Operations Manager – Utilities

TradeTech Australia; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Tradetech Services Australia is seeking an Operations Manager to lead the Civil Utilities division in Victoria. You will oversee day-to-day operations, ensure safe delivery, and coordinate across projects with Project Managers, site teams and suppliers.

The role provides genuine authority to improve operations, develop workforce capability and influence the division's direction, reporting to the Executive General Manager – Utilities.

Qualifications

• Senior operational leadership experience in civil utilities or comparable environment.
• Strong knowledge of Victorian electrical distribution network requirements.
• Experience leading multiple crews and projects.
• Sound commercial understanding including budgets, productivity and risk management.
• Demonstrated workforce planning and people-leadership capability.

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day operations of the Civil Utilities division.
• Coordinate labour, plant, materials and subcontractors across multiple projects.
• Support Project Managers from preconstruction to delivery and handover.
• Monitor productivity, variations, project risks and margins.
• Develop and implement operational improvements and systems.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Civil utilities experience

Workforce planning

Safety leadership

Budgets & cost control

Stakeholder management

Projects coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Job description

Lead and shape a growing civil utilities operation across Victoria’s electrical distribution networks.

Senior operational leadership role

Genuine authority to improve operations and develop teams

Influence the future direction of a growing division

Operations Manager – Civil Utilities

Lead and shape a growing civil utilities operation across Victoria’s electrical distribution networks.

• Senior operational leadership role

• Genuine authority to improve operations and develop teams

• Influence the future direction of a growing division

About TSA

Tradetech Services Australia (TSA) is a Victorian infrastructure contractor delivering civil utilities, underground electrical infrastructure, renewable energy, BESS, traffic management and major civil projects.

We are continuing to expand our civil utilities capability and invest in our people, plant, systems and leadership. This creates an opportunity for an experienced Operations Manager to help shape how the division grows and performs.

The opportunity

Reporting to the Executive General Manager – Utilities, you will lead the day-to-day operations of TSA’s Civil Utilities division.

You will work alongside Project Managers, Site Supervisors, Engineers and field crews to ensure projects are properly resourced, safely delivered and commercially controlled. Project Managers will retain responsibility for managing their projects, while you provide operational leadership, coordination and support across the broader portfolio.

You will have direct access to senior decision-makers and the authority to improve systems, develop workforce capability and influence the future direction of the division.

Your responsibilities will include

• Leading the day-to-day operations of the Civil Utilities division.

• Maintaining oversight of safety, project performance, workforce capacity, resources and client commitments.

• Coordinating labour, plant, materials and subcontractors across multiple projects.

• Supporting Project Managers from preconstruction and mobilisation through to delivery and handover.

• Monitoring productivity, variations, project risks, budgets and margin performance.

• Providing operational input into methodologies, programs, tenders and mobilisation plans.

• Identifying underperforming projects and coordinating practical recovery actions.

• Leading workforce planning, recruitment, performance, training and succession.

• Developing the capability of supervisors, team leaders and field crews.

• Ensuring employees and subcontractors maintain the required licences, competencies, inductions and VESI accreditations.

• Building strong relationships with clients, network authorities and other stakeholders.

• Improving operational systems, accountability and consistency across the division.

What success will look like

During your first 12 months, you will focus on:

• Strengthening operational planning and accountability.

• Building supervisor and field leadership capability.

• Improving workforce, plant and project visibility.

• Supporting consistent safety, quality and commercial performance.

• Establishing scalable systems to support the division’s continued growth.

About you

You will bring:

• Senior operational leadership experience in civil utilities, underground electrical infrastructure or a comparable environment.

• Strong knowledge of Victorian electrical distribution network requirements.

• Experience leading multiple crews and projects.

• Sound commercial understanding, including budgets, productivity, variations and project risk.

• Demonstrated workforce planning and people-leadership capability.

• Strong safety, quality and client-management skills.

• The ability to work collaboratively with Project Managers without unnecessarily duplicating their responsibilities.

• Clear, practical and respectful leadership.

Why join TSA?

• Take on a senior role with genuine operational influence.

• Join a business with an ongoing pipeline of civil utilities work.

• Work directly with senior leaders and decision-makers.

• Develop systems and teams as the division expands.

• Receive support from experienced Project Managers, supervisors and corporate functions.

• Access career development within a broad infrastructure business.

• Participate in TSA’s employee rewards and referral programs.