Ocean Innovation Technician

JOB DESCRIPTION:

This position is Nelson based but may be required to work elsewhere

$37 to $39 per hour plus generous O/T rates and allowances.

The Kernohan team, winners at the Nelson Pine Industries Chamber of Commerce Business Awards,  loves nothing more than a job well done. Happy customers and proud staff are a strong combination, and we’re equally committed to both.   

ABOUT THE JOB:

We are continuing to grow our business and need your help.

• To provide aquaculture and associated ocean innovation engineering expertise to the company and its customer base.
• Play a proactive role as a professional engineering technician, successfully fulfilling customer demands. 
• Demonstrate care for health & safety, quality, and customer care. 
• Be a positive teammate. 
• Demonstrate a forward-looking, continuous improvement focus on Kernohan’s key operations, systems, processes etc. 
• To consistently have the best interests of the organisation, its staff, and customers at heart.  

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Engineering - Ocean Innovation and general:

• Utilise training and experience to successfully manage diverse on the job challenges individually and as part of a team – seek to successfully deliver quality workmanship every time.

• Maintain personal skill levels to offer a leading-edge, best practice approach to solutions.

• Work as part of the Kernohan team where directed, to ensure set goals are achieved (e.g., delivering on expected customer timeframes and budgets); if in doubt always seek support and guidance.

• Ensure efficient organisation and safe operation of all work.

• Ensure the worksite – Kernohan or customer – is maintained in a safe, tidy, and hygienic condition.

• Complete work outside of routine tasks as and when required e.g. during downtimes, to meet a desired productivity target.

• Provide hands-on design, fabrication, assembly, installation, and maintenance skills across a range of mechanical engineering work, both internally and externally.

• Contribute expertise into generating effective engineering/technical solutions for aquaculture and related customers.

Customer Service Internal & External:

• Maintain existing client relationships and build new trusted relationships, especially within the aquaculture and marine sector.

• Proactively identify and share any customer requirements or opportunities and risks as they arise with your manager.

• Always act professionally as a positive ambassador for Kernohan and ensure others are accountable for doing the same.

• Develop good working relationships and maintain regular lines of communication with team members, managers, team members, contractors, suppliers, and customers to manage expectations professionally and consistently.

• Attend internal and external meetings as required – be an active contributor of information, demonstrating accountability and a desire for the team to deliver the best service to internal and external customers every time. Keeping in mind that some of these meetings may be outside of normal working hours

Compliance & Standards - Health & Safety, Quality:

• Ensure understanding and practical application of Kernohan’s Health & Safety and Quality ISO systems, policies, and procedures to perform safely and successfully on the job. If in doubt seek guidance from an appropriate manager or team member.

• Ensure team members are aware of their responsibilities for Health & Safety and Quality e.g., job start up, hazard management and have been provided with the appropriate awareness and supports to be safe and perform well on the job e.g., induction, provision of fit for purpose PPE.

• Be willing to accept guidance and constructive feedback should opportunities for improvement be identified in understanding and application of Health & Safety and Quality standards.

• Complete all jobs in line with best practice quality standards to manage risk of non-conformance, rework, and failure to deliver on customer expectations.

• If acting as aquaculture project lead, ensure team members have access to all relevant material to support job success (e.g., drawings, materials, budget constraints), complete QA inspections and documentation as required, review daily timecards for your team and carry out progress updates when required.

• Take ownership for Health & Safety and Quality performance. Actively lead by example to demonstrate expected standards to team members.

• Attend and be a positive contributor at any meetings related to Health & Safety or Quality

General:

Willingly undertake all other projects, tasks and duties assigned by supervisor or manager to be a positive contributor to the overall success of the Kernohan team.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS:

Internal:

• Management Team

• All team leaders and staff

External:

• Customers – including potential/new customers

• Suppliers

• Contractors

• Industry organisations such as Moananui, Aquaculture NZ, etc.

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:

• Relevant trade experience, qualification or demonstrated ability operating in the marine and aquaculture industry

• Ideally minimum 5 years hands on operation withing the marine, engineering or fabrication sector (fabricate, assemble, install, maintain machinery & equipment).

