Geothermal Steamfield Controller

Ko wai mātou | About us

At Contact, we’re here to do good things with energy. As one of Aotearoa’s leading energy providers, our mission is to lead the decarbonisation of New Zealand’s energy sector, and we’re doing that by investing in our people, our communities, and our whenua.

Our geothermal steamfields are a true taonga — a powerful, sustainable energy source drawn from deep within Papatūānuku. From the iconic Wairākei field to the innovative Tauhara development, our geothermal operations are world-class. We combine cutting-edge tech with deep respect for the environment, working as kaitiaki to protect and enhance these natural resources for generations to come.

We’re on the lookout for a Steamfield Operator to join our geothermal whānau in a day based role ensuring a stable and efficient supply of steam to the power station from our network of wells, pipelines, and separators.

Kōrero mō te tūranga | About the role

You’ll be the heartbeat of our steamfield operations — keeping the plant humming safely and efficiently, responding to alarms, and making sure everything runs like clockwork. Whether it’s monitoring plant performance, managing electrical switching, or coordinating with maintenance and operations teams, you’ll play a key role in keeping the wheels turning.

This isn’t just a job — it’s a chance to be part of something bigger. You’ll be working with a passionate team who care deeply about safety, sustainability, and continuous improvement. You’ll help us protect our environment, support our communities, and deliver clean, renewable energy to Aotearoa. If you love solving problems, working with your hands, and being part of a tight-knit crew, this could be your next big move.

Ko wai koe | About you

You might be an experienced operator in the energy or heavy industry space, or someone with a solid technical background who’s ready to step into something new. What matters most is your commitment to safety, your curiosity, and your willingness to learn. If you’ve worked with steam systems, DCS controls (like ABB 800XA), or have experience in plant operations — awesome. If not, but you’re keen to grow and bring the right attitude, we’d still love to hear from you.

There are a few must-haves: you’ll need to be confident working in a safety-critical environment, have solid communication skills, and be comfortable with shift coordination and plant monitoring. A Certificate of Competence for Steamfield Plant or similar qualifications (like EnChem 3 or 4) would be a bonus — but they’re not deal-breakers. What we’re really looking for is someone who’s proactive, collaborative, and ready to roll up their sleeves. If that sounds like you, we’d love to kōrero.

There are a bunch of perks to being a permanent Contact kaimahi. Along with great leadership, teammates, development, and growth and progression opportunities, free health insurance cover, better-than-your-average leave, access to Contact Shares, a ‘Good to be Home’ annual payment toward your home set up & wellbeing, a trail-blazing parental leave policy, bi-annual payments towards Contact Energy products, and more!

Please note, only candidates with the right to live and work in New Zealand will be considered for this role.

Research shows that while men apply to jobs where they meet 60% of the criteria, women and those in underrepresented groups tend to only apply if they tick every box. We're not about box ticking, so if you think you have what it takes but don't meet everything stated above, please still get in touch. We'd love to kōrero.

Te Mata Hiko (Contact Energy) does not accept any CVs received from recruitment agencies where a formal engagement has not been confirmed and agreed to with our Talent team. In the event that unsolicited CVs are submitted by recruitment agencies, Te Mata Hiko (Contact Energy) reserves the right to contact these candidates directly and consider them for current/future vacancies without any financial obligation to the recruitment agency in question. This will also apply to any CVs sent directly to line managers.