National Operations Leader - Performance & Growth

Higgins Coatings; City of Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

National impact

Major projects exposure

Collaborative leadership

Career growth

Safety & quality focus

Leadership development

Job summary

Higgins Coatings is seeking an experienced National Operations Manager to drive consistency, project performance and capability development across our national network. You will report to the General Manager – Operations / National Accounts and partner with state teams to deliver exceptional outcomes and sustainable growth.

You will lead operational excellence, build capability through the Higgins Training Academy and ensure compliance with ISO and internal systems while supporting strategic

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading operations within construction, coatings, maintenance, facilities management or related industries.
• Strong project management and commercial management capability.
• Proven ability to influence and drive outcomes through others.
• Experience coaching and developing operational teams.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• High attention to detail and commitment to operational excellence.
• Ability to travel nationally as required.
• Strong Microsoft Office capability.

Responsibilities

• Conduct post-project reviews and identify opportunities for improved margin performance.
• Support operational teams with project planning, delivery and performance improvement.
• Drive financial discipline through WIP management, billing accuracy and claims processes.
• Assist branches in achieving revenue, profitability and debtor management targets.
• Identify and implement operational efficiency opportunities nationally.
• Ensure consistency in operational processes and project delivery standards.
• Drive compliance with quality assurance, ISO and internal operational systems.
• Lead national operational reviews and corrective action programs.
• Support customer complaint resolution and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Facilitate monthly national operations meetings.
• Develop operational capability across Project Managers, Supervisors and operational teams.
• Deliver training programs through the Higgins Training Academy.
• Conduct operational competency assessments and identify development opportunities.
• Partner with suppliers and stakeholders to deliver industry‑leading operational training.
• Coach and mentor operational leaders to build future capability.
• Provide support on critical and complex projects across the business.
• Partner with suppliers to improve service delivery and identify cost‑saving opportunities.
• Support implementation and compliance of supplier service level agreements.

Skills

Operations leadership

Project management

Commercial management

Stakeholder engagement

Coaching & mentoring

Analytical thinking

Communication

Problem solving

Travel readiness

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Higgins Coatings is seeking an experienced National Operations Manager to drive consistency, project performance and capability development across our national network. You will report to the General Manager – Operations / National Accounts and partner with state teams to deliver exceptional outcomes and sustainable growth.

You will lead operational excellence, build capability through the Higgins Training Academy and ensure compliance with ISO and internal systems while supporting strategic