Operations Manager

We're looking for an Operations Manager to join our team at Specialised Engineering Services, based in Palmerston North. This is a hands-on leadership role where you'll be closely involved in day-to-day operations while building capability, improving performance, and strengthening team culture.

As Operations Manager, you'll lead our engineering fabrication and maintenance teams,, ensuring work is delivered safely, efficiently, and to a consistently high standard.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead and support the day-to-day operations of the Specialist Plant Engineering team
• Ensure projects and maintenance activities are delivered safely, on time, within budget, and to quality standards
• Drive strong financial performance through effective cost control, forecasting, and resource planning
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with clients, suppliers, and internal stakeholders
• Champion Health, Safety, Quality, and Environmental standards so everyone goes home safe
• Lead, coach, and develop your team, fostering a positive, inclusive, and high-performing culture

About You You're a practical, values-driven leader who enjoys being close to the work and supporting your team to succeed. You're confident making decisions, communicating clearly, and balancing operational demands with people leadership.

You'll bring:

• Experience leading engineering, plant or operational teams
• A solid understanding of commercial and financial fundamentals, including budgeting and cost control
• Proven ability to coach, engage and develop people
• Strong relationship and stakeholder management skills
• A genuine commitment to health, safety, quality and environmental excellence
• A relevant trade or technical background (mechanical or engineering experience preferred) Experience in plant utilisation, maintenance environments or specialist engineering services will be highly regarded.

What's On Offer

• Competitive salary package
• In-house technical training and leadership development programmes
• Access to educational funds for you and your children
• Funding for school holiday programmes and tutoring for your children
• Discounts with Southern Cross, ANZ, Z Energy, PlaceMakers, Mico and Samsung
• Market-leading parental leave policy

Specialised Engineering Services is part of the wider Higgins business and specialises in manufacturing, assembling, repairing and servicing bitumen tanks and trailer equipment.

Higgins is a leading construction and infrastructure company, proudly building and maintaining the roads, bridges and civil projects that connect communities across New Zealand. You'll join a team that values collaboration, innovation and career development - because we believe our people are the foundation of our success.

Higgins is committed to a drug-free workplace. The successful applicant will be required to pass pre-employment drug and alcohol testing, along with a health check.

We're with you on the road ahead - Ko tatou kei a koe i te huarahi kei mua

We are actively looking to fill this role and encourage your early application. Applications are reviewed regularly, and we reserve the right to remove the advertisement before the advertised closing date.

Research shows that females and minority groups don't always apply for roles unless they match 100% of the requirements. So, if this role is of interest but you feel you don't quite fit, we encourage you to apply anyway. We are enriched by many nationalities, languages, religions, customs, and lifestyles. We are proud of our diversity and see it as one of the things that make us better together.