Maintenance Execution Lead

Viva Energy Australia; Geelong; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Viva Energy Australia’s Geelong Refinery seeks a Maintenance Execution Lead to drive maintenance delivery with a focus on safety, accountability and continuous improvement. You will lead field teams, coordinate operations and contractor activities to lift reliability and productivity.

You will partner with Operations, HSSE and Maintenance leaders to implement standards, monitor performance and deliver improvements that create real business value across the site.

Qualifications

• Significant maintenance or operations experience in heavy industry (refining/oil & gas).
• Proven ability to improve maintenance execution and productivity.
• Experience managing contractors and field-based teams.
• Strong knowledge of maintenance planning, execution and shutdowns.
• Experience with performance measurement, audits and continuous improvement.
• Ability to translate data into practical business improvements.

Responsibilities

• Lead maintenance execution to improve schedule attainment and productivity.
• Ensure contractor and internal teams align to planned maintenance and shutdowns.
• Collaborate with Operations and HSSE to remove execution constraints.
• Drive improvements in safety, uptime and cost effectiveness.
• Review contractor performance against KPIs and manage actions.

Skills

Field leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Contractor management

Data interpretation

Safety culture advocacy

Team coaching

Job description

A career with Viva Energy is more than just a job. It’s a chance to join a group of people dedicated to supporting Australia’s evolving energy and convenience needs. We’re a leading retail, industrial and energy business, and we’ve been helping Australians reach their destination for more than 120 years.

Our plans for the future support Australia’s energy transition to sustainable, lower carbon energy solutions. Through our acquisitions of Coles Express and OTR, we provide Australians with outstanding convenience.

At the heart of our plans is people power. People who want to grow and evolve with us. People with new perspectives, energy and passion to drive Viva Energy and their careers forward.

As we continue to strengthen reliability, performance and operational excellence across Viva Energy’s Geelong Refinery, we are seeking a highly capable Maintenance Execution Lead to drive maintenance execution performance and champion a culture of safety, accountability and continuous improvement.

This is a pivotal leadership role focused on improving maintenance delivery outcomes across the site by building consistency in execution, strengthening contractor performance, and driving productivity improvements that create real business value.

If you're passionate about field leadership, operational excellence, and influencing high-performing teams in a complex industrial environment, we'd love to hear from you.

Job Description

In this role you will be responsible for improving maintenance execution performance across the refinery by driving consistency, accountability and continuous improvement in both contractor and internal maintenance activities.

Working closely with Operations, Maintenance, HSSE and Contractor Leaders, you will play a critical role in transforming maintenance delivery into a high-performing, value-driven function through the implementation of standards, performance monitoring and targeted improvement initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Safety Leadership & Field Engagement

• Maintain a strong and visible field presence, actively engaging with Operations, Supervisors and work crews to promote a culture of safety and operational discipline.
• Ensure maintenance activities are executed in full compliance with Viva Energy's safety standards, permit-to-work requirements and regulatory obligations.
• Lead by example through proactive field engagement, coaching and hazard identification.

Maintenance Execution & Workforce Performance

• Lead the execution of maintenance work to improve schedule attainment, efficiency and productivity.
• Ensure contractor capability, maintenance resources and workforce skills are aligned to deliver planned maintenance and shutdown activities successfully.
• Collaborate with Operations, Contractor Supervisors and stakeholders to identify and eliminate execution constraints.
• Drive improved work execution practices and performance outcomes across maintenance teams.

Contractor Management & Performance

• Promote consistent leadership expectations across contractor workgroups.
• Monitor and manage contractor performance against agreed KPIs, contractual obligations and service delivery expectations.
• Facilitate performance improvement discussions and corrective actions where required.
• Review and approve contractor invoices in accordance with contractual requirements and agreed scope delivery.
• Analyse maintenance and contractor performance data to identify trends, risks and opportunities.
• Lead improvement initiatives that enhance safety, productivity, schedule performance and cost effectiveness.
• Support the development of a performance-focused culture centred on value creation and accountability.
• Drive sustainable improvements in maintenance execution quality and efficiency.

What Success Looks Like

In this role, you will:

• Champion a Zero Harm culture through strong field leadership and engagement.
• Deliver measurable improvements in maintenance productivity and schedule attainment.
• Reduce execution delays, inefficiencies and rework.
• Strengthen contractor performance and contractual compliance.
• Deliver meaningful cost efficiencies and operational improvements.
• Embed consistency, accountability and execution excellence across maintenance delivery.
• Influence a culture shift towards performance, ownership and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

About you

We're looking for a maintenance leader who combines technical credibility with exceptional stakeholder engagement skills and a passion for improving frontline performance.

Your Experience

• Significant maintenance and/or operational experience within heavy industry such as refining, oil & gas, petrochemical, mining, manufacturing or related sectors.
• Demonstrated success in improving maintenance execution performance and productivity.
• Experience managing contractors and field-based workforces.
• Strong understanding of maintenance planning, execution and shutdown activities.
• Experience with performance measurement, audits and continuous improvement programs.
• Ability to interpret data and translate insights into practical business improvements.
• Highly visible and influential in the field.
• Able to build credibility with frontline teams and contractors.
• Courageous in challenging the status quo and driving accountability.
• Collaborative, pragmatic and outcome focused.
• Strong communicator with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Committed to continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Why Join Viva Energy?

The Geelong Refinery is a critical national asset and one of Australia's most complex manufacturing environments. This role offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on safety, reliability and operational performance while working alongside experienced professionals who are passionate about excellence.

Additional Information

About Viva Energy

Join a team that values diversity. Viva Energy is a great place to be yourself. We believe in our people, trust in their positive intentions, and empower everyone to amplify their voice across the business. We value inclusion because that’s how we get the best outcomes.

Awarded the WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality for the past five years highlights that we are driven by our people and continuing our focus on making Viva Energy reflect the ever-changing face of Australia.

We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and encourage and support diversity in our traditional and non-traditional roles.

Only applications from candidates holding full working rights for employment in Australia will be considered.