Hydro Operator - Christchurch

Citycare Water; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounted health insurance

Mental health support

Health checks and vaccinations

Employee assistance programme

Women in Water network

BOOST benefits

Making Waves – Reward & Recognition

Job summary

Citycare Water in Christchurch is seeking an experienced Hydro Operator to join our team. You will safely operate hydro excavation equipment on underground projects, perform hydro-jetting and drainage maintenance, and ensure work is delivered to a high standard while completing required paperwork.

You’ll need a Class 4 driver license, a willingness to participate in on‑call rosters, and a focus on health and safety.

Qualifications

• Class 4 Driver License; Dangerous goods endorsement is highly desirable
• Experience operating heavy equipment or machinery
• Experience working in wastewater, drainage, civil construction or similar is advantageous
• Good communication skills and the ability to work effectively with others
• Knowledge of PPE and safe operating practices
• Willingness to participate in the on-call and standby roster
• Physically fit, health and safety focused and able to work in a team or independently

Responsibilities

• Safely operating hydro excavation equipment for underground projects
• Completing hydro-jetting, cleaning and unblocking work across drainage networks
• Successfully delivering excavation and maintenance projects to a high standard
• Carrying out routine vehicle, plant and equipment checks
• Completing required paperwork and job documentation accurately
• Carrying out routine maintenance and care for equipment
• Identifying hazards and actively contribute to a safe workplace

Skills

Heavy equipment operation

Communication skills

Teamwork

Health and safety focus

On-call readiness

Job description

Posted Tuesday, 11 August 2026 at 10:00 am

Protecting the health of our water.
We believe that’s worth caring about.

About Us:

At Citycare Water, we’re proud to be the country’s largest dedicated experts in three waters – around 600 good people, making it happen across 10 locations. We specialise in water network maintenance and reticulation renewal construction. We service almost a quarter of properties nationwide; and we maintain over 20,000kms of pipe network. That’s 2X the length of the NZ’s state highways! Water may seem like such an everyday thing. but that’s what makes it so important. every day, every living thing needs it.

So, join us on our mission to ensure every community has access to safe water for life - we believe that’s worth striving for.

About the job:

We’re looking for an experienced Hydro Operator to join our team in Christchurch!

The role involves:

• Safely operating hydro excavation equipment for underground projects
• Completing hydro-jetting, cleaning and unblocking work across drainage networks
• Successfully delivering excavation and maintenance projects to a high standard
• Carrying out routine vehicle, plant and equipment checks
• Completing required paperwork and job documentation accurately
• Carrying out routine maintenance and care for equipment
• Identifying hazards and actively contribute to a safe workplace

What you’ll need:

• Class 4 Driver License, Dangerous goods endorsement is highly desirable
• Experience operating heavy equipment or machinery
• Experience working in wastewater, drainage, civil construction or similar is advantageous
• Good communication skills and the ability to work effectively with others.
• Knowledge of PPE and safe operating practices
• We need someone who is able and willing to participate in the on-call and standby roster.
• You will need to be physically fit, health and safety focused and work well in a team as well as independently.

All preferred candidates will be required to complete preemployment checks to the employer’s satisfaction. These checks include but are not limited to, Ministry of Justice criminal conviction report, medical assessment, and drug and alcohol testing.

If you have any further questions, please email [e-mail]

Benefits and culture:

At our core, we believe that diverse teams drive better outcomes. We're proud to support and invest in initiatives that create a workplace where everyone feels they belong:

• Perks such as discounted health insurance, mental health first aiders, regular health check-ups, flu vaccinations and access to our employee assistance programme.
• Our Women in Water network provides resources, support and opportunities to thrive as a woman in your career and life in general. This wāhine-only environment is a safe space to connect, ask questions, share thoughts and experiences, support each other and have some fun.
• Employee benefits and discounts via BOOST.
• Making Waves – Reward & Recognition Program : We celebrate team members who truly live our values through our Making Waves program, recognising and rewarding outstanding contributions every quarter
• You’re covered from your very first day, with bereavement leave and five days’ sick leave available right from the start.
• Our culture values different perspectives and we provide mentorship and training to help all team members succeedand progress in their careers.

Find out more:

Visit our Careers page to hear from our people about what it’s like working for Citycare Water; and visit out News section to read about the work we do protecting the health of our water in our local communities .

We encourage all applicants, regardless of their background or experience, to apply if they feel they are a good fit for the role. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and believes that every member of our team brings unique perspectives and strengths to our company.