HV Distribution Project Manager

PHE Pty Ltd; Brisbane; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

PHE High Voltage is seeking an experienced HV Distribution Project Manager to lead overhead and underground distribution projects from mobilisation to completion in Brisbane with travel across Australia. You’ll build operational discipline, engage clients confidently, and shape how projects are delivered with technical credibility.

The role requires hands-on leadership, extensive field experience, and a track record of delivering complex distribution works across HV and LV systems.

Qualifications

• At least 10 years’ experience as an Overhead Linesperson in power systems distribution
• Proven experience delivering overhead line and underground cable construction, maintenance, or augmentation projects
• Hands-on underground distribution experience including HV/LV installation, jointing, terminations, padmount substations
• Experience leading and supervising field crews in live or network-controlled environments
• Experience coordinating projects, shutdowns, staged delivery programmes, or multiple fronts
• Track record managing project budgets and programmes as PM/Site Manager/Construction Supervisor
• Experience building systems and processes in growing operations and obtaining/maintaining contractor accreditation
• Commercial awareness across labour, plant, materials, subcontractors, and productivity
• Confidence in client-facing situations and interest in winning work
• Willingness to travel across Australia

Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate, and manage overhead and underground distribution projects from mobilisation to completion
• Secure and maintain accreditation with network providers in each state for overhead and underground work
• Provide weekly reports on safety, progress, cost-to-complete, variations and risks
• Build, lead and mentor field crews, including linespeople, cable jointers and apprentices
• Develop and implement practical systems for field delivery, reporting, and quality assurance
• Manage schedules, budgets, subcontractors, plant, materials, and risk
• Provide clear, timely reporting on project progress, forecasts, variations, and issues
• Act as the primary client-facing representative on your projects
• Use industry relationships to win work and contribute to tenders and quotes

Skills

Overhead Linesperson experience

Distribution project delivery

Client-facing

Travel willingness

Leadership

Project coordination

Budget & reporting

Process improvement

Engineering coordination

Subcontractor management

Education

Certificate III in ESI – Power Systems – Distribution Cable Jointing or Distribution Underground

Driver's Licence and White Card

Queensland Electrical Work Licence (Electrical Linesperson)

Electrical authorisations & high-risk licences

Experience coordinating multiple work fronts

Tools

Switching authorities

Rescue procedures

EWP

Dogging

Rigging

Crane operation

Confined space

HV cable testing

Plant competencies

Job description

PHE High Voltage is expanding its overhead line and underground cable capability and we're looking for an experienced HV Distribution Project Manager to lead the charge. This is a full-time permanent role based in Brisbane with travel across project sites as required. It's a hands-on leadership position for someone who knows how to run overhead and underground distribution projects, build operational discipline, and engage clients with confidence. You'll have the autonomy to shape how we deliver and the technical credibility to back it up in the field.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING:

• Planning, coordinating, and managing overhead and underground distribution projects from mobilisation to completion
• Secure and maintain PHE’s accreditation with network providers in each state PHE operates into perform overhead and underground distribution work.
• Provide weekly reports to the General Manager on safety, progress, cost-to-complete, variations and risks.
• Build, lead and mentor PHE’s overhead and underground field crews, including linespeople, cable jointers and apprentices.
• Developing and implementing practical systems for field delivery, reporting, and quality assurance
• Managing schedules, budgets, subcontractors, plant, materials, and risk
• Providing clear, timely reporting on project progress, forecasts, variations, and issues
• Acting as the primary client-facing representative on your projects
• Using your industry relationships to win work, and contribute estimating and pricing to tenders and quotes.

ABOUT YOU:

You've run distribution projects before and you know what good delivery looks like. You can read a programme, run a pre-start, manage a subcontractor, and sit across the table from a client, all in the same day. You bring:

• Minimum 10 years’ experience as an Overhead Linesperson in power systems distribution.
• Proven experience delivering overhead line and underground cable construction, maintenance, or augmentation projects
• Demonstrated hands-on experience in underground distribution works, including HV and LV cable installation, jointing and terminations, padmount substations, and overhead-to-underground transitions.
• Experience leadingand supervising field crews in live or network-controlled environments
• Experience coordinating projects, shutdowns, staged delivery programmes, or multiple concurrent work fronts.
• Track record managing project budgets, programmes, and reporting as a Project Manager, Site Manager, or Construction Supervisor, with examples of projects delivered.
• Experience building systems and processes in a growing or newly established operation, including obtaining or maintaining contractor accreditation with a network provider.
• Commercial awareness across labour, plant, materials, subcontractors, and productivity
• Confidence in client-facing situations and a genuine interest in helping win work
• Willingness to travel significantly across project locations across Australia

The successful candidate will hold:

• Cert III in ESI – Power Systems – Distribution Cable Jointing or Distribution Underground (or demonstrated equivalent underground competency)
• Current Driver's Licence and White Card (required)
• Current Queensland Electrical Work Licence (Electrical Linesperson; Electrical Jointer highly regarded)
• Relevant electrical authorisations, access permits and high-risk licences for the work scope
• Experience coordinating projects, shutdowns, staged delivery programmes, or multiple concurrent work fronts.

Nice to have:

• Project management or supervisory qualifications (Cert IV in Frontline Management, Project Management, or similar)
• Switching, access authority, rescue,EWP, dogging, rigging, crane, confined space, cable spiking, HV cable testing or plant competencies
• Established working relationships with network providers and principal contractors
• Experience working with utilities, principal contractors, or major infrastructure projects
• Estimating and tender experience.
• Commercial awareness across labour, plant, materials, subcontractors, and productivity.

ABOUT PHE HIGH VOLTAGE

PHE High Voltage is a specialist division of PHE Group, an electrical and instrumentation contractor with more than 50 years' experience delivering complex projects across Australia. We operate in power-critical environments across mining, utilities, power generation, and heavy industry.

PHE Group’s work on BHP’s Carrapateena projects earned multiple honours at the 2025 NECA SA/NT Excellence Awards, including the judges’ top Perpetual Award, followed by the Industrial X-Large Project award and a Certificate of Commendation at the 2025 NECA National Excellence Awards. This recognition reflects the calibre of our people and the standards behind our work across every division.

If you're ready to take ownership of how we deliver overhead line and underground cableprojects across Australia, this is the role.

ABOUT OUR PROCESS

Visit www.phe.net.au/careers/recruitment-process for a step-by-step guide to joining PHE Group. Shortlisted candidates will complete relevant pre-employment checks including police clearance, medical assessment, drug and alcohol testing, right-to-work verification, and reference checks.

PHE Group is an Equal Opportunity employer. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are committed to a fair and accessible recruitment process. If you require any adjustments to support your application, please reach out.