Welcome to Heretaunga, the area renowned for its rich and fertile landscape that is sustained by its life-giving dews and waterways. Welcome to Heretaunga, whose beauty is observed by the sharp eye of the harrier hawk; a landscape rich in history and with an esteemed legacy of caring and providing for its inhabitants.
Taitara Mahi - Principal Water Operator
Permanent Full-Time
Hastings District Council supplies drinking water to more than 23,000 households and businesses across our large urban areas and smaller communities. Pumping more than 13 million cubic metres of water a year, our system includes 24 bores, three springs, more than 530 kilometres of pipe, 32 reservoirs and 10 booster stations.
With a team of five, the Principal Water Operator will be the senior operational expert for Hastings District Council's drinking water treatment network. You'll oversee day-to-day treatment operations, troubleshoot complex issues, optimise plant performance and ensure our water continues to meet strict public health and compliance standards.
You'll work alongside a great team of operators, engineers and project staff, providing technical guidance, supporting upgrades and commissioning of new infrastructure, and stepping in during incidents when your expertise is needed most. If you enjoy solving problems, improving systems and making a real difference to an essential community service, this is an opportunity to have a genuine impact.
Ōu wheako – about you
We're looking for an experienced water professional who brings strong technical expertise, sound judgement and a practical approach to leadership. You'll bring:
- Significant experience in drinking water treatment operations, ideally with leadership responsibility in a regulated environment.
- Strong knowledge of drinking water treatment processes, associated infrastructure, compliance requirements and Water Safety Plans.
- Experience supporting operational decision-making, incident response, continuous improvement and risk management.
- Experience working with capital projects, including commissioning, operational handover and asset performance.
- The ability to manage budgets, contractors and operational priorities effectively.
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships across operational, technical and leadership teams.
- A relevant engineering, water, infrastructure or related qualification, or equivalent practical experience.
You'll be a calm and considered leader who takes ownership, works collaboratively and maintains a strong focus on public health, safety and service reliability. You'll bring integrity, resilience and a solutions-focused mindset, with the ability to lead by example and build trust within a team.
Situated in the heart of Ngāti Kahungunu, the Hastings district and Hawke’s Bay offer an enjoyable environment in which to live, work and play. We are an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity. Are you keen to be a part of our journey?
