Summer is about more than just sunshine and holidays – it’s also a great time to explore exciting career opportunities in civil construction if you enjoy working in New Zealand’s great outdoors.
Civil infrastructure provides a dynamic, innovative environment where you can literally shape the world around you. From hands-on practical work to working with cutting-edge technology, it offers something for everyone, regardless of background or skills.
Whether you’re a school leaver wondering about your next step or someone looking to switch careers, here are five roles that are perfect for people who love working outside in the sun.
Excavator operator: Shape your future
Excavator operators are the backbone of the civil construction industry, shaping landscapes and creating foundations for infrastructure projects before they can get underway, or swooping in to save the day to deliver crucial road maintenance to keep communities connected.
These smooth operators stay cool under the hot sun in the air-conditioned cabs standard for modern excavators, offering a comfortable working environment even on the hottest summer days.
The role is a great fit for those who enjoy practical challenges, appreciate sophisticated machinery and want to be at the forefront of infrastructure development. And for those with excavator skills that can do more than just pay the bills, Civil Contractors New Zealand holds regional excavator competitions for those who want to dig for glory.
For the winners who bring the biggest big dig energy, the CCNZ CablePrice National Excavator Operator Competition grades the best of the best to crown the ultimate heavy metal hero once a year.
This is an amazing job for people that love being outdoors and making a difference, hands-on. You may not start as your civil construction crew’s excavator operator, it takes skills and knowledge to keep people safe. And trust from your team that you will keep the people around you safe using the big kids’ toys.
If you want to be an excavator operator, you should put your hand up to join your local civil construction company now and let them know. Here’s a handy map, featuring companies near you that may have roles on offer.
>> Jaden’s story: Read about operating excavators at Cape Palliser
Track builder: pave the way for adventures
Imagine your office being the most breathtaking landscapes in New Zealand – from remote mountain trails to scenic coastal routes.
Track builders build infrastructure to create pathways for people to explore New Zealand’s most stunning natural environments. The role involves a unique blend of outdoor skills, construction expertise, and environmental stewardship. It requires a combination of technical smarts, physical endurance and resourcefulness. You might find yourself working in remote locations, accessing worksites by helicopter and camping in portable bivvies near your project to construct cycle trails, hiking tracks and bridges.
The role is perfect for individuals who aren’t interested in being constrained by a typical nine-to-five office job and would thrive in dynamic environments with the sun on their skin and the wind in their hair.
Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, an abseiler sick of the city, or someone seeking a way to support people experiencing the country’s spectacular scenery, you could get paid to pave the way for their adventures.
>> Check out Matt Thom’s story – from mountaineer to backcountry bridge builder
Project engineer: building critical infrastructure
Project engineers are the driving force behind civil infrastructure development, combining technical expertise and project-management skills to make a real difference to New Zealand communities.
Each project is a complex puzzle waiting to be solved. Imagine working on projects that could take you to extraordinary locations like Somes Island, or tackling urban renewal initiatives that breathe new life into our cities. Summer is an ideal time to see your epic projects unfold outside.
Whether you’re designing new bridges, developing water-supply systems, or planning renewable-energy installations, project engineers play a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s future. It’s the perfect career for logical problem solvers who want to see their work have an impact.
To train to become a project engineer you can study in full-time employment and complete a New Zealand Diploma in Engineering through a cadetship or internship, or you can take an engineering degree at university. In some cases, civil construction companies will put existing employees through an engineering degree, part time, while they work in other roles in the industry.
>> Read about project engineer Kyle Marshall on Matiu/Somes Island
Traffic control: Keeping Kiwis safe on the move
Traffic control coordinators are true heroes of civil infrastructure: guardians of road safety who play a crucial role in protecting both workers and travellers during the summer holiday season.
These legends get to spend their workdays outdoors, soaking up the summer rays while looking after road users by putting their communication skills, commitment to public safety and mana wave techniques to good use.
Traffic control is an ideal area to dive into for people who love being outdoors, thrive in ever-changing environments and take pride in keeping fellow Kiwis safe during their summer travels. It’s easy to get started and often the qualifications you need are paid for by your employer.
>> Queen of the road: Hannah’s career in traffic management
Surveyor: Mapping future projects
Surveyors are the advance guard of civil infrastructure developments, casing out terrain and mapping out the footprint of projects. They work outside all over New Zealand, turning some of our stunning locations into their temporary work sites.
Far from being trapped in a dimly lit office, they spend their days outside enjoying the light of the sun, while using cutting-edge technology like GPS and drone mapping to measure and document the natural environment so it can be tamed and civilised. The work surveyors do is critical, will always be in demand and is crucial to the success of any infrastructure project.
The role offers an ideal career for those who love combining outdoor exploration with technical smarts, with each day bringing a new adventure and opportunities to explore all kinds of environments across the country – especially sunny sites over summer.
To qualify as a surveyor you can take a diploma through Connexis or a Bachelor of Surveying (BSurv) offered by the University of Otago School of Surveying.
>> The surveying scene: Lewis Jackson’s story
Civil construction isn’t just a job – it’s a career that can take you anywhere and allow your skills to shine. Explore more about these roles in civil infrastructure construction or discover others using our Careers Roadmap.
