Head of Fleet Operations

Australian National Maritime Museum; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney seeks an experienced leader to fill the EL2 Head of Fleet Operations. You will lead vessels, people and systems to ensure operational readiness, safety and regulatory compliance, supporting visitor experiences and public programs.

As a senior museum leader, you will translate strategy into practical delivery, drive performance, and foster a safety-first culture across a multidisciplinary team, while aligning resources to sustain our nationally

Qualifications

• Proven executive-level leadership in complex maritime operational environments, with the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and deliver high-risk, asset‑intensive operations safely and effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to translate strategy into delivery, drive operational execution, align resources, and embed performance frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Lead people, vessels and systems to enable the Museum's maritime experiences; oversee operational readiness, maintenance, safety, compliance and workforce capability.
• Turn strategy into practical delivery, strengthen accountability and performance, and foster a safety-first culture across a multidisciplinary workforce.
• Ensure vessels are seaworthy, compliant and ready to support visitor experiences, public programs, heritage preservation and commercial opportunities.
• Balance vessel activation with regulatory obligations, asset integrity and heritage stewardship while managing resources in a dynamic environment.
• Influence senior leadership decisions and build trusted relationships with regulators, contractors and maritime partners.

Job description

Australian National Maritime Museum – Pyrmont NSW

Lead an extraordinary fleet, build its future, and bring Australia’s maritime stories to life as the Australian National Maritime Museum’s ongoing, full-time EL2 Head of Fleet Operations.

About the Australian National Maritime Museum

The Australian National Maritime Museum is where Australia’s stories meet the sea.

As one of the nation’s leading cultural institutions and one of Sydney’s most visited museums, we ignite curiosity, inspire discovery, and connect people with the powerful stories that have shaped Australia’s relationship with the ocean, rivers, and waterways.

Through world-class exhibitions, iconic vessels, education programs, research, events, and digital experiences, we bring maritime history, culture, science, and innovation to life for millions of people across Australia and around the globe.

Located on the spectacular waters of Darling Harbour, the Museum welcomes more than 2.5 million visitors each year and is supported by a passionate community of employees, volunteers, members and supporters who are united by a shared purpose: to create meaningful experiences that inspire a deeper understanding of our maritime heritage and future.

At the Museum, you will have the opportunity to contribute to work that matters, collaborate with talented and dedicated professionals, and help shape the future of one of Australia's most respected cultural organisations.

About the Australian National Maritime Museum

The Australian National Maritime Museum is where Australia’s stories meet the sea.

As one of the nation’s leading cultural institutions and one of Sydney’s most visited museums, we ignite curiosity, inspire discovery, and connect people with the powerful stories that have shaped Australia’s relationship with the ocean, rivers, and waterways.

Through world-class exhibitions, iconic vessels, education programs, research, events, and digital experiences, we bring maritime history, culture, science, and innovation to life for millions of people across Australia and around the globe.

Located on the spectacular waters of Darling Harbour, the Museum welcomes more than 2.5 million visitors each year and is supported by a passionate community of employees, volunteers, members and supporters who are united by a shared purpose: to create meaningful experiences that inspire a deeper understanding of our maritime heritage and future.

At the Museum, you will have the opportunity to contribute to work that matters, collaborate with talented and dedicated professionals, and help shape the future of one of Australia's most respected cultural organisations.

The key duties of the position include:

About the Role

The Head of Fleet Operations is a rare leadership opportunity for an accomplished maritime professional ready to take responsibility for one of the most distinctive operational fleets within an Australian cultural institution.

In this influential role, you will lead the people, vessels and systems that make the Museum’s maritime experiences possible. From operational readiness and maintenance to safety, compliance, and workforce capability, you will set the standard for how the fleet operates today while building the foundations for its future.

Your impact will be visible across the entire Museum. You will turn strategy into practical delivery, strengthen accountability and performance, and create a confident safety-first culture across a multidisciplinary workforce. You will ensure vessels are seaworthy, compliant, and ready to support unforgettable visitor experiences, public programs, heritage preservation and commercial opportunities.

Every day will call for sound judgement, decisive leadership, and the ability to navigate complexity. You will balance vessel activation with regulatory obligations, asset integrity, and heritage stewardship, while managing resources and priorities in a dynamic operational environment.

As a senior Museum leader, you will influence decisions well beyond Fleet. You will advise senior leadership, work closely with teams across the organisation and build trusted relationships with regulators, contractors, and maritime partners. Your leadership will drive innovation, continuous improvement and a fleet operation that is safer, stronger, and more sustainable.

If you are inspired by the opportunity to lead complex maritime operations, develop outstanding people and protect nationally significant vessels, this is your chance to make an enduring contribution to Australia’s maritime heritage.

Please note: This recruitment process may be used to fill both current and future vacancies. A merit pool of suitable applicants may be established and used to fill similar ongoing and non-ongoing positions that arise within 18 months from the date the vacancy is advertised.

Selection Criteria

The successful candidate will demonstrate their capacity against the following:

Proven executive-level leadership in complex maritime operational environment, with the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and deliver high-risk, asset-intensive operations safely and effectively.

Demonstrated ability to translate strategy into delivery, driving operational execution, aligning resources, and embedding performance frameworks to achieve organisational outcomes.

Deep expertise in fleet operations, heritage asset management, and regulatory compliance, with a strong understanding of maritime safety obligations and risk management frameworks.

Strong financial and commercial acumen, including experience managing budgets, optimising resource allocation, and supporting revenue-generating and public engagement activities.

Highly developed stakeholder engagement and influencing capability, with the ability to build trusted relationships, provide expert advice to senior leadership, and navigate complex internal and external environments.

Mandatory

Relevant maritime qualifications in naval architecture, maritime engineering, advanced vessel operation or specialised port asset management

Demonstrated experience leading complex operational environments, ideally within maritime or asset-intensive

Strong capability in people leadership, workforce planning and performance management

Deep understanding of fleet operations, maintenance and compliance frameworks

Proven ability to translate strategy into operational delivery

Experience managing risk, safety and regulatory environments

Strong delivery focus with ability to drive outcomes through teams

Desirable

Experience in heritage vessels or cultural institutions

In addition to an application and your resume, the assessment process for this position may also include an interview and referee reports.

Selection for this position will be made on the basis of relative merit which will be assessed against each item of the selection criteria. Applications that do not address the selection criteria will not be considered for shortlisting by the Selection Panel. As part of the selection process the Selection Panel may invite candidates to undertake online testing, skills-based assessment and provide samples of written work at interview.

Eligibility

Position Eligibility Requirements

This position is open to all eligible members of the community, and we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with a disability and people from every cultural and linguistic background. To be an eligible member of the community, you must be an Australian citizen.

All employees will be required to satisfactorily complete an Australian Federal Police National Police Check and obtain and maintain a Working with Children Check registration.

Applications Close: 11:59pm AEST, Friday, 25 September 2026. No applications will be accepted by mail or email.

Getting to know the Australian National Maritime Museum

About the Australian National Maritime MuseumAs one of Sydney’s most visited museums, the Australian National Maritime Museum shares our national maritime story across Australia and the world, online, onsite and through research, presentations and travelling exhibitions, and provides must-visit museum experiences that delight and inspire.We connect our visitors with the oceans and waterways that are the heartbeat of who we are. From deep time to modern Australian and beyond, we explore our past, our present and future as an island nation shaped by sea, offering a sustainable and cohesive vision for the future.The Museum welcomes over 2.5 million local, interstate and international visitors annually, and is supported by a thriving and passionate staff, membership, volunteer and education base. Find out more at https://sea.museum.