Environmental Operator- Water /Wastewater Treatment

About the role

As an Environmental Operator at Pukeuri, you'll take an active role in treatment plant performance—from monitoring and testing to fault response and routine maintenance. Every shift, your decisions will support essential site operations, protect water quality and contribute to strong environmental outcomes. You'll help protect water quality, maintain environmental compliance and keep critical infrastructure performing at its best.

Key responsibilities

• Keep our Water Treatment Plant and Wastewater Treatment Plant running safely, reliably and in line with site procedures, quality standards and resource consent requirements.
• Take ownership of routine plant checks, process adjustments, backwashing, sampling, testing and accurate operational records.
• Use SCADA and local instrumentation to track performance, respond decisively to alarms and escalate abnormal conditions without delay.
• Manage treatment chemicals, dosing systems, pumps, valves, pipelines and associated equipment with care and precision.
• Monitor the full wastewater process, including pumping, screening, aeration, clarification, sludge handling, lagoons and irrigation systems.
• Spot faults, leaks and maintenance needs early, complete basic operator maintenance, and work closely with maintenance teams and contractors.
• Act quickly on potential non-compliance, spills, unusual results or environmental incidents.
• Support after-hours or on-call response arrangements when required.

About you

• A New Zealand Certificate in Water Treatment and/or Wastewater Treatment (Level 4), or the drive to work towards the relevant qualification.
• Experience in water, wastewater, industrial processing or treatment plant operations would be an advantage.
• Confidence with routine sampling, testing, process monitoring and accurate record keeping.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and a practical approach to pumps, valves, pipework, treatment equipment and instrumentation.
• Basic computer skills and the ability to learn SCADA and electronic record systems.
• A full New Zealand driver licence; relevant additional licences or endorsements would be an advantage.
• Clear communication, sound judgement and a collaborative approach to solving problems.
• An uncompromising commitment to health, safety and environmental compliance.
• Legal right to work in New Zealand.