Power Station Operator

Te Tākinatanga | Our Story   

Contact Energy's geothermal plants are a cornerstone of New Zealand's renewable energy landscape. With plants ranging from our iconic Wairākei site (received its gold card for 65+ years in service), to our brand new Tauhara plant, Contact harnesses the Earth's natural heat to generate clean, reliable electricity. These plants collectively contribute significantly to the national grid, powering hundreds of thousands of Kiwi homes.

The geothermal process involves tapping into underground reservoirs of steam and hot water, which are then used to drive turbines and produce electricity. This method not only reduces carbon emissions but also ensures a steady supply of energy, regardless of weather conditions

The operators at these geothermal plants play a vital role in maintaining their efficiency and safety. These skilled professionals monitor plant equipment, adjust controls to optimise performance, and troubleshoot any issues that arise. They are well-versed in the latest geothermal technologies and adhere strictly to safety protocols and environmental regulations. Their dedication ensures that the plants run smoothly, providing sustainable energy to keep the lights on across Aotearoa!

Working across both day and nightshifts, we're now looking to fill multiple positions across the team to work on both the existing plants and the new ones that we continue to bring on. 

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity

The primary focus of this role is to operate our geothermal power plants in a safe, efficient and timely manner within operational guidelines, EGR/NZEM rules, and offer guidelines to meet output and performance requirements. Safety is your middle name and keeping your peers in line with occupational health principles and practices will bring you great satisfaction.

No day is likely to be the same as the last as you learn the specific code of compliance requirements for our Geothermal power plants but here’s a small preview into some of tasks that will fill up your day;

• Operate local and remote control power stations via DCS systems and respond to alarms / events.
• You will monitor plant performance, maintain plant efficiency, whilst identifying and anticipating events to prevent failures.
• Maintain knowledge of and comply with all industry safety rules, codes of practice and regulations whilst delivering HSE Performance and Safety from the System (SFTS).
• Carry out operational routines and inspections, identify and report any defective plant and apparatus.
• Contribute to the performance of the team by assisting in other areas or sites as required, including identifying opportunities for improvement of systems and processes, and suggest advice and/or strategies to other staff to minimise risk.

We're more interested in the right person than the right qualifications so we would prefer applications from those with a few years of relevant experience under their belt to slot straight into our team.

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, discounts on Contact Energy products, and more.

Our teams are busy as we are growing our geothermal capability and capacity, which means we want to fill these roles quickly so if this fantastic opportunity sounds like you, apply now! 

Here at Contact Energy (Te Mata Hiko), we know our strength lies in developing a sense of belonging - one that helps us attract and retain people with a broad range of perspectives and experiences.

We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to bring their whole selves to work. Our goal is to reflect the diversity of our customers and communities to help build a better Aotearoa New Zealand.

We have a rich community of talented people that we support to thrive at Contact.

Our inclusive hiring process is designed to embrace the diversity of Aotearoa New Zealand, ensuring a wide range of perspectives are included in our decision-making and helping reduce bias along the way.

The wellbeing of our kaimahi is super important to us.

We use employee insights to offer a range of initiatives and resources to support physical, mental, financial and emotional wellbeing – including flexible working arrangements, employee network groups and a market-leading parental leave policy.

At Te Mata Hiko, we want everyone to thrive. We welcome applicants far and wide - of every age, stage, background, and pride. Join us and be part of a team that values your passion and attitude just as much as your experience and skills.

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.