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About the role Career progression and training Salary and benefits Entry requirementsAs a Plant Operator, you will use heavy machinery to construct or cross obstacles and keep our troops and equipment moving.
About the role
As a Plant Operator, you will use heavy machinery to construct or cross obstacles and keep our troops and equipment moving. You will be working in challenging conditions at home and overseas to carry out and support earthworks, road construction and troop movement activities for the NZ Army and other government agencies. You will operate a variety of heavy construction vehicles such as bull-dozers and cranes, as well as military bridging systems and combat tractors.
Job on base
In camp you will use vehicles such as bull-dozers, loaders, scrapers, excavators, graders, cranes and rollers to complete tasked construction work. This can include horizontal construction projects in military bases or repairing tracks and roads for other government departments. You could be employed to support civil defence, scrub fires, road repairs and flood control.
When you aren’t tasked, you will keep practising with these vehicles in camp, and conduct combat field engineering training using the gap crossing system and combat tractors.
You are responsible for the efficient and safe operation of all the vehicles you operate, as well as daily servicing and maintenance. You will also identify and report all faults before they turn into major mechanical failures.
Job on deployment
On deployment you may work as an individual, in a small construction team or as part of a larger unit. Your tasks will include excavation, road repair and construction, as well as quarry work. You will regularly be involved with construction aid projects overseas which will see you working alongside other nations. Plant Operators have been deployed on operations in Bosnia, Timor Leste, Iraq, Afghanistan and the Solomon Islands. Regular annual exercises enhance your skills throughout the South Pacific and in Antarctica.
A key part of the Plant Operators role on deployment is the concept of 'winning resources'. This is where Army Engineers take an existing natural or disused resources and make them usable for Army operations, such a securing quarrying material or recycling construction materials to create temporary runways or tracks.
Career progression and training
Career Progression
Basic Training
Job Training
As your career progresses, you will become a fully qualified plant supervisor. This includes greater responsibility as you manage a variety of tasks and construction sites. You will develop leadership, project management, and teaching skills to enable you to oversee and assist others in the trade and organisation. Over the course of your career you will have opportunities to work outside of the plant trade , providing further variety and challenges.
Upon successful enlistment into the Army you will be posted to Waiouru Army base. Here you will do 16 weeks of basic military training to find out if you have what it takes to be in the Army, and learn various subjects including:
BASIC COMBAT ENGINEER COURSE
Location: Linton Military Camp (near Palmerston North)This is an eight week course held at the School of Military Engineering, Linton Military Camp. This is the first course conducted for most trades within the RNZE. It introduces you to the combat side of being an engineer before you undertake your specific trade. The course covers the basics of field engineering including bridging, water supply, explosives, field defences, obstacles, booby traps, boating and other subjects. After the course, you will have a good understanding of field engineering and also be qualified as an Army (explosives) Demolition Handler. Further Combat Engineer training will be conducted over the duration of your career.
BASIC PLANT OPERATORS COURSE
(14 weeks) Location: Linton Military CampThis course covers the operation and maintenance of bulldozers, loaders, scrapers, excavators, graders and rollers. It is a combination of both theory and practical work, with course competencies aligned to the NZQA framework.
Qualifications:
Professional development opportunities for higher qualifications and advancement can be undertaken. This is likely to incur a return of service such as:
New Zealand Certificate of Quarry Shotfirer Course - 24 months.
New Zealand Certificate of Quarry Operations Manager Course - 24 months
Salary and benefits
Careers in the Army are well-rewarded, diverse and exciting. As you become more experienced and move up through the ranks, gaining additional skills and qualifications, your salary will rise accordingly.
$50,597
Under Initial Training
$64,177
Starting Trade Training
$129,061
Future Potential Earnings
Figures updated on July 1st 2023
Benefits and allowances
Earn a competitive salary while training or learning your trade, along with additional allowances for time spent in the field, at sea, overseas, or deployed on operations.
In addition to salary and allowances, other benefits of joining the New Zealand Defence Force include:
Access to your Service marae or tūrangawaewae
Sponsored tertiary study programmes at all levels
Free access to gyms and swimming pools on camp and bases
Opportunities to travel
Free and subsidised medical and dental care
Subsidised food and accomodation on camps and bases
Free and subsidised insurance cover
Help to buy a home and save for retirement
Entry requirements
Basics
Education
Fitness and Medical
Citizenship
Period of Service
3 years secondary school.
Note, that qualifications may be used to assess trade suitability.
There are strict citizenship and security requirements to gain the required CV security clearance for this trade.
Find out if you’re eligible here.
There may be a return of service period for this trade.
Please contact our 0800 number or talk to your Candidate Experience Facilitator for more information.
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Army | Apprenticeship Trades Back to topGreat News! We've discovered an exciting live job opportunity for a Plant Operator (Heavy Machinery Operator) position in Waiouru. This job is currently open for hiring/recruiting by New Zealand Defence Force, exclusively for you at NZ Jobs. Feel free to download the job details here.
The work culture at New Zealand Defence Force must adhere to the Ethics of Work Culture as described in the Ethical framework of the UN Charter. You can gain more insights into their local workplace environment by exploring their jobs New Zealand Defence Force and also by visiting their official website through Google.
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Yes, we found live job(s) for New Zealand Defence Force in Waiouru.
Plant Operator (Heavy Machinery Operator) jobs are available in New Zealand.
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The average salary range for Plant Operator (Heavy Machinery Operator) in Waiouru varies, but the standard pay scale is rated "Standard" in Waiouru. Salary levels may vary depending on your industry, experience, and skills. It's essential to research and negotiate effectively.
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Key qualifications for Plant Operator (Heavy Machinery Operator) typically include a list of qualifications and expertise as outlined in Bureau of Labor. Be sure to check the specific job listing for detailed requirements and qualifications.
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