Engineering Manager

KoruTalent; Howick; On-site; NZD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Open Country Dairy is seeking an Engineering Manager at the East Tamaki Ice Cream Factory to lead a small maintenance team and own engineering, maintenance, utilities and plant reliability at the site.

Reporting to the Site Manager, you will partner with Production and Warehousing to ensure priorities support overall performance, drive capacity upgrades, upgrade equipment and deliver future projects while managing budgets and safety standards.

Qualifications

• Dual qualified in electrical and mechanical trades with maintenance leadership experience in manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a maintenance team.

Skills

Electrical trades

Mechanical trades

Maintenance leadership

Manufacturing experience

Financial management

Collaborative leadership

Education

Dual electrical/mechanical trades qualification

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Lead engineering for the team behind NZ's 2026 Supreme Champion ice cream and help prepare the factory for future growth.
Eleven medals. Two Category Champions. One Supreme Champion. Two iconic brands. One very proud team.
Award winning ice cream takes quality, care, reliable equipment and teams that work brilliantly together. Now we are looking for an Engineering Manager to help build on that success.

The Opportunity

Reporting directly to the Site Manager, you will lead a small maintenance team and take responsibility for engineering, maintenance, utilities and plant reliability at Open Country Dairy's East Tamaki Ice Cream Factory.

With two sites recently amalgamated and ambitious plans ahead, this is a key leadership role. You will work closely with Production and Warehousing to ensure engineering priorities support the performance of the entire operation.

You will also be strongly involved in increasing production capacity, upgrading equipment and delivering future projects as the site prepares for further growth.

Your Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a small maintenance team
• Manage preventative and corrective maintenance
• Partner closely with Production and Warehousing to improve site performance
• Improve plant reliability and equipment availability
• Support capacity increases, site projects and equipment upgrades
• Manage engineering expenditure and ensure budgets are met
• Drive the effective and efficient use of electricity, gas and water
• Oversee engineering requirements relating to effluent and waste
• Coordinate contractors, critical spares and engineering resources
• Maintain high safety, food safety and hygiene standards

What We Are Looking For

• Ideally, you will be dual qualified in the electrical and mechanical trades, supported by experience leading maintenance within a manufacturing environment.
• You will bring strong technical knowledge, sound financial management and a collaborative leadership style.
• You will be visible on the floor, comfortable solving practical problems and able to build trusted working relationships across Maintenance, Production and Warehousing.
• Dairy experience would be a definite advantage, but it is not essential. Experience within food, FMCG or another fast-paced manufacturing environment will also be considered.

Why Join Open Country Dairy?

You will be joining the team behind two iconic and award-winning New Zealand ice cream brands at an exciting stage of integration and growth.

This is your opportunity to strengthen engineering reliability, support increased capacity and help shape the next chapter of Open Country Dairy's Ice Cream Factory.