Network Operations Planner | Flexible Hours + Extra Leave

Orion; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working environment

Extra leave: My Days and Orion Days

Wellbeing allowance

Holiday house in Hanmer

Job summary

Orion, the electricity distribution network operator for Canterbury, is seeking an Operations Planner to coordinate planned work, manage access requests and align maintenance with minimal customer impact. You’ll balance outages, safety, and real-time needs while building strong cross‑team partnerships across crews, contractors and retailers.

The ideal candidate has a Level 4 Engineering qualification or equivalent, solid understanding of distribution networks, and hands‑on experience with GIS,

Qualifications

• Level 4 Engineering qualification or equivalent experience.
• Understanding of distribution and transmission systems and how outages affect performance.
• Experience with GIS, DMS and planning tools.
• Ability to communicate clearly and stay organized under pressure.
• Commitment to safety and continuous improvement.
• Proven relationship-builder across teams and partners.

Responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate network access requests for crews, contractors and Transpower to ensure safe and efficient work on the network.
• Review and process release requests aligning maintenance windows and minimising customer impact.
• Coordinate equipment releases, resolve conflicts early and reduce the risk of service disruptions.
• Notify retailers of planned outages and support the network switching process to enable smooth delivery of work.
• Maintain accurate network management system information and contribute to operational projects, training and knowledge sharing.
• Build strong relationships across internal teams and external partners to support effective planning and communication.

Skills

Electrical networks understanding

GIS knowledge

DMS experience

Communication skills

Safety mindset

Education

Level 4 Engineering qualification or equivalent

Tools

GIS tools

DMS

Planning tools

Job description

Orion, the electricity distribution network operator for Canterbury, is seeking an Operations Planner to coordinate planned work, manage access requests and align maintenance with minimal customer impact. You’ll balance outages, safety, and real-time needs while building strong cross‑team partnerships across crews, contractors and retailers.

The ideal candidate has a Level 4 Engineering qualification or equivalent, solid understanding of distribution networks, and hands‑on experience with GIS,