Technical Lead

Danone; Auckland; On-site; NZD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Life Insurance

Parental leave (26 wks)

Employee Share Plan

Performance incentives

Early Friday finish

Job summary

Danone ANZ is seeking a Technical Lead to drive equipment reliability, maintenance planning, and continuous improvement within our New Zealand manufacturing site. You will lead maintenance planning, coach technical teams, and ensure safe, efficient production.

You will bring automation, electrical or mechanical engineering background, leadership experience in manufacturing, and a passion for continuous improvement. The role offers a collaborative culture and a competitive rewards package.

Qualifications

• A qualification in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience in a manufacturing environment with leadership capability.
• Strong knowledge of maintenance planning, scheduling, equipment reliability, and CI methodologies.
• Experience troubleshooting mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, or automation systems.
• Ability to coach, influence, and develop others while building relationships across teams.
• Excellent communication, organisation, and prioritisation skills.
• Strong analytical thinking and structured problem solving.
• Exposure to food, dairy, or regulated manufacturing environments will be highly regarded.

Responsibilities

• Leading maintenance planning, scheduling, and execution to maximise equipment performance and reliability.
• Driving continuous improvement initiatives by identifying losses, solving root causes, and implementing sustainable solutions.
• Coaching and developing engineers, operators, and technical teams to build capability and foster a culture of learning.
• Collaborating with production, engineering, quality, and operational teams to optimise line performance.
• Supporting planned maintenance activities, shutdowns, start-ups, and major equipment interventions.
• Monitoring maintenance performance measures and using insights to improve operational outcomes.
• Championing food safety, quality, compliance, and workplace safety standards.
• Managing technical documentation, maintenance plans, and equipment standards to ensure best practice is maintained.
• Contributing to site improvement programs and supporting the implementation of new equipment and technologies

Skills

Maintenance planning

Scheduling

Equipment reliability

Continuous improvement

People leadership

SAP

Microsoft Office

Communication skills

Problem solving

Education

Electrical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SAP

Microsoft Office

Job description

About the job

As our Technical Lead, you will play a pivotal role in driving equipment reliability, maintenance excellence, and continuous improvement within our manufacturing operations in New Zealand. Working as part of the Line Leadership team, you will lead maintenance planning and execution, coach and develop technical talent, and help create a safe, efficient, and high-performing production environment.

Your responsibilities will include (but are not limited to)

• Leading maintenance planning, scheduling, and execution to maximise equipment performance and reliability.
• Driving continuous improvement initiatives by identifying losses, solving root causes, and implementing sustainable solutions.
• Coaching and developing engineers, operators, and technical teams to build capability and foster a culture of learning.
• Collaborating with production, engineering, quality, and operational teams to optimise line performance.
• Supporting planned maintenance activities, shutdowns, start-ups, and major equipment interventions.
• Monitoring maintenance performance measures and using insights to improve operational outcomes.
• Championing food safety, quality, compliance, and workplace safety standards.
• Managing technical documentation, maintenance plans, and equipment standards to ensure best practice is maintained.
• Contributing to site improvement programs and supporting the implementation of new equipment and technologies

About you

You are a technically capable and people-focused maintenance professional who enjoys solving complex challenges and helping others succeed. You bring a proactive mindset, strong problem-solving skills, and a passion for continuous improvement. You thrive in fast-paced manufacturing environments and know how to balance strategic thinking with hands‑on leadership.

Ideally, you will have

• A qualification in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience in a manufacturing environment, with demonstrated technical expertise and leadership capability.
• Strong knowledge of maintenance planning, scheduling, equipment reliability, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience troubleshooting and improving mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, or automation systems.
• The ability to coach, influence, and develop others while building strong working relationships across teams.
• Excellent communication, organisation, and prioritisation skills.
• Strong analytical thinking and a structured approach to problem solving.
• Experience using systems such as SAP and Microsoft Office.
• Exposure to food, dairy, or regulated manufacturing environments will be highly regarded

About us

We truly value our Danoners and strive to make their experience exceptional by creating a positive and fulfilling environment for everyone. Our unique benefits are designed to enhance the lives and provide genuine value.

• A high-performing, collaborative team culture.
• Thank Danone it’s Friday! 3pm finishes every Friday.
• Diverse and inclusive work environment.
• Personalised learning opportunities to support your growth and career development.
• Competitive Total Rewards package including
  • Health and Life Insurance
  • 26 weeks of gender-neutral paid parental leave
  • Employee Share Subscription Plan after 12 months of service
  • Performance-related incentives and annual reviews.

More About UsAt Danone, our mission is to bring health through food to as many people as possible. Guided by our vision, One Planet. One Health, we operate across industry-leading nutrition and food categories, supporting healthier and more sustainable lifestyles worldwide. At our New Zealand manufacturing sites, we produce trusted specialised nutrition products that positively impact the lives of consumers every day. Danone ANZ is proud to be recognised as a Great Place to Work and is committed to creating an environment where people can grow, contribute, and thrive