Operations Manager - Victoria - Industrial Automation and Engineering

PeopleScope; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

PeopleScope is partnering with a leading Australian provider of multi-disciplinary engineering, electrical, automation and IT/OT integration services to appoint an Operations Manager for the Victorian business. You will lead a capable technical team of engineers and technicians, develop client relationships and influence the future direction and growth of the operation across Victoria.

The role requires a hands-on leader who can balance technical leadership with commercial awareness and

Qualifications

• Experience leading technical teams in industrial automation, control systems electrical engineering, or systems integration.
• Strong understanding of heavy industry, manufacturing or process operations.
• Proven ability to develop people, build trusted client relationships and balance technical, resourcing and commercial considerations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and motivate an established technical team of engineers and technicians.
• Build close relationships with clients and help shape the Victorian operation.
• Ensure projects, maintenance work and service commitments are properly resourced.
• Identify practical and innovative ways to improve processes, reliability and plant performance.
• Maintain safe, high-quality delivery across brownfield upgrades, shutdowns and commissioning work.

Job description

Operations Manager - Victoria - Industrial Automation and Engineering

PeopleScope is partnering with a unique Australian provider of multi-disciplinary engineering, electrical, automation and IT/OT integration services to appoint an Operations Manager for the Victorian business.

The organisation works with clients across heavy industry, manufacturing and processing, helping them make complex industrial operations safer, more reliable and more efficient.

What makes the business different is the genuine curiosity the team brings to every challenge. They take the time to get to know each client’s operation, understand what is happening on the ground and explore what could be done better. Rather than offering an off-the-shelf answer, they develop practical, creative solutions that deliver meaningful improvements.

It is this collaborative approach and focus on genuine innovation that has built close, trusted client relationships and a strong pipeline of repeat business.

The opportunity

This is a chance to take on a broad leadership role within a business that has built its reputation on genuine innovation and finding creative ways to solve complex industrial challenges.

You’ll lead and motivate an established technical team of engineers and technicians, build close relationships with clients and help shape the future of the Victorian operation and the overall direction and growth of the business nationally. You’ll have the freedom to challenge conventional approaches, explore new technologies and turn innovative thinking into practical improvements for clients and the business.

Innovation here is not just a corporate message. It comes from taking the time to understand how each client operates, identifying opportunities others may overlook and bringing together the right technical expertise to create a better solution.

Day to day, you’ll be involved in:

Supporting and developing a capable, engaged and accountable technical team.

Making sure projects, maintenance work and service commitments have the right people and resources behind them.

Getting to know clients and their operations, building trusted partnerships that go beyond individual projects.

Working with clients to identify practical and innovative ways to improve processes, reliability and plant performance.

Keeping delivery safe, responsive and high quality across brownfield upgrades, shutdowns and commissioning work.

Maintaining a clear view of budgets, margins, utilisation, work in progress and invoicing.

Finding better ways to work and helping turn those ideas into practical improvements across the Victorian operation.

You’ll remain connected to key clients and selected projects, while having the autonomy to step back, look at the bigger picture and influence how the operation develops.

Why this role?

This is a unique leadership opportunity where you’ll have the freedom to make decisions and influence the direction of an established Victorian operation. You’ll lead the team, stay close to clients and remain connected to the work itself, without having to navigate layers of corporate process.

The projects are varied and technically interesting and the client relationships are built around understanding real operational challenges rather than simply delivering against a contract. You’ll join a business that genuinely values curiosity, new ideas and practical innovation with the backing and technical capability of a highly experienced technical team across a national organisation.

For the right person, it is an opportunity to build on something strong, make a meaningful difference and continue developing as the business grows.

What you’ll bring

You’ll have experience leading technical teams in industrial automation, control systems electrical engineering, systems integration or a similar project and service environment.

Experience across heavy industry, manufacturing or process operations would be valuable, as would an understanding of live operating environments and the importance of safe, dependable delivery.

You’ll enjoy developing people, building trusted relationships and getting to know how client operations really work. You’ll be comfortable moving between a technical challenge, a resourcing decision and a commercial conversation, without losing sight of the people involved.

You may already be working in an Operational Management role leading a business unit or you could be an experienced Project or Engineering Manager with strong people leadership skills ready to take on broader responsibility.

Above all, you’ll take ownership, lead with confidence, motivate others and turn ideas into action.