Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Fork Force Australia Pty Ltd; Brisbane; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Fork Force Australia Pty Ltd, based in Brisbane, seeks a high‑calibre Chief Operating Officer to drive operational performance and growth. You will lead key functions, translate strategy into actions, and build a scalable operating model across the business.

The role calls for hands‑on execution with strategic oversight, ensuring efficiency and strong commercial outcomes. You will shape the operational structure for future scale, lead a multi‑site team, manage budgets and costs, and foster a

Qualifications

• Senior operational leadership experience across multiple sites.
• Proven track record of leading managers and teams to deliver results.
• Strong budgeting, cost control and productivity management.
• Demonstrated change leadership and continuous improvement mindset.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations across key functions to drive performance and outcomes.
• Translate strategic plan into operational priorities and measurable targets.
• Develop scalable processes to support expansion and growth.
• Drive operational excellence through cost optimisation and standardisation.
• Monitor performance against financial and operational indicators; take corrective actions.
• Strengthen collaboration across sales, service, parts, rental and other ops functions to improve customer experience.
• Maintain governance, risk, compliance and workplace safety standards.

Skills

Senior leadership

Operational leadership

Budget management

Change management

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Job description

Fork Force Australia Pty Ltd – Larapinta QLD

Join Fork Force Australia. We are one of Australia's leading material handling equipment companies, selling, hiring, servicing, and supporting a comprehensive range of forklifts and warehousing equipment.

Be part of a growing company that is backed by the multi-billion-dollar Nishio Holdings, a publicly listed company on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, and one of the top 10 equipment rental companies in the world.

With an established national footprint of nine branches around Australia, a workforce of 190 employees and annual turnover exceeding $120 million, the business has a strong market presence and ambitious plans for continued growth.

The Role

Reporting directly to the Managing Director, the Chief Operating Officer will play a pivotal role in driving Fork Force Australia's operational performance and supporting the delivery of its growth strategy.

Based at our head office in Brisbane, you will lead key operational functions, ensuring our people, processes and resources are aligned to deliver sustainable growth, operational excellence and strong commercial outcomes.

This is a significant leadership opportunity for an experienced operator who can combine strategic thinking with hands-on execution, lead through growth and build a high-performing operational structure for the future. Working closely with the Managing Director and senior leadership team, you will help translate business strategy into measurable results while ensuring the organisation is equipped to scale efficiently and effectively.

Key responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations across key business functions, driving performance, productivity, service delivery and commercial outcomes.
• Translate Fork Force's strategic business plan into operational priorities, growth initiatives and measurable performance targets.
• Support the business's expansion plans by developing scalable operational processes, strengthening management capability and improving organisational effectiveness.
• Drive operational excellence through continuous improvement, cost optimisation, resource utilisation and process standardisation.
• Monitor business performance against key operational and financial indicators, identifying opportunities and implementing corrective actions.
• Strengthen collaboration across sales, service, parts, rental and other operational functions to improve customer experience and business performance.
• Ensure appropriate operational governance, risk management, compliance and workplace safety standards are maintained.

About You

We are seeking a commercially astute and results-driven operational leader who can lead a growing business, develop capable managers and turn strategic objectives into practical outcomes.

Experience in equipment rental, materials handling, industrial services, automotive or a related technical service environment will be highly regarded.

You will bring

• Significant experience in senior operational leadership, ideally within a multi-site, national or complex business.
• A proven track record of leading managers and functional teams, improving performance and delivering business results.
• Strong commercial acumen, including experience managing budgets, operational costs, productivity and performance.
• Demonstrated ability to scale operations, improve processes and support business expansion.
• The capability to establish clear accountability, performance measures and management disciplines across multiple functions.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management and change leadership skills.
• A proactive mindset, with the confidence to challenge existing practices, identify opportunities and drive continuous improvement.

Why Join Us?

Fork Force offers the opportunity to take a leading role in a growing Australian business backed by the strength, scale and long-term perspective of a publicly listed Japanese parent company.

With ambitious growth plans and an established national platform, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to shape how the business operates, develop its leadership capability and build the operational foundations required for its next phase of growth.