1 July 2026.

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

Oo puumanawa me oo wheako | Your skills and experience

• 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

Additional Information

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

Note: We will be shortlistingas we receive applications.

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.

Job Location