Manager Secondary Systems and Protection Engineering

ElectraNet; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Five weeks annual leave

Bonus up to 15%

Relocation and visa support

Professional development

Job summary

ElectraNet seeks a senior engineering leader to oversee the Secondary Systems and Protection Engineering function in South Australia. Based in Adelaide, you will drive technical strategy, governance, and execution across major projects while inspiring a high‑performing team.

You will lead risk reviews, standards development and continuous improvement, balancing technical, commercial and safety objectives within a complex transmission network.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in protection, automation or secondary systems within utilities or transmission.
• Proven ability to lead high‑performing teams and deliver engineering outcomes.
• Strong strategic, commercial and stakeholder management capability.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Secondary Systems Engineering function.
• Provide strategic and operational engineering advice across the business.
• Oversee major capital projects and ensure compliance with standards.
• Manage resources, budgets and project priorities within the team.
• Drive continuous improvement, governance, risk reporting and safety outcomes.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Protection and Automation

Stakeholder engagement

People management

Financial acumen

Change leadership

Risk management

Education

Engineering degree

Postgraduate management qualification

Chartered Engineer

Job description

Manager Secondary Systems and Protection Engineering

ElectraNet builds, owns, operates, and maintains the South Australian high voltage electricity transmission network that delivers energy from generators to distributors and major load-connected customers, enabling power to be supplied to homes, businesses, and communities. Our people describe our culture as one that is supportive, inclusive, and community-oriented, where we genuinely want each other to succeed.

About ElectraNet

ElectraNet builds, owns, operates, and maintains the South Australian high voltage electricity transmission network that delivers energy from generators to distributors and major load-connected customers, enabling power to be supplied to homes, businesses, and communities. Our people describe our culture as one that is supportive, inclusive, and community-oriented, where we genuinely want each other to succeed.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced engineering leader to take on the role of Manager Secondary Systems and Protection Engineering. Reporting to the Head of Project Engineering alongside your peers in other disciplines this role is responsible for developing and maintaining the capability and performance of ElectraNet's Secondary Systems and Protection Engineering function. You will lead a team of technical specialists while providing trusted advice to senior leaders and stakeholders across the business.

This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of critical infrastructure supporting South Australia's transmission network. Combining technical leadership, people leadership and commercial acumen, you will drive continuous improvement, support major projects, influence business strategy and ensure the delivery of safe, reliable and compliant engineering outcomes.

Based in Adelaide, this full-time role will also cover the following key responsibilities:

• Lead and develop ElectraNet's Secondary Systems Engineering function
• Provide strategic and operational engineering advice across the business
• Lead the delivery of technical services across major capital projects
• Develop engineering standards, frameworks, policies and procedures
• Ensure compliance with engineering governance and technical standards
• Manage engineering resources, budgets and project priorities
• Build strong relationships with executives, customers and stakeholders
• Drive continuous improvement, innovation and operational efficiency
• Lead change initiatives and foster a high-performance culture
• Oversee engineering performance, risk management and reporting
• Support the ongoing development of engineering systems and processes
• Ensure safety, quality and environmental standards are consistently achieved

About You

You are a senior engineering leader with extensive experience in protection, automation or secondary systems within utilities, transmission, energy or other complex infrastructure environments. You bring a strong combination of technical expertise, strategic thinking and people leadership, with a track record of building high-performing teams and delivering successful engineering outcomes. Comfortable operating at both executive and operational levels, you thrive on influencing stakeholders, driving change and balancing technical, commercial and business objectives.

To be successful, you will bring:

• Minimum 10+ years' experience in a relevant engineering or discipline leadership role
• Tertiary qualification in Engineering or a relevant discipline
• Demonstrated experience providing strategic and operational advice and contributing to business strategy
• Proven experience leading and building high-performing teams through effective leadership and change management
• Extensive knowledge and experience in Protection and Automation systems
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build collaborative and productive relationships across diverse stakeholder groups
• Strong financial acumen with the ability to understand business impacts and support sound commercial decision-making
• Demonstrated ability to inspire, motivate, mentor and develop employees to achieve best-practice outcomes
• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills, including negotiation and conflict resolution capability
• Demonstrated ability to act decisively and take urgent action to resolve complex challenges
• Strong people leadership capability, with the ability to constructively challenge the status quo and drive continuous improvement

Highly regarded skills include:

• Strong knowledge of HV transmission networks, substations, transmission performance and operation
• Knowledge of the National Electricity Rules, Transmission Codes and relevant industry standards
• Electricity industry experience within transmission, utilities or energy infrastructure
• Postgraduate management or business-related qualifications
• Chartered Engineer status with Engineers Australia
• Level 1 Substation Access and/or White Card training
• Experience operating across major capital projects and multidisciplinary engineering environments

Employee Benefits

ElectraNet is committed to empowering our people and recognising their contribution with a competitive remuneration package. We are proud to offer a competitive base salary based on experience, five weeks annual leave per year, and bonus eligibility of up to 15%.

Some of the other benefits include:

• 15 days personal/carers leave per year.
• 5 weeks of annual leave per year.
• 16 weeks paid parental leave.
• Additional paid volunteering and office closure leave.
• Flexible work practices and wellbeing support.
• Relocation and visa support for this Adelaide based role.
• Paid volunteering leave and cultural celebration flexibility.
• Exciting projects, professional development, and a vibrant and inclusive team culture.
• Support for professional certification and memberships.
• Regular social events and activities.

ElectraNet is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences—including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disabilities, neurodivergent individuals, and those from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

We are proud to be a Work180 Endorsed Employer. You can read more about our key benefits, including flexible work options, leave and other supports, here.