Hydro Generation Technician - Operations

Contact Energy Ltd; Tauranga; Hybrid; NZD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Contact Energy is seeking a Generation Technician for the Bay of Plenty hydro team, based at Ruahihi. You will work across electrical plant, control and protection systems, helping keep hydro schemes running safely and reliably.

You will join a 24-hour operational environment with an on-call roster and regular travel between Kaimai and Matahina schemes, contributing to safe, well-coordinated work and maintaining comprehensive documentation.

Qualifications

• Electrical trade background and practical control systems experience.
• Experience maintaining and operating plant or equipment in power generation or heavy industrial environments.
• Ability to investigate faults methodically and diagnose technical problems.
• Understanding of systematic maintenance practices and condition monitoring.
• Ability to read and update technical/operational documentation accurately.
• Strong commitment to health and safety and speaking up when something is off.
• Clear communication and collaboration with colleagues, contractors, and specialists.
• Self-discipline to work safely both independently and in a regional team.
• NZ driver license and willingness to travel between sites.

Responsibilities

• Carry out routine maintenance, inspections and condition monitoring to support safe operation of generation assets.
• Investigate faults and diagnose plant issues and coordinate rectification work.
• Work with electrical plant, control and protection systems and support automated operations when needed.
• Operate plant in line with safety rules and guidelines.
• Plan and complete scheme, asset and outage work including modifications.
• Monitor plant condition and respond to alarms, faults and maintenance needs.
• Maintain accurate records of operation and maintenance history.
• Collaborate with regional teams, contractors and technical specialists.
• Ensure understanding of environmental and safety rules across schemes.
• Remain onsite during adverse weather or emergencies when required.

Skills

Electrical trade

Control systems experience

Plant maintenance

Fault diagnosis

Documentation skills

Health and safety

Communication skills

Teamwork

Driver license (NZ)

Job description

• Full-time
• Department: Generation & Trading

Company Description

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 Bay of Plenty hydro team. Our hydro generation teams help keep renewable electricity flowing by safely operating, maintaining and improving the plant and systems across our schemes.

Job Description

This is a broad, practical role working across Contact’s Kaimai and Matahina hydro generation schemes. You’ll work across electrical plant, control and protection systems, automated operations and the wider equipment that keeps our hydro schemes running. Alongside maintaining and diagnosing plant, you’ll build the operational knowledge and competencies needed to safely operate within a hydro generation environment.

In this role, you will:

• 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 with electrical plant, control and protection systems, and provide manual support to automated operations when required.


• 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.


• Maintain accurate operational, maintenance and plant history records, including updates following changes to plant or systems.


• Work closely with your regional team, contractors, technical specialists and other Contact teams to deliver safe, well-coordinated work.


• Maintain a thorough understanding of operational requirements, environmental consents and the safety rules that apply across the schemes.


• Support other sites and remain onsite during adverse weather or other emergencies when required.

This is a 24-hour operational environment, and you’ll take part in an on-call roster, currently approximately one week in every six. You’ll need to be comfortable responding outside standard working hours when rostered and when an operational situation requires additional support.

Qualifications

Kowaikoe| About You

You’ll bring a strong electrical foundation and hands‑on experience working with industrial plant, equipment and systems. Experience with control systems is particularly important for this role. While hydro generation experience would be valuable, we’re also interested in people from power generation or heavy industrial process environments who can transfer their technical capability into this setting.

You’ll also bring:

• An electrical trade background, supported by practical control systems experience.


• Experience maintaining and operating plant or equipment in a power generation or heavy industrial environment.


• The ability to investigate faults methodically, diagnose technical problems and identify practical solutions.


• An understanding of systematic maintenance practices and condition monitoring.


• The ability to read, maintain and update technical and operational documentation accurately.


• A strong commitment to health and safety, including the confidence to speak up when something does not look right.


• Clear communication skills and the ability to work constructively with colleagues, contractors and technical specialists.


• The self‑discipline to work safely and effectively both independently and as part of a regional team.


• A full New Zealand driver licence and the flexibility to travel regularly between sites.

Additional Information

Additional Information

This role is based at Ruahihi, with regular travel across Contact’s Kaimai and Matahina hydro generation schemes and requires regular on‑site presence. 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. We’re growing, evolving, and investing in our people. We also offer a bunch of other perks like free health insurance cover, boosted KiwiSaver, access to Contact Shares, a ‘Good to be Home’ annual payment toward your home set up & wellbeing, a trail‑blazing parental leave policy, twice yearly payments towards our products if you’re a Contact customer, and more!

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.