Improvement Engineer

About the Company AFFCO is a dynamic leader in the New Zealand Meat Industry, with over 120 years of experience in delivering high-quality meat products globally. Established in 1904 and headquartered in the Waikato region, we employ over 4,000 individuals across our 11 processing sites throughout New Zealand. Our operations extend internationally, with offices in the USA, UK, and Hong Kong, distributing products to over 80 countries. We pride ourselves on sourcing sustainable, grass-fed New Zealand beef and lamb from our network of farmer suppliers. As a 100% New Zealand-owned company and a proud member of the Talley’s Group, we are committed to excellence in the meat, dairy, seafood, and vegetable export sectors. About the Role We are currently looking for a passionate Improvement Engineer to join our Engineering team. In this role, you will lead projects from the scoping phase through to the delivery of new or upgraded assets. Your responsibilities will include identifying and executing automation and improvement projects, enhancing engineering and asset maintenance processes, and ensuring improved reliability and uptime. The ideal candidate will possess project management experience and a background in asset maintenance processes. You will be responsible for tasks such as costing, preparing payback analyses, and managing project installations through to commissioning. Additionally, you will oversee any secondary effects to ensure the seamless operation of our plants for front-line process workers. You will collaborate with our trades and operations teams to ensure that your projects align with their needs, and you will work closely with contractors to scope and tender each project. Key Objectives - Identify and propose effective solutions to enhance processing capabilities and optimize plant machinery utilization. - Prepare cost-saving business cases that include detailed capital expenditure preparation, project timelines, cost quotations, and payback calculations. - Develop Standard Operating Procedures to ensure machinery and products are utilized effectively and are fit for purpose. - Implement change management processes while continuously striving for improvement. - Support sites with engineering and maintenance enhancements. This position is primarily based at our Horotiu Head Office in the Waikato region, but it will require frequent domestic travel to various sites based on assigned projects and improvements. Requirements The successful candidate will demonstrate the following qualifications: - An Engineering degree or other relevant tertiary qualification. - Strong communication skills to effectively liaise with key stakeholders, including the trades team, operations team, external consultants, contractors, and suppliers. Benefits If you are a driven and motivated individual with a passion for engineering, we encourage you to apply online now. Join us at AFFCO and be a part of our commitment to excellence in the meat industry.