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Jobs with Arena
The Arena family of companies is growing and offers exceptional career opportunities within Arena firms and with our portfolio companies. See what's possible for you in the postings below.
Operations Technology (OT) Manager
IT, Operations
Waikato, New Zealand
Posted on Jun 13, 2026
Our Story:
We’re excited to share that our business has recently joined the a2 Milk Company family. Formerly known as Yashili Dairy NZ Ltd, we are now operating as a2 Nutritionals NZ Limited, based in Pokeno.
The a2 Milk Company, driven by science and a pioneering spirit, disrupted the dairy and infant milk formula industry. Our vision is to create an A1-free world where dairy nourishes all people and our planet.
The a2 Milk Company seeks to achieve this through the naturally occurring a2 Milk® difference and by bringing a more sustainable approach to dairy.
About the role:
Reporting to the Head of Operations and based at Pokeno, you will be accountable for the reliability, security, and performance of all site operational technology systems. You’ll act as the single point of accountability for automation, control systems, MES, and industrial cybersecurity, ensuring production uptime, system resilience, and alignment with our digital transformation roadmap.
More specifically, you will be involved in:
Managing and optimising PLC, SCADA, HMI, MES, and historian platforms across the site.
Leading automation lifecycle management, including system design, change control, and obsolescence planning.
Driving production uptime and OEE improvement through proactive troubleshooting and collaboration with Maintenance.
Ensuring industrial cybersecurity and network resilience, in partnership with IT.
Overseeing OT integration with enterprise systems (ERP, WMS, CMMS) for data integrity and operational decision-making.
Supporting audits and regulatory compliance, including GxP and food safety requirements.
Leading OT-related projects and digital transformation initiatives, including CAPEX planning and vendor management.
About you:
Minimum of 8+ years proven experience in OT/automation roles within dairy, food, pharma, or FMCG, with 3+ years leading teams
Strong expertise in PLC, SCADA, HMI, MES, historians, and industrial networks (EtherNet/IP, Profinet), with the ability to troubleshoot and optimise OT systems
Experience leading CAPEX, digital transformation, and continuous improvement projects from URS through qualification
Demonstrated ability to manage vendors, contractors, and cross-functional stakeholders effectively
Exposure to industrial cybersecurity, IT/OT integration, and regulated manufacturing environments is highly regarded
Tertiary qualification in Automation, Electrical Engineering, Control Systems, Mechatronics, or related discipline preferred
What we offer
Medical, life & income protection insurance and a quarterly bonus
A supportive team culture with learning and development opportunities
Free breakfast and lunch provided in our onsite cafeteria
Subsidised gym membership
Social club
Find out more about our great benefits on our Careers Page.