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Engineering Project Manager - Central & Upper South Island

Job Name
Engineering Project Manager

General Information

Date Published
28-Jan-2026
Advertising Ends
08-Feb-2026
ID#
14557
Role Type
Engineering
Work Type
Permanent Full-Time
Workplace Type
On-site
Country
New Zealand
Location
Canterbury

Position Description

Our Co-operative

Ata whakaarohia tō āpōpō | Imagine Tomorrow with Us
At Te Mātāpuna Fonterra, we want everyone to feel they can be themselves. 

Whether you're early in your career or ready for your next step, Fonterra offers a unique opportunity to grow with a global dairy co-operative that values care, collaboration, and contribution. 

Owned by New Zealand dairy farmers and supported by a dedicated team, we are all working together to create a better future. Imagine tomorrow with us, where your career can grow, and you can create positive change.

He kupu mō mātou | About us
We are embracing a new vision and strategic direction with a centralised engineering, capital and technical group for COO. Global Engineering & Technical represents a transformative step in our journey towards engineering excellence and strategic innovation to deliver our long term asset strategy within COO. It will drive positive change by enhancing strategic delivery, efficiency, and agility, streamline risk management, standardise operations, simplify processes, improve communication and enhance career pathways for engineers within a recognised centre of excellence, ensuring a sustainable future. 

Mō tēnei tūranga | About the Opportunity
Due to growth, we have a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Engineering Project Manager to join our Central South Island Capital Projects team. 

Reporting to the  Projects Delivery Manager, you will be responsible for full project management of projects up to $15M, from project conception, definition and scoping, concept design through delivery to post-completion support. 

You will drive delivery of projects with the projects being sponsored/owned by a variety of people in operations, ensuring process, budget and timelines are clear, then lead project teams through funding, design and implementation to ensure business benefits are delivered. With a range of resources supporting different projects, you will ensure permits for contractors are up to date, the team are aligned on the outcomes, and you are communicating updates across our key stakeholders and senior leaders.

This is a fantastic opportunity where you will get exposure to a range of engineering projects, leading initiatives that will significantly improve the sustainability, safety, quality, and reliability of assets within our operations. Your projects will be highly visible to senior leaders and make a real difference to the future performance and success of Fonterra.

As a member of the Central Upper South Island Capital projects, you will be responsible for capital projects across our manufacturing sites from Takaka in stunning Golden Bay through to Studholme in vibrant South Canterbury. This role will largely be aligned to supporting projects at our Clandeboye site in South Canterbury and you will need to be available on site 2-3 days per week.  
  
Mōu | About You
We are looking for a go-getter with a strong team approach. To be successful in this role you will bring an engineering or project management background, within a high-quality team environment with the ability to deliver complex capital projects end to end. You will have industrial manufacturing experience for, or with, a company producing food or dairy products having an in depth understanding of primary manufacturing processes. 
  
You’ll have a proven ability to cope with an ever changing and busy workload effectively, as well as having excellent prioritisation and decision-making skills. You’ll be reliable, approachable, and be able to identify, and provide solutions to the wider business to keep projects moving forward.

The key to your success will be:

  • Experience in engineering and/or industrial operations essential. 
  • Minimum 3-5 years project management experience delivering capital projects up to or in excess of $15M
  • Project management certification such as PMP, or CAPM is desired. If you have no certification, the willingness to complete certification is required.
  • Ability to prioritize your work to resource, lead and manage several projects at any given time
  • Strong organisational skills and attention to detail to fully scope and cost projects
  • The ability to manage change and see tasks through to completion 
  • Strong stakeholder management and interpersonal skills 
  • Excellent collaboration, influencing and problem-solving skills
  • A strong communicator with excellent business writing skills 
  • Experiencing managing large cross-functional teams or complex groups 

This varied role is both challenging and fulfilling and is offering a great opportunity to develop your career in a diverse and exciting project management role. 

Ngā Aura | Our Values 
At Fonterra, our values of Good Together, Better Every Day, and Every Drop Counts, are for everyone – no matter your background, identify or experience. These values guide us in delivering exceptional outcomes for our farmers, customers, communities, and each other. Discover how your values align with ours by taking our Values Quiz

Tā mātou oati | Our Commitment to You 
We care for our people globally. Our comprehensive benefits support your well-being, development, and work-life balance:
  • Fair and equitable pay
  • Health and well-being programs (medical, mental health support)
  • Professional development opportunities
  • Career growth support
  • Work-life balance options (flexible/hybrid working where possible)
  • Employee recognition
  • Support for community involvement and cultural connection
To learn more, visit Fonterra Careers

Ngā Mahi | A Career of Opportunities
At Te Mātāpuna Fonterra, we are inspired by purpose and guided by our principles and values. Together, we create goodness for generations and make a global impact at a local level. As part of our Co-operative, you are an everyday creator, imagining what Fonterra, dairy, and you can be here.

Tātou Tātou | Join Us
Does this sound good to you? Come join our whānau - bring your whole self, and let's solve for better together. 

You, me, us together, Tātou, tātou.

He Wāhi mō te Katoa | Together, we're shaping a future of inclusion.
Inclusion is key to our Co-operative. We're building a team that reflects the diverse world we live in, believing it drives better decisions and innovation. 

We welcome applications from all backgrounds (ethnicities, genders, identities, orientations, ages, abilities, neurotypes, cultures, religions). 

Even if you don't meet every requirement listed, we encourage you to apply; we value your potential and growth. 

If you face accessibility issues or need accommodations during the process, please contact your recruiter. We ensure fair participation, allowing you to be at your best. Tātou, tātou. 

Applications close at midnight on Sunday 8th February