Operations Manager

Calidus Group; Rutherford; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company vehicle

Job summary

Calidus Group in Rutherford/Melbourne seeks an experienced Operations Manager to lead service coordination, purchasing and workshop teams across both branches, ensuring work is prioritised, and that the team has the parts, information and support to deliver.

You will report to the owners and drive day-to-day operations, build a scalable platform for growth, and maintain a practical, customer-focused approach while working closely with workshop and field teams.

Qualifications

• Broad operational leadership experience in industrial services or similar environments.
• Experience leading technicians, coordinators or workshop teams.
• Track record of introducing better systems, structure and accountability.

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day operations across Rutherford and Melbourne branches.
• Create clear priorities, accountability and consistent ways of working.
• Manage workflow and resource allocation across repairs, calibration, equipment hire and onsite service.
• Lead, coach and develop service coordination, purchasing and workshop teams.
• Improve purchasing, supplier management, freight, inventory and parts availability.
• Ensure customers receive proactive and honest updates regarding job progress, costs and completion dates.
• Identify recurring issues, rework and bottlenecks, then implement practical improvements.
• Strengthen workflows, reporting and operational controls within the ERP system.

Skills

Operational leadership

Team leadership

ERP systems

Purchasing & vendor mgmt

Travel flexibility

Job description

Our client is an established Australian-owned industrial services business supplying, repairing, calibrating and hiring specialised tooling and equipment.
Supporting customers across mining, wind energy, oil and gas, rail, construction and manufacturing, the business is known for its technical expertise, responsive service and ability to solve complex customer problems.

With branches in Rutherford, NSW and Melbourne, the company is entering an exciting growth phase and is now looking for an experienced Operations Manager to strengthen its leadership capability and build a scalable platform for the future.

The environment is practical, close-knit and fast-moving. This is not a suit-and-tie role. You will work closely with the workshop team, get involved when needed and introduce the structure and accountability required to support continued growth.

The Opportunity

Reporting directly to the owners, the Operations Manager will take responsibility for everything that happens after a sale.

You will lead service coordination, purchasing and workshop teams across both branches, ensuring work is prioritised effectively, customers are kept informed and the team has the parts, information and support needed to deliver.

The role will give the owners greater confidence and capacity to focus on customers, sales and growing the business, while you take ownership of the day-to-day operation.

This is an opportunity to make a genuine impact: improving what already exists, solving operational bottlenecks and helping shape how the business scales into additional locations and markets.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day operations across the Rutherford and Melbourne branches.
• Create clear priorities, accountability and consistent ways of working.
• Manage workflow and resource allocation across repairs, calibration, equipment hire and onsite service.
• Lead, coach and develop service coordination, purchasing and workshop teams.
• Improve purchasing, supplier management, freight, inventory and parts availability.
• Ensure customers receive proactive and honest updates regarding job progress, costs and completion dates.
• Identify recurring issues, rework and bottlenecks, then implement practical improvements.
• Strengthen workflows, reporting and operational controls within the ERP system.

About the Company

Our client is an established Australian-owned industrial services business supplying, repairing, calibrating and hiring specialised tooling and equipment.
Supporting customers across mining, wind energy, oil and gas, rail, construction and manufacturing, the business is known for its technical expertise, responsive service and ability to solve complex customer problems.

With branches in Rutherford, NSW and Melbourne, the company is entering an exciting growth phase and is now looking for an experienced Operations Manager to strengthen its leadership capability and build a scalable platform for the future.

The environment is practical, close-knit and fast-moving. This is not a suit-and-tie role. You will work closely with the workshop team, get involved when needed and introduce the structure and accountability required to support continued growth.

The Opportunity

Reporting directly to the owners, the Operations Manager will take responsibility for everything that happens after a sale.

You will lead service coordination, purchasing and workshop teams across both branches, ensuring work is prioritised effectively, customers are kept informed and the team has the parts, information and support needed to deliver.

The role will give the owners greater confidence and capacity to focus on customers, sales and growing the business, while you take ownership of the day-to-day operation.

This is an opportunity to make a genuine impact: improving what already exists, solving operational bottlenecks and helping shape how the business scales into additional locations and markets.

About You

You are an experienced Operations, Service, Workshop or Field Service Manager who understands how to lead people and improve performance in a practical, customer-focused environment.

You are comfortable moving between the bigger picture and the immediate priorities of the day. You enjoy solving problems, making decisions and working alongside the team to ensure improvements genuinely stick.

Ideally, you will bring:

• Broad operational leadership experience within industrial service, equipment, workshop, maintenance, automotive, mining services or a similar environment.
• Experience leading technicians, tradespeople, coordinators or operational teams.
• A track record of introducing better systems, structure and accountability.
• Commercial judgement and the confidence to manage difficult conversations.
• Experience improving ERP, workflow or reporting systems.
• A practical, low-ego leadership style and an owner's mindset.
• The ability to travel regularly between NSW and Victoria.

A trade or technical background, parts interpretation experience or exposure to industrial tooling, mining equipment, heavy vehicle service or urgent repair environments would be highly regarded.

What's on Offer

• A broad leadership role with the autonomy to make decisions and improve the business.
• The opportunity to work directly with supportive and entrepreneurial owners.
• A hands‑on environment where your contribution will be visible and valued.
• The chance to build the operating platform for the company's next phase of growth.
• An attractive remuneration package including a company vehicle.