Operations Manager

Rod Czydel - Managing Partner & Founder at Cononbrig ...; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Cononbrig Partners, based in Melbourne, is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead field operations for a major utility service. You will manage a large workforce of 120+ personnel, driving safe, efficient delivery across distributed sites and coordinating with planning and safety teams.

The role focuses on stability, productivity, and change leadership within a high-risk environment, with a hands-on approach and a track record of improving performance in utilities and heavy industry.

Qualifications

• Experience leading large field-based teams of 50+ people.
• Strong knowledge of industrial relations in a unionised environment.
• Operational leadership background in infrastructure, utilities, construction, or heavy industry.
• Familiarity with field services delivery across distributed sites and mobile crews.
• Track record of improving safety performance and productivity in a high-risk environment.
• Proven ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships with internal and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of field operations and workforce utilisation.
• Oversee safety outcomes and end-to-end delivery performance.
• Collaborate with planning, safety, and external service providers.
• Promote a high-performance culture through coaching and mentoring.
• Drive scheduling, variance tracking, and continuous improvement frameworks.
• Liaise with the General Manager Operations and lead a 120+ person team.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder mgmt

Safety leadership

Union relations

Field operations

Job description

This range is provided by Cononbrig Partners. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

A$180,000.00/yr - A$230,000.00/yr

Managing Partner & Founder at Cononbrig Partners - Finding great people and exceptional leaders for some of the world’s best employers.

Operations Manager - Leading Utility Services Company

Are you an experienced field operations leader ready to take ownership of a large, qualified workforce supporting critical network infrastructure?

• Leading Infrastructure Services Business
• Oversee Field Operations for a Major Power Distribution Network
• Circa $245K Package + Bonus. Based in Melbourne.

This leading infrastructure services group maintains and operates essential energy distribution assets across Australia. The company delivers highly specialised maintenance and construction services for essential utility infrastructure assets. With long standing client relationships, this business offers strong job stability where the Operations Manager will support a major network client and lead a highly experienced team of over 120 people.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

Reporting to the General Manager Operations, you will lead the delivery of field operations and your remit includes workforce utilisation, stakeholder liaison, safety outcomes, and end to end delivery performance.

Key aspects include:

• Leading field crews, supervisors, schedulers, and admin support;
• Enabling efficient, safe delivery of fault response, routine maintenance and the delivery of construction projects;
• Driving operational discipline via active management frameworks and productivity tools;
• Supporting a positive union culture with experienced operators and trade professionals;
• Promoting a high-performance culture through coaching and mentoring;
• Collaborating with planning teams, safety functions and external service providers.

Desired Skills & Experience

• Experience leading large field-based teams of 50+ people;
• Strong industrial relations knowledge in a unionised environment;
• Operational leadership background from infrastructure, utilities, construction, or heavy industry;
• Familiarity with field services delivery across distributed sites and mobile crews;
• A track record of improving safety performance and productivity in a high-risk environment;
• Confidence managing complex stakeholder relationships with internal and external partners;
• Ideally, exposure to power distribution or utility asset maintenance environments.

This is a hands-on, rewarding, high-profile leadership role focused on stability, productivity, and incremental change. The business is looking for a confident and empathetic leader who can bring a fresh eyes approach and innovative ideas to a highly experienced team. You will be systems savvy and capable of championing the use of scheduling, variance tracking, and continuous improvement frameworks.

Role Benefits & Career Path

This is a great career opportunity for an experienced people leader to join a trusted service provider supporting essential infrastructure for the Melbourne community.

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Management, Engineering, and Project Management

Industries

• Utilities, Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution, and Facilities Services