Generation Technician - Operations

Contact Energy Ltd; Kinloch; On-site; NZD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellbeing benefits

Good to be Home annual payment

Energy and broadband bill support

Twice-yearly KiwiSaver employer boost

Corporate discounts

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

Contact Energy Ltd. is seeking a Generation Technician to join the Taupō hydro team on a 12-month fixed-term basis. The role involves operating and maintaining high-voltage, mechanical and rotating plant, with plenty of autonomy and regular site travel.

You will contribute to safe and reliable plant operation, respond to faults, and work with a team of technicians across remote sites. This is a practical, hands-on role in a dynamic renewable energy environment.

Qualifications

• Relevant mechanical or electrical trade qualification.
• Experience in power generation with hydro exposure is preferred.
• Hands-on experience with large-scale industrial plant and equipment.

Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain high-voltage, mechanical and rotating plant across Taupō hydro schemes.
• Carry out routine maintenance, inspections and condition monitoring for safe operation.
• Investigate faults, diagnose issues and coordinate corrective work.
• Plan scheme, asset and outage work including approved modifications.
• Travel regularly between hydro sites as part of day-to-day duties.

Skills

Mechanical trade

Electrical trade

Power generation experience

Hydro exposure

Education

Trade certificate or equivalent

Job description

Company Description

Te Tākinatanga | Our Story

At Contact, we believe home is the most important place in the world. That belief shapes everything we do, from leading the energy transition to how we power Aotearoa and care for our people and communities. We’re a power, broadband, and mobile company, but we’re also investing boldly in renewable energy and smarter, more connected ways of working (mahi). Our ambition is simple: to leave Aotearoa better than we found it. Guided by our values & behaviours, we’re a team who care deeply about the work we do, how we support one another, and the impact we have. Simply put, we touch lives to make life better.

We’re looking for a Generation Technician to join our Taupō hydro team on a 12-month fixed-term basis. Our hydro generation teams help keep renewable electricity flowing by safely operating, maintaining and improving the plant and systems across our schemes.

Job Description

Kōrero mō te tūranga | About the role

This is a broad, practical role working across Contact’s hydro generation assets in the Taupō region. You’ll operate and maintain high-voltage, mechanical and rotating plant, building a strong understanding of the schemes and how they operate safely and reliably. There’s plenty of autonomy, with much of the work carried out independently across remote sites, alongside working closely with the wider team when breakdowns or operational issues require a coordinated response.

• Carry out routine maintenance, inspections and condition monitoring to support the safe and reliable operation of our generation assets.
• Investigate faults, diagnose plant and equipment issues, and complete or coordinate the work needed to rectify them.
• Work across mechanical, electrical, high-voltage and rotating plant and equipment.
• Operate plant and equipment in line with operational guidelines, safety rules and relevant competency requirements.
• Plan and complete scheme, asset and outage work, including approved modifications and enhancements.
• Monitor plant condition and respond to alarms, faults, defects and emergency maintenance requirements, paying close attention to changes that could indicate an emerging issue.
• Maintain accurate operational, maintenance and plant history records, including updates following changes to plant or systems.
• Work independently across our schemes while staying closely connected with your team, contractors and technical specialists, particularly when responding to breakdowns or operational issues.
• Build a thorough understanding of operational requirements, environmental consents and the safety rules that apply across the schemes.
• Travel regularly between sites, including remote plant locations, as part of your day-to-day work.

This is a 24-hour operational environment, and once you’ve built the required plant knowledge and completed the relevant HCTP modules, you’ll take part in the on-call roster. We expect this initial competency period to take around three months, giving you time to get to know the plant and build the knowledge you need before going on call.

Qualifications

Ko wai koe | About You

You’ll bring a relevant mechanical or electrical trade, along with hands-on experience in power generation and some exposure to hydro. A mechanical background would be particularly valuable for this team, although we’re also interested in electricians who bring strong mechanical capability. Experience working with large-scale industrial plant, including environments such as manufacturing or other heavy industry, will also be useful.

• A relevant mechanical or electrical Trade Certificate or equivalent qualification.
• Experience working in power generation, with some exposure to hydro generation.
• Hands-on experience maintaining and operating large-scale industrial plant and equipment.
• The ability to investigate faults, diagnose technical problems and identify practical solutions.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to recognise changes in plant or equipment that may indicate an emerging issue.
• Sound judgement and a strong approach to safety, including the confidence to make decisions about whether work or plant conditions are safe.
• Reliability, initiative and the ability to work safely and effectively on your own for much of the day.
• Clear communication skills and the ability to work constructively with colleagues, contractors and technical specialists, particularly when responding to breakdowns or time-sensitive operational issues.
• A full New Zealand driver licence and the flexibility to travel regularly to sites in the Taupō region.

Additional Information

Additional Information

This is a 12-month fixed-term role based in Taupō, with regular travel to hydro generation sites across the region. Due to the operational nature of this role, flexibility in where and when the work is performed is limited.

Contact is not a place you’ll stagnate. Even in a fixed-term role, you’ll enjoy a generous suite of benefits designed to support your wellbeing and make life a little easier. You’ll have the flexibility to work in ways that suit you and your team, plus access to our ‘Good to be Home’ annual payment to help with your home set-up and wellbeing. If you’re a Contact customer, you’ll also receive twice-yearly payments towards your energy and broadband bills. You’ll even get a boosted 4% KiwiSaver employer contribution while you’re here with us! And of course, you’ll also have access to a range of additional corporate discounts that make it good to work at Contact.

Applications close on Friday 13th November.

Here at Contact Energy (Te Mata Hiko), we know our strength lies in developing a sense of belonging – one that helps us attract and retain people with a broad range of perspectives and experiences.

We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to bring their whole selves to work. Our goal is to reflect the diversity of our customers and communities to help build a better Aotearoa New Zealand.

We have a rich community of talented people that we support to thrive at Contact.

Our inclusive hiring process is designed to embrace the diversity of Aotearoa New Zealand, ensuring a wide range of perspectives are included in our decision-making and helping reduce bias along the way.

The wellbeing of our kaimahi is super important to us.

We use employee insights to offer a range of initiatives and resources to support physical, mental, financial and emotional wellbeing – including flexible working arrangements, employee network groups and a market-leading parental leave policy.

At Te Mata Hiko, we want everyone to thrive. We welcome applicants far and wide – of every age, stage, background, and pride. Join us and be part of a team that values your passion and attitude just as much as your experience and skills.

Please note, only candidates with the right to live and work in New Zealand will be considered for this role.

Research shows that while men apply to jobs where they meet 60% of the criteria, women and those in underrepresented groups tend to only apply if they tick every box. We're not about box ticking, so if you think you have what it takes but don't meet everything stated above, please still get in touch. We'd love to kōrero.

Te Mata Hiko (Contact Energy) does not accept any CVs received from recruitment agencies where a formal engagement has not been confirmed and agreed to with our Talent team. In the event that unsolicited CVs are submitted by recruitment agencies, Te Mata Hiko (Contact Energy) reserves the right to contact these candidates directly and consider them for current/future vacancies without any financial obligation to the recruitment agency in question. This will also apply to any CVs sent directly to line managers.