Technical Lead - Dryer

Join Us At Danone

Join us at Danone, where your work touches lives and contributes to a healthier world. As a global leader with a unique health-focused portfolio in food and beverages, we are driven by a mission to bring health through food to as many people as possible. Embedded in our culture is a profound sense of purpose and a commitment to innovation, sustainability, and community. At Danone, we believe in the power of our people, and we are dedicated to creating an environment where our core values of humanism, openness, enthusiasm, and proximity lead the way to achieve our goals.

About the Job

Step into a leadership role where your expertise truly makes an impact. As Technical Lead for our spray dryer operations, you'll take full ownership of the maintenance and reliability of critical equipment at our Balclutha manufacturing facility. This is more than just a technical role – it's an opportunity to lead a high-performing team, shape processes, and influence outcomes that keep our operations running at their best.

You'll be at the heart of a dynamic, line-centric environment where no two days are the same. From planning and prioritising maintenance schedules to driving problem-solving and innovation, you'll ensure our spray dryer systems operate safely, efficiently, and to the highest standards. Your leadership will foster a culture of continuous improvement, empowering your team to grow and succeed while delivering exceptional results.

The ideal candidate will have proven leadership experience, a trade qualification and have the ability to identify process improvements.

If you're passionate about engineering excellence, thrive on collaboration, and want to make a tangible difference in a fast-paced manufacturing setting, this is your chance to take the lead.

This is a permanent, full-time position working Monday–Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm.

About You

In this role, you'll take the lead in keeping our operations running at peak performance. Your day-to-day will be varied, hands-on, and full of opportunities to make a real impact. You will:

• Own the workflow by managing and prioritising SAP work orders and defect handling.
• Plan ahead using SAP or SIGGA to schedule maintenance activities that keep us on track.
• Lead with confidence in daily, weekly, and monthly planning meetings.
• Collaborate across teams to seamlessly integrate maintenance tasks into production plans.
• Keep the team moving by managing technician rosters and arranging contractor cover when needed.
• Grow capability by coaching, mentoring, and upskilling team members.
• Drive improvement through leadership of the Progressive Maintenance IWS Pillar and DMS initiatives.
• Champion safety and quality standards in everything you do.
• Optimise performance by monitoring maintenance costs, parts usage, and labour efficiency.
• Ensure precision by managing equipment design changes under Change Management procedures.
• Stay organised with accurate technical documentation and maintenance plans.
• Shape the future by providing feedback on new equipment installations and line speed-ups.