Maintenance Technician

DairyNZ; Otago; On-site; NZD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

DairyNZ is seeking a practical, hands-on Maintenance Technician to help keep our research farms operating safely, efficiently and reliably near Hamilton.

Reporting to the Research Delivery Manager and Facilities Manager, you will perform preventative, planned and reactive maintenance, support scientists, coordinate contractors and ensure facilities meet DairyNZ standards for world-class research.

Qualifications

• Evidence of practical maintenance experience in farming or mechanical environments.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with planned maintenance schedules.
• Experience operating and maintaining tractors and farm machinery.
• Experience with welding, fabrication and general farm repairs.

Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate records and support SOP development.
• Maintain fences, yards, raceways and water systems.
• Maintenance checks on tractors, farm vehicles and equipment.
• Diagnose and undertake straightforward mechanical repairs.
• Welding, fabrication and general farm maintenance.
• Prepare research infrastructure and equipment for trials.
• Support scientists and farm teams to run research activities smoothly.
• Coordinate specialist contractors when required.
• Promote a safe, organized workshop and health & safety practices.
• Identify improvements to enhance reliability and efficiency.

Skills

Maintenance experience

Mechanical aptitude

Planned maintenance

Tractors & farm machinery

Welding & fabrication

Preventative maintenance

Organisational skills

Team collaboration

Health & safety

Trade qualifications

Education

Trade qualifications (electrical or water reticulation)

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.

Hamilton (Newstead-DairyNZ FarmsLye and Scott)

Deliver a positive future for New Zealand dairy farming

At DairyNZ,we'reworking alongside farmers to create a positive future for New Zealand dairy farming. Our research farms are where science meets practical farming, enabling us to testnew ideas, develop innovative solutions and deliver real-world outcomes for farmers across New Zealand.

We'relooking for a practical, hands-on Maintenance Technician to help keep our research farmsoperatingsafely,efficientlyand reliably.

This is a varied role where no two days are the same. One day you could be repairing a water system, servicing atractoror welding a gate. The next,you'llbe preparing research infrastructure for an upcoming trial, coordinating contractors to ensure work is delivered to DairyNZ standards,or working alongside,scientists and farm teams to ensure our facilities are ready to support world-class research.

About the opportunity

Reporting to the Research Delivery Managerwith a dotted line to the Facilities and Procurement Manager,you'llplay a key role inmaintainingthe infrastructure, machinery and equipment that underpinDairyNZ'sresearch and farm operations.

Working closely with farm teams, scientists, technicians and ourFacilitiesManager,you'lldeliver preventative,plannedand reactive maintenance that helps minimise downtime and ensures our research farms remain safe,reliableand fit for purpose.

Your work will include:

• Maintainaccuraterecords, support the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and train team members in the safe andappropriate useof machinery and equipment.
• Maintaining fences, yards,racewaysand water systems.
• Maintenance checks ontractors, farmvehiclesand equipment.
• Diagnosing and undertakingstraightforwardmechanical repairs.
• Welding,fabricationand general farm maintenance.
• Preparing research infrastructure and equipment for trials.
• Supporting scientists and farm teams to ensure research activities run smoothly.
• Coordinating specialist contractors whererequired.
• Maintaining a safe, organised workshop and promoting strong health and safety practices.
• Identifyingpractical improvements that enhance reliability and efficiency.

About you

You'llbe someone who enjoys solving problems, takes pride in quality workmanship and likes seeing the results of your work every day.

You'll bring:

• Practical maintenance experience in a farming,agriculturalor mechanical environment.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting skills.
• Experience withplanned maintenance schedules.
• Experienceoperatingand maintaining tractors and farm machinery.
• Experience with welding,fabricationandgeneral farm repairs.
• A proactive approach to preventative maintenance.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to prioritise competing work.
• A collaborative approach and the ability to build positive working relationships.
• A strong commitment to health and safety.
• Trade qualifications, electrical or water reticulation experience, orpreviousexperience working on dairy farms would beadvantageous, butthey'renot essential.

On-farm accommodation is not provided with this role. However, the farm is convenientlylocatedjust minutes from Hamilton, offering easy access to a wide range of housing, schools,shopsand amenities.

Why DairyNZ?

• At DairyNZyou'llhave the opportunity to use your practical skills in a role that has real impact. Every repair, improvement and maintenance taskyoucomplete helps support research that improves the productivity,sustainabilityand profitability of New Zealand dairy farming.
• A diverse and rewarding role with plenty of variety.
• The opportunity to work alongside leading scientists and farm professionals.
• A supportive, collaborative team environment.
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities.
• Competitive salary and benefits.
• The chance to contribute to meaningful research thatbenefitsNew Zealand dairy farmers.

Ifyou'rea practical, solutions-focused person who enjoys hands-on work and wants to be part of improving the future of New Zealand dairy farming,we'dlove to hear from you.