Laboratory Technician

Role overview

Higgins is seeking an experienced Laboratory Technician to join its civil engineering laboratory team in Hawke’s Bay. The business is expanding, and this appointment will help meet growing project and operational needs across the region.

The Napier testing laboratory supports the company’s manufacturing and construction work by checking materials such as bitumen, aggregates, soils, and hot mix asphalt. The position combines laboratory work with field sampling and testing across construction sites.

In this role, you will deliver technical testing support for projects throughout Hawke’s Bay. Your work will help confirm that construction materials — including asphalt, aggregates, and soils — meet quality expectations, relevant industry standards, and customer requirements.

Benefits

The role comes with a competitive pay package and is a permanent position offering a guaranteed 40 hours each week. Higgins also provides employer KiwiSaver contributions matched up to 4%, along with wider benefits for the employee and their family. Additional perks include Z fuel discounts, plus a monthly free pie and coffee.

What you will need

The ideal candidate will hold a full New Zealand Class 1 driver’s licence or an equivalent overseas licence. You should bring at least 2 years of field and laboratory testing experience in civil roading construction.

Hands-on experience with bitumen, soils, roading aggregates, asphalt, and concrete testing is expected. Experience using a nuclear densometer would be an advantage.

You will need to be physically capable of lifting up to 20 kg, have strong attention to detail, and be comfortable using MS Excel and Word. The role also requires effective teamwork, some leadership capability, strong communication skills, and the flexibility to work night shifts and weekends when needed.

About Higgins

Higgins is a major construction and infrastructure organisation that builds and maintains roads, bridges, and civil projects across New Zealand. The company places a strong emphasis on safety, quality, sustainability, collaboration, innovation, and professional growth.

Additional information

This opportunity is being actively recruited, and early applications are encouraged. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis, and the role may be closed before the advertised deadline if a suitable candidate is found.

Higgins also encourages people from underrepresented groups to apply even if they do not meet every requirement, recognising the value of diverse nationalities, languages, religions, customs, and lifestyles in building a stronger team.