Supervisor – Underground

North Power NZ; Palmerston North; On-site; NZD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private use vehicle

Life insurance

Annual flu immunisations

Fitness Passport

Employee discounts

Job summary

Northpower is seeking an Underground Supervisor to own day‑to‑day underground distribution work, leading crews in construction, maintenance, fault response, and customer projects. You will coach field teams, manage safety, and coordinate resources, materials, and permits to deliver high‑quality outcomes.

You will work with project managers and designers to plan programmes, oversee outages and switching, and ensure site readiness.

Qualifications

• Extensive electricity distribution experience, underground construction and maintenance.
• Experience supervising electrical, cable jointing and/or civil crews.
• Strong HV/LV network knowledge, including cable installation, jointing and fault response.
• Proven leadership and people management skills.
• Strong planning, organisation and communication skills, with the ability to work under pressure.
• Good understanding of safety, industry regulations and network requirements.
• Experience working with Project Managers, customers, contractors and other stakeholders.
• Good computer skills, including Microsoft Office.
• EWRB registration or working towards
• Electrical Inspector certification or working towards
• HV switching competencies
• Current NZ Class 1 driver’s licence
• Relevant Level 4 or above technical qualification

Responsibilities

• Coordinate crews, resources and subcontractors to ensure underground construction, maintenance, renewals and fault response work is planned and delivered safely, efficiently and to a high standard.
• Provide coaching, mentoring and technical guidance to field crews, while coordinating labour, subcontractors, materials, plant and equipment.
• Work closely with Project Managers, Designers, Schedulers and other operational teams to coordinate work programmes and ensure effective delivery.
• Coordinate outage planning and switching requirements, ensuring B4U Dig requirements, landowner liaison and site preparation are completed.
• Monitor productivity, quality, programme delivery and cost performance to ensure work meets project requirements.
• Support emergency restoration and storm response activities when required, ensuring documentation and completion paperwork is accurate and timely.
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve safety, work practices, processes and overall operational delivery.

Skills

Leadership

Planning

Safety leadership

Communication

People management

HV/LV knowledge

Education

Level 4+ technical qualification

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

About The Role:

We’re looking for an Underground Supervisor to join our team and take ownership of the day-to-day delivery of underground electricity distribution work across construction, maintenance, fault response and customer projects. This is a hands‑on leadership role where your technical knowledge, planning ability and people leadership will make a real difference in the field. You’ll be a visible leader in the field and someone who sets the standard for how work is carried out. We're looking for someone who takes genuine ownership of safety, is comfortable challenging unsafe practices and understands that good leadership starts with being present and engaged with the team. You’ll lead toolbox meetings, safety observations and site audits, support incident investigations and make sure corrective actions are followed through. Just as importantly, you’ll help build a positive team culture where people take ownership, look out for each other and take pride in the work they deliver.

Role Responsibilities:

You’ll be responsible for coordinating crews, resources and subcontractors to ensure underground construction, maintenance, renewals and fault response work is properly planned and delivered safely, efficiently and to a high standard. The role involves leading and supporting field crews by providing coaching, mentoring and technical guidance, while coordinating labour, subcontractors, materials, plant and equipment to ensure teams have everything they need before work commences, including required materials, equipment, permits and site requirements. You'll work closely with Project Managers, Designers, Schedulers and other operational teams to coordinate work programmes and ensure effective delivery. Responsibilities include coordinating outage planning and switching requirements, ensuring B4U Dig requirements, landowner liaison and site preparation are completed, checking switching packs, and ensuring effective job handovers to field teams. You’ll also monitor productivity, quality, programme delivery and cost performance to ensure work is completed efficiently and in line with project requirements. The role will also involve supporting emergency restoration and storm response activities when required, ensuring project documentation and completion paperwork is accurate and completed on time. You’ll be expected to identify and implement opportunities to improve safety, work practices, processes and overall operational delivery, contributing to a positive safety culture and the continuous improvement of field operations.

Experience & Qualifications

• Extensive electricity distribution experience, particularly underground construction and maintenance
• Experience supervising electrical, cable jointing and/or civil crews
• Strong HV/LV network knowledge, including cable installation, jointing and fault response
• Proven leadership and people management skills
• Strong planning, organisation and communication skills, with the ability to work under pressure
• Good understanding of safety, industry regulations and network requirements
• Experience working with Project Managers, customers, contractors and other stakeholders
• Good computer skills, including Microsoft Office
• EWRB registration or working towards
• Electrical Inspector certification or working towards
• HV switching competencies
• Current NZ Class 1 driver’s licence
• Relevant Level 4 or above technical qualification

What Northpower Offers You:

Make real impact across Aotearoa in a stable and future‑focused sector. At Northpower, you’ll do work that matters and powers our communities while growing your career in an organisation that genuinely cares for its people.

You’ll benefit from:

• A people‑first culture built on safety, inclusion, and deep care, where contributions are recognised and wellbeing is supported through EAP and our award‑winning peer support network (Kaitiaki)
• Fair and market competitive pay Private use vehicle, with the flexibility to tailor through additional leave and increased employer KiwiSaver contributions
• Life insurance and preventative health initiatives (including annual flu immunisations and Mole Maps)
• Discounted group medical cover and health and fitness programmes (including Fitness Passport)
• Discounted fuel rates plus a range of retail discounts (including Boost, PBTech and Specsavers)
• Ongoing learning and development, with clear career pathways to help you grow, specialise, or progress
• A welcoming, family‑friendly workplace where people are encouraged to be themselves and feel valued

About Northpower:

Northpower is an organisation with deep regional roots and national reach. We own and operate the electricity and fibre networks across Whangārei and Kaipara, delivering essential infrastructure to more than 60,000 connected customers, while also operating one of New Zealand’s largest multi‑utility contracting businesses. From keeping the lights on today to building the infrastructure that will power tomorrow, our work spans electricity, fibre, renewables, transmission, and energy services. With more than 1,400 people across 16 locations, we act as one to support our communities, customers, clients, and critical national infrastructure across Aotearoa. What connects all this work is real impact you can see in your community. The work you do at Northpower matters it is seen, felt, and relied on every day.