Operations Planner

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

About us

Keeping the lights on for Canterbury is no small task and that's where our Operations Planners come in. This role sits right at the heart of how we safely manage, maintain and upgrade our network every day. You'll be the person who brings everything together to make sure everyone gets the access they need to work our network safely, efficiently and with minimal impact on our customers. As an Operations Planner, you'll support the smooth flow of planned work across the region. You'll balance maintenance windows, planned outages, customer communication and real-time network needs while keeping safety front and centre. If you love coordinating moving parts, solving operational puzzles and working in a busy, purpose-driven environment, this role puts you right where the action is. About us Passionate, curious and innovative are a few words that describe our people. We are powering the future, connecting communities and igniting innovation. Orion owns and operates the electricity distribution network that provides power to central Canterbury. As the third largest electricity distribution network in New Zealand, we cover remote rural areas, regional towns and the city of Christchurch. We are an essential service and take our responsibilities seriously. We are community owned and working here means a career with meaning and purpose that makes a difference in your very own neighbourhood.

The role

• 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 without compromising safety
• 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

About you

• Solid understanding of electrical networks, system operations and industry practices with a Level 4 Engineering qualification or equivalent experience
• Strong knowledge of distribution and transmission systems including how planned work, outages and maintenance activity impact network performance
• Hands‑on familiarity with GIS, DMS and operational planning tools, with the ability to navigate and interpret complex network information accurately
• Clear, confident communicator who can relay technical information, manage competing priorities and stay calm, accurate and organised under pressure
• Positive, solutions‑focused mindset with a strong commitment to safety, continuous improvement and doing things the right way
• Proven relationship‑builder who works collaboratively with crews, service providers, internal teams and external partners to achieve shared outcomes

We offer

You will be joining a workplace that values who you are, the work you do, and the way you think. Importantly, we offer:

• Flexible working environment
• Five extra days of leave a year - three days of “My Days” leave and two “Orion Days” between Christmas and New Year
• A broad range of workplace benefits, from a wellbeing allowance to our holiday house in Hanmer!

You might be surprised to find out that the company that brings the power to your home is innovative, inclusive, progressive, and quite good fun.

We are truly committed to diversity, inclusion and lifting our cultural capability. You don't need to be knowledgeable in these areas, but you do need to be on board with learning.

Please reach out to us with any questions at [e-mail].

You must have the right to live and work in New Zealand to apply for this job.

Pre‑employment checks are part of our recruitment process.