Operations Technology (OT) Manager

The a2 Milk Company; Pokeno; On-site; NZD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, life & income protection保险

Quarterly bonus

Free breakfast and lunch onsite

Subsidised gym membership

Social club

Job summary

The a2 Milk Company in Pokeno, North Island is seeking an experienced OT/Automation Lead to ensure reliability, security, and performance of site OT systems. Based at Pokeno, you will own automation platforms and drive the digital transformation roadmap.

You will lead CAPEX projects, coordinate with IT/maintenance, and support audits including GxP and food safety. A strong background in PLC/SCADA/MES is required, plus 3+ years of leadership.

Qualifications

• 8+ years OT/automation experience in dairy/ FMCG
• 3+ years in team leadership
• Strong PLC/SCADA/HMI/MES and industrial networks
• Experience with CAPEX, digital transformation, and URS/qualification
• Vendor and cross-functional stakeholder management

Responsibilities

• Oversee reliability, security, and performance of OT systems on site
• Lead automation lifecycle management including design, change control, and obsolescence planning
• Drive production uptime and OEE improvements through proactive troubleshooting
• Ensure industrial cybersecurity and IT/OT alignment
• Coordinate OT integration with ERP/WMS/CMMS for data integrity
• Support audits and regulatory compliance (GxP, food safety)
• Lead OT projects and CAPEX planning and vendor management

Skills

PLC

SCADA

HMI

MES

Industrial networks

Troubleshooting OT

Education

Tertiary qualification in Automation/Electrical Engineering/Control Systems/Mechatronics

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.

The a2 Milk Company – Pokeno, North Island

We’re excited to share that our business has recently joined the a2 Milk Company family. Formerly known as Yashili Dairy NZ Ltd, we are now operating as a2 Nutritionals NZ Limited, based in Pokeno.

The a2 Milk Company, driven by science and a pioneering spirit, disrupted the dairy and infant milk formula industry. Our vision is to create an A1-free world where dairy nourishes all people and our planet.

The a2 Milk Company seeks to achieve this through the naturally occurring a2 Milk® difference and by bringing a more sustainable approach to dairy.

About the role:

Reporting to the Head of Operations and based at Pokeno, you will be accountable for the reliability, security, and performance of all site operational technology systems. You’ll act as the single point of accountability for automation, control systems, MES, and industrial cybersecurity, ensuring production uptime, system resilience, and alignment with our digital transformation roadmap.

More specifically, you will be involved in:

• Managing and optimising PLC, SCADA, HMI, MES, and historian platforms across the site.
• Leading automation lifecycle management, including system design, change control, and obsolescence planning.
• Driving production uptime and OEE improvement through proactive troubleshooting and collaboration with Maintenance.
• Ensuring industrial cybersecurity and network resilience, in partnership with IT.
• Overseeing OT integration with enterprise systems (ERP, WMS, CMMS) for data integrity and operational decision-making.
• Supporting audits and regulatory compliance, including GxP and food safety requirements.
• Leading OT-related projects and digital transformation initiatives, including CAPEX planning and vendor management.

About you:

• Minimum of 8+ years proven experience in OT/automation roles within dairy, food, pharma, or FMCG, with 3+ years leading teams
• Strong expertise in PLC, SCADA, HMI, MES, historians, and industrial networks (EtherNet/IP, Profinet), with the ability to troubleshoot and optimise OT systems
• Experience leading CAPEX, digital transformation, and continuous improvement projects from URS through qualification
• Demonstrated ability to manage vendors, contractors, and cross-functional stakeholders effectively
• Exposure to industrial cybersecurity, IT/OT integration, and regulated manufacturing environments is highly regarded
• Tertiary qualification in Automation, Electrical Engineering, Control Systems, Mechatronics, or related discipline preferred

What we offer

• Medical, life & income protection insurance and a quarterly bonus
• A supportive team culture with learning and development opportunities
• Free breakfast and lunch provided in our onsite cafeteria
• Subsidised gym membership
• Social club

Find out more about our great benefits on our Careers Page.