• Demonstrable experience working with a range of materials in a marine engineering environment.

• Desired experience in reading/interpreting engineering drawings.

• Strong practical working knowledge and skill in all aspects of workplace practices as well as the use of machines and equipment in a fabrication shop environment. Willing and able to learn and become proficient user of new machinery and equipment.

• Excellent people skills and an experienced/proven team leader.

• Innovative, proactive, progressive and solution focussed.

• Highly adaptable – able to successfully cope with diverse, unpredictable, and sometimes stressful demands.

• Commitment to finding practical, workable solutions regardless of how difficult circumstances might be.

• Commercial awareness – able to quote timeframes and costs for all the types of work carried out in the fabrication shop as well as take ownership for ensuring jobs are completed on budget.

• Proficient level of computer literacy. Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook – Project and CAD would be advantageous.

• Genuine commitment to Health & Safety, Quality, and best practice operating standards – holds self-accountable to the highest of standards and will expect the same of others.

• High levels of ownership for a job well done – holds self to high standards and expects the same of others.

• Excellent planning and organisation skills – able to manage self successfully and motivate / organise others to do the same. Can be relied on to deliver and ensure others deliver.

• A great relationship builder – able to build trusted relationships at all levels; respected by team members and managers for being a reliable, high performing team member intent on delivering the best job every time.

• Able to make sound assessments when faced with potential risk e.g., health & safety, quality. Unwilling to compromise on standards and expose self, the team or company to levels of undue risk.

• A good decision maker when faced with operational challenges – able to successfully work through problems to meet the needs of customers, team members and the business.

• A desire to be part of a continuous learning environment – willing to offer an opinion and encourage team members to do the same.

• Willingness to report on activity and be held accountable for business performance.

• High integrity and trust – able to fulfil diverse pieces of work under different umbrellas with Kernohan’s best interests at heart.

• Current Drivers Licence - Class One, mandatory. Class 2 and forklift licence would be advantageous

ABOUT YOU

You will have relevant trade experience, a qualification, or demonstrated ability operating in the marine and aquaculture industry.

• Other skills and experience include 
• Ideally minimum 5 years hands on operation withing the marine, engineering or fabrication sector (fabricate, assemble, install, maintain machinery & equipment).
• Demonstrable experience working with a range of materials in a marine engineering environment.
• Desired experience in reading/interpreting engineering drawings.
• Strong practical working knowledge and skill in all aspects of workplace practices as well as the use of machines and equipment in a fabrication shop environment. Willing and able to learn and become proficient user of new machinery and equipment.
• You will have excellent people skills and be innovative, proactive, progressive and solution focussed.
• You don’t want just a job, but a role where you are expected to think for yourself and make decisions. You want to be given the opportunity to grow your skills, be fairly rewarded for your talent and work for a team and a company you can be proud to be part of.
• You are also someone who relishes being trusted to do what you do best – work smart, work safe, find solutions, and own what you do.

PAY AND BENEFITS

We pay market competitive rates and provide a number of benefits including special allowances, above the standard 1.5 over time rates, and regular training opportunities.

ABOUT US

The Kernohan team loves nothing more than a job well done. Happy customers and proud staff are a strong combination and we’re equally committed to both. We have an excellent reputation as an employer, one that genuinely cares about the people who are part of our team, no matter what role they are in.

Providing expert engineering services to multiple industries has been a key part of our business since 1972. It can be a complex and risky job, and we stand by our commitment to deliver services safely, to the right standard, on budget and on time. Our Nelson facilities are a great base from which to service both local and nationwide customers. 

So, if you care about your reputation as a trade professional and want to work for a company equally committed to this, then applying to this vacancy should be top of your To-Do List!

HOW TO APPLY

Click Apply Now with you updated CV and Cover Letter. We will be reviewing applications as they are submitted and responding as quickly as we can.

Only applicants with residency, citizenship or a valid work will be considered for this role.

Please be aware that a Pre-employment Medical, including drug and alcohol screen, forms part of the recruitment process.