Generation Careers

Tell us about your role?

I moved to the hydro operations team at Mercury in mid-2022 after five years supporting the generation business with procurement, commercial and change initiatives. Over that time I was involved in a variety of different projects including turbine and generator procurement for the geothermal side of the business; and lead a transformation project which brought site maintenance away from external contractors into being part of the Mercury team. I am currently the Site Lead at Ātiamuri and Whakamaru power stations, and I also oversees a team of awesome Maintenance Technicians who help keep the units running by leading turnarounds and solving faults in the plant.

What do you enjoy about your role?

That every day is different. One day we will be looking at how to solve challenges in our plant, the next looking at opportunities to improve how we do things and make things even safer. I also enjoy working with my direct team and supporting them with their own development goals. Variety keeps things interesting and in operations we have plenty of that. 

How does mercury make it easy for you to do your job?

Flexible working is a big part of making it easy. While my role is definitely site-based, there’s an understanding that we all have commitments outside of work and Mercury is great at offering options to bring that balance. Through flexibility I’m able to juggle the responsibilities of my work role with being a parent and partner to a shift-worker, and with training for sporting goals, for example.

What is your last piece of advice for someone considering joining Mercury?

One of the best parts of working for Mercury is being able to work with a range of people who have different perspectives. I’m always learning – there’s always something different happening and there’s always opportunities to grow and learn and get involved with things that challenge your way of thinking.

Tell us about your role?

When I first joined Mercury I worked in a Business Support role for the Mōkai site and developed an interest in plant operations. Through ongoing coaching and development, I was given the opportunity to step into the Production Team Lead for the site where I was responsible for leading a team of six production technicians who operate the geothermal power plant 24/7. I’ve been given the opportunity to further expand my skills within Mercury and have now stepped into the role of Procurement Specialist within Generation. I play a crucial role in sourcing, contract management and supporting the Category Manager and Senior Procurement Specialist to uphold effective business procurement and contract processes.

What do you enjoy about your role?

The people! There is a real sense of shared values amongst the team, with everyone contributing towards common goals or working to solve the hard problems together. There is also plenty of opportunity for continuous learning and being able to deep dive into areas of interest and there is the flexibility to get involved in various projects.

How would you describe the culture?

It's a nurturing environment where we prioritise our shared values and the well-being of our team, ensuring they return to their loved ones each day. Expectations are high and this keeps you coming back, wanting to achieve more. We're constantly seeking opportunities for innovation, fostering an atmosphere where our team members feel empowered to share their ideas.

How does Mercury make it easy for you to do your job?

Mercury offers great training opportunities for everyone to up-skill. We work closely with other business areas so we can learn from different teams and maximise capability.

What is your last piece of advice for someone considering joining Mercury?

We are on a journey to become world-class leaders in our industry and with that, there are expectations and standards that we are following and aspire to be. While it can be challenging, it is even more rewarding and exciting to be part of that journey.

Tell us about your role?

It’s been a journey leading to my current role as a Site Engineer for Hydro South. Fresh out of University, having completed a Masters in Renewable and Power Engineering, I had the opportunity to join Mercury as a Solar Installation Coordinator where I managed solar projects, both residential and commercial. After 18 months a graduate opportunity became available for an Electrical Engineer and I signed up for the three-year programme working on Hydro and Geothermal power stations and after finishing it, was assigned as the Site Electrical Engineer for Kawerau, a geothermal station. After gaining experience in this role over an year, I had the opportunity to move to Hydro South which exposed me to more challenges and learning opportunities.

My current role is as the Site Engineer for Hydro South, consisting of Taupō Control Gates, Aratiatia, Ōhakuri, Ātiamuri and Whakamaru power stations. The role combines a mixture of site electrical projects and fault investigations, supporting the operational and maintenance team of the hydro sites with issues as they arise. My role acts as a bridge between the site and Central Engineering Team and contribute heavily towards asset lifecycle and maintenance plans.

What do you enjoy about your role?

I’m working on iconic pieces of New Zealand infrastructure and understanding the critical role they play in the New Zealand electricity industry. It’s been exciting using my skills and contributing to the renewable energy sector.

How would you describe the culture?

There isn’t a culture without a good group of people – I enjoy the team and feel like I can approach anyone anytime and guarantee that they will give me the time to help. The team will nurture you, they are open to challenges and knowledge sharing.

How does Mercury make it easy for you to do your job?

There are specialist engineers to support me and procedures in place that help me work to the right timeframes and feel supported. They also offer great flexibility – I support four sites but also have the flexibility to work from home, but I often choose to work in the Rotorua office, which is close to home. I prefer to be in the office and have that interaction with the wider team and connect with others that I work with – and learn from their expertise.

What is your last piece of advice for someone considering joining Mercury?

A great opportunity to work with a good bunch of people. Come with an open mindset and prepared for challenges and learning opportunities.

Tell us about your role?

I was initially hired as a Mechanical Engineer within the Assets team before moving into my current role as a Site Mechanical Engineer for Hydro South. My day-to-day role is looking after the site assets, working with maintenance and operations teams, working on any issues around the site and finding solutions – or finding the right people to find the solutions. I was a “newbie” to the energy sector, my background prior was in pulp and paper and the dairy industry and it’s been really interesting learning and understanding this industry.

What do you enjoy about the role?

I enjoy the problem-solving side of things – being on-site means you get to be more hands-on and delve into problems versus sitting in a remote office somewhere. You’re face to face with the problem and it’s really increased my knowledge by being on site.

How would you describe the culture?

It’s really friendly and everyone is open to helping each other. Everyone has the best intentions and is there to help each other get the best for everyone and the company.

How does Mercury make it easy to do your job?

Mercury gives great flexibility to be based in the offices, on site or work from home – with the focus of being what is best for you, best for your team and best for the company. I also work with a great team of people where we bounce ideas off each other and can tap into lots of knowledgeable people within the company.

What would be your tip to someone considering a career at Mercury?

Don’t let not having industry experience put you off from applying. The environment is similar to the heavy rotating industry and while it can be a steep learning curve, once you immense yourself it brings great rewards and you are supported by people who want to share their knowledge with you.

Tell us about your role?

I’m currently working at our Mokai Geothermal site as a Mechanical Maintainer. I’m part of a team who are responsible for maintaining the geothermal power plant, looking after the station, making sure the machines are running properly, providing maintenance on the equipment – we are the eyes and ears of the station. Previously I’d attended welding school after finishing high school and became a contractor for Mercury onsite. This opened my eyes to a world of opportunity within the energy sector and was excited to be offered a permanent position.

What do you enjoy about your role?

Getting to learn about geothermal energy and exposure to geothermal side of engineering. When there is a breakdown, the team use it as a learning opportunity. Everyone is there to help and share their knowledge, the operators, the engineers, you’re not left alone to try and solve something by yourself because everyone is there working towards the same goal to get the machines up and running to provide power to the grid

How would you describe the culture of Mercury?

It’s tight knit team where everyone works together. We celebrate success and it’s really family friendly. There is great work/life balance and there is the opportunity to work overtime for time in lieu, but it’s not compulsory and your family comes first. It’s also really safety driven, everything is done to ensure you go home safely at the end of the day.

What advice would you give someone thinking about joining Mercury?

Not every day is the same. There is always something new to learn, opportunities for development and I can see clear progression in my role and feel supported to achieve my own goals.