Plant Operator

PHE; Bathurst Regional Council; On-site; AUD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

PHE Group is seeking safety and quality conscious Plant Operators to join our Bathurst team on a permanent full-time basis, Monday to Friday. You'll operate telehandlers, forklifts and other heavy equipment, performing pre-start checks and safe material handling.

The successful candidate will hold a White Card, a High Risk Work Licence (C2) and ideally HR or WP licenses, and be able to pass medicals. Relocation to Bathurst region supported and relocation to Orange area encouraged.

Qualifications

• Experience in plant/machine operator role.
• White Card and High Risk Work Licence (C2).
• Tilt Tray driving experience is beneficial.
• Telehandler operation with multiple attachments.
• Able to pass pre-employment medical and fitness tests.

Responsibilities

• Operate plant and heavy machinery safely.
• Conduct pre-starts and follow procedures.
• Load, transport and handle materials safely.
• Assist with site setup, cleanup, and general labour.
• Support tradespeople with day-to-day tasks.

Skills

Plant operator experience

Telehandler operations

Forklift operation

Safety focused

HR license desirable

High Risk Lic (C2)

Medical clearance

Job description

THE OPPORTUNITY

We are seeking safety and quality conscious Plant Operatorsto join our team on a permanent full-time basis. In this role, you will be working on a Monday- Friday roster in Bathurst region. We encourage candidates from Orange, Bathurst, surrounding suburbs and those willing to relocate to apply.

In this role, your responsibilities will include:

• Operate plant and heavy machinery such as Telehandlers, forklifts, EWPs, scissor lifts and Tilt trays


• Conduct Pre-starts & follow operational procedures to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant plant operation.


• Load, transport, and handle materials safely and accurately.


• Assist with site setup, cleanup, and general labouring tasks as required.


• Support tradespeoplewith day-to-day tasks.

ABOUT YOU

• You will have experience in plant/machine operator role


• Previous shutdown and mine site experiences would be desirable.


• Previous experience driving a Tilt Tray would be beneficial.


• Previous experience operating a telehandler with multiple attachments.


• Committed to maintaining our safety culture


• Flexible attitude to work with all our crews


• Is able to pass a full medical and fitness test

The successful candidate will have:

• White Card (Construction card)


• High Risk Work License with C2 class


• HR Drivers Licence (desirable)


• High Risk Work License with WP class (desirable)


• Conduct telescopic materials handler operations (desirable)


• Working at Heights - refresher must have been done in the past 18 months. (desirable)


• Be able to pass a pre-employment medical and police clearance.

ABOUT PHE GROUP & PHE MINING

PHE Group is an electrical and instrumentation contractor with five specialist divisions and more than 50 years’ experience. From design and installation to commissioning, shutdowns and logistics, we deliver projects that last.

With branches and projects across Australia’s key mining regions, we’re trusted to deliver where it matters most.

With PHE Mining, our people contribute to projects that are central to Australia’s energy transition and the sustainable supply of critical minerals. Whether at the beginning of their careers or building on decades of experience, they are supported to learn, grow, and succeed.

PHE Mining were recently recognised at both State and National levels. At the 2025 NECA SA/NT Excellence Awards, we secured honours across the Industrial Large ($2M–$20M) and Industrial X-Large ($20M+) categories for BHP’s Carrapateena Hydrofloat and Underground Crusher 2.0 projects respectively. We also received the Perpetual Award – the judges’ highest accolade, reserved for the project they consider the standout submission across all categories – recognising excellence in safety, quality, innovation and culture.

This success was followed by national recognition at the 2025 NECA National Excellence Awards, where PHE Group received the Industrial X-Large Project ($20M+) award for the Carrapateena Underground Crusher 2.0 project, and a Certificate of Commendation – Industrial Large ($2M–$20M) for the Carrapateena Hydrofloat project. These achievements highlight the calibre of our people and affirm the standards that guide our work across every division of PHE Group.

Come be a part of that success. Join an award-winning team – and take your place in delivering projects that are shaping the future of Australia’s evolving sectors and the electrical industry.

ABOUT OUR PROCESS

We seek people who bring both capability and alignment with our values. To support this, our recruitment process includes a range of checks to confirm suitability for the role and workplace. These may include police and background clearances, medical assessments, drug and alcohol testing, right-to-work verification, reference checks, and other due diligence measures.

SUPPORTING A DIVERSE WORKFORCE

At PHE Group, diversity is core to how we build strong teams and deliver complex projects. Our workforce reflects the reality of a modern Australia – bringing together people across gender, culture, age, ability, career pathways, and global experience. This mix of perspectives leads to sharper thinking, stronger collaboration, and more resilient outcomes for our clients.

This commitment was recognised at the 2025 NECA Excellence Awards, where PHE Group was recognised with the Leaders in Diversity (Business) award at both Queensland and National levels. These honours speak to the breadth of our approach – expanding participation for women in trade pathways, creating meaningful opportunities for Indigenous engagement, welcoming global capability and embedding inclusive practices across our organisation.

We arean Equal Opportunity employer who arecommitted to providing a recruitment process that is fair,equitable, and accessible. If you require adjustments to support your application, we encourage you to reach out so we can ensure the process works for you.