Lead Packaging Technician – Dairy High-Performance Lines

Westland Milk Products; Hokitika; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Westland Milk Products in Hokitika is seeking a Packing Technician Lead to oversee the packing equipment across the Butter WAL, Benhil, GEA Avapac, and Technopak lines, including JMP robotic systems. You will drive reliability, safety and continuous improvement on a 24/7 shift, mentoring a capable team.

You’ll combine hands-on engineering leadership with close collaboration with production and maintenance to exceed safety and quality targets, manage preventative maintenance, fault response, and

Qualifications

• Seasoned packaging or engineering professional with strong maintenance and reliability background.
• Demonstrated diagnostics, troubleshooting and plant reliability practices.
• Ability to lead from the front with hands-on technical leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead a 24/7 packing shift, ensuring safe, high‑performing operations.
• Drive predictive and preventive maintenance and rapid fault response.
• Collaborate with production, engineering and site stakeholders to exceed safety and quality targets.
• Develop and mentor the packing team to build capability and accountability.

Skills

Packaging engineering

Maintenance

Asset reliability

Diagnostics

Education

Engineering qualifications

Tools

JMP robotic systems

GEA Avapac

Technopak

Job description

Westland Milk Products in Hokitika is seeking a Packing Technician Lead to oversee the packing equipment across the Butter WAL, Benhil, GEA Avapac, and Technopak lines, including JMP robotic systems. You will drive reliability, safety and continuous improvement on a 24/7 shift, mentoring a capable team.

You’ll combine hands-on engineering leadership with close collaboration with production and maintenance to exceed safety and quality targets, manage preventative maintenance, fault response, and