Niagara Sawmilling is a proudly New Zealand-owned and operated business with a reputation for quality, innovation, and operational excellence. With a diverse group spanning sawmilling, remanufacturing, and distribution, we are committed to delivering outstanding results while staying true to our values:
We Work as a Team | We Act with Integrity | We Strive for Excellence

We are now seeking a proactive and driven Maintenance Manager to lead our maintenance function and play a key role in ensuring the reliability, efficiency, and continuous improvement of our operations.

This is a pivotal leadership role where you’ll take ownership of both preventative and reactive maintenance strategies across a complex, multi-faceted operation. From large-scale, unique installations through to day-to-day plant reliability, you will be instrumental in ensuring our assets perform at their best.

You will work closely with operational leaders across our sawmill and processing sites, driving collaboration, minimising downtime, and embedding a strong, data-driven maintenance culture.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing maintenance team (including apprentices)
• Plan, coordinate, and execute preventative and reactive maintenance programs across sites
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance equipment reliability, efficiency, and uptime
• Build and maintain accurate asset history, maintenance systems, and data visibility
• Optimise the use of our CMMS (MaintainX) to improve workflows and performance tracking
• Prioritise and allocate maintenance resources to support production demands with minimal disruption
• Ensure breakdowns are resolved quickly while identifying long-term reliability improvements
• Oversee procurement and availability of critical parts and consumables
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, environmental, and quality standards
• Partner with operational and senior leadership teams to support business objectives and growth
• Champion a culture of safety, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement

This opportunity to lead, optimise and improve is best suited to someone who is a natural leader with a hands-on, solutions-focused approach to all tasks and a passion for industry.

Our ideal candidate will come into the role with:

• Proven experience in a maintenance leadership or supervisory role
• Strong understanding of maintenance planning, asset management, and operational systems
• Experience in manufacturing, sawmilling, or heavy industry environments
• The ability to analyse data, identify trends, and implement practical improvements
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence across all levels
• A collaborative leadership style with a focus on team development and performance
• Commercial awareness and the ability to align maintenance activities with business goals
• Experience using CMMS platforms (MaintainX highly advantageous)

Niagara is Southlands best kept secret, turning raw logs into real potential! At Niagara you be joining a business that values innovation, quality, and long-term growth, where your contribution will make a genuine impact on both operational results and workplace culture. Just as importantly, you will be supported by a team that truly lives its values every day, working alongside passionate and innovative people who are united in their pursuit of excellence through safety and quality.

As a leader, along with experience, skill, passion and capability we are looking for someone who will model our values in everything they do. At Niagara, we work as a team, fostering collaboration, supporting one another, and leading with respect across all areas of the business. We act with integrity, holding ourselves accountable, operating ethically, and being transparent in our decision-making. And we strive for excellence, continuously improving, challenging the status quo, and delivering the highest standards in everything we do.

This rare leadership opportunity could be the opportunity you have been waiting for! If you are ready to take ownership of a critical function and drive real change apply online today!

All applicants will be updated following the closing of the advertisement and completion of candidate review. Employment is contingent on the successful completion of pre-employment drug testing and a medical, along with ongoing drug testing as part of our commitment to safety. Applicants must be based in New Zealand and hold the relevant eligibility to work.

For further information about the role, please refer to the job description or contact Jemma at jemmac@niagara.nz to arrange a confidential discussion.