Shipwright Supervisor

G H Varley Pty Limited; Cairns Regional; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fitness Passport

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Relocation assistance

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Norphism, a Northern Australian marine and engineering business, invites a trade‑qualified Shipwright to lead a growing Cairns department delivering ship repair, maintenance, refit and construction projects for commercial, government and defence clients.

You will oversee a hands‑on leadership role, mentoring apprentices and coordinating resources while shaping how work is delivered and how the department grows capabilities. Relocation support may be available as you join our production team.

Qualifications

• Supervisory or lead hand experience in a shipyard or marine workshop.
• Strong knowledge of ship repair, maintenance and construction activities.
• Proven ability to scope, estimate and plan shipwright works and resources.
• Commitment to safety, quality and continuous improvement.
• Excellent communication and mentoring skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate daily workshop and project activities.
• Mentor and develop shipwrights, apprentices and labourers.
• Plan labour, resources and project requirements.
• Ensure safety, quality and environmental standards are met.
• Drive productivity and meet project schedules.
• Provide technical guidance to the team and stakeholders.
• Foster a positive, high‑performing culture and collaborate with project managers.

Skills

Leadership

Shipwright expertise

Project planning

Mentoring

Safety standards

Education

Trade-qualified Shipwright

Tools

Driver Licence

Job description

You've Mastered the Trade. Now Lead the Team.

You've built the skills.

You've earned the respect

Now bring your experience to a business that's investing in the future.

Norphism is seeking an experienced, trade-qualified Shipwright to lead our Shipwright team in Cairns. Whether you're an established Supervisor looking for your next challenge or a respected Leading Hand ready to step into leadership, this is an opportunity to build a high-performing team, develop people, and make a genuine impact within a growing Northern Australian marine business.

This isn't just another supervisory role. It's a chance to lead from the front, influence outcomes, and help shape the future of a department delivering critical projects across commercial, government and defence sectors.

More than that, this role offers the opportunity to lead a growing department, mentor the next generation of Shipwrights, influence how work is delivered, and play a key role in the ongoing development of Norphism's broader production capability.

Why Join Norphism?

At Norphism, you'll be part of a respected Northern Australian marine and engineering business known for quality workmanship, technical capability and delivering critical projects across commercial, government and defence sectors.

You'll join a supportive workplace where experienced tradespeople are valued, leaders are backed, and there is a genuine focus on building capability for the future.

This role offers:

• Meaningful work supporting commercial operators, government agencies and defence customers across a diverse range of vessel repair, maintenance, refit and construction projects
• Exposure to varied and technically challenging work across a wide range of vessel types and project scopes
• A stable, full-time leadership opportunity in Cairns
• A team environment that values trade expertise and practical leadership
• A standard 40-hour Monday to Friday work week
• An accrued Rostered Day Off (RDO) every four weeks, giving you a regular long weekend and supporting a healthy work-life balance

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Production Manager, you'll oversee the day-to-day operations of the Shipwright department, ensuring work is planned, coordinated and delivered safely, efficiently and to a high standard.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading and coordinating daily workshop and project activities
• Supervising, mentoring and developing Shipwrights, apprentices and labourers
• Planning labour, resources and project requirements
• Ensuring compliance with safety, quality and environmental standards
• Driving productivity and meeting project schedules
• Providing technical guidance and support to the team
• Fostering a positive, accountable and high-performing culture
• Working closely with Project Managers and operational leaders to achieve project outcomes

You'll oversee a wide variety of ship repair, maintenance, refit and construction activities, balancing day-to-day operational requirements with the longer-term development of capability, people and processes within the department.

The Shipwright department is entering an exciting growth phase. While currently a close-knit team, Norphism is actively investing in expanding capability and strengthening the workforce through the recruitment and development of additional qualified Shipwrights. This creates genuine opportunities for the successful candidate to help shape the future direction of the department, build team capability and grow alongside the business.

The successful candidate will also form part of Norphism's broader Production team, working alongside skilled trades and specialists across multiple disciplines. From fabrication and mechanical trades through to project delivery and support functions, you'll be part of a larger team working together to deliver complex marine projects for our customers. This provides opportunities to collaborate across disciplines, broaden your experience and contribute to a business that is continually building capability for the future.

This is a hands-on role suited to someone who can combine strong trade knowledge with clear direction, practical decision-making and confident team coordination.

About You

You're a qualified Shipwright who takes pride in both your trade and your ability to bring out the best in others.

You lead by example, communicate effectively, and know how to build a team that delivers quality results.

To be successful in this role, you'll have:

• Previous supervisory, Leading Hand or team leadership experience
• Strong knowledge of ship repair, maintenance and construction activities
• Experience planning and coordinating labour, materials and project requirements
• The ability to scope, estimate and quote Shipwright-related works
• Excellent planning and organisational skills
• A commitment to safety, quality and continuous improvement
• Strong communication and problem-solving abilities
• The ability to mentor, coach and develop team members
• A current Driver Licence

Most importantly, you're someone who enjoys leading people, building capability and creating an environment where teams can perform at their best.

What We Offer

• An attractive salary package aligned to your experience, trade expertise and leadership capability
• A permanent, full-time role based in Cairns, providing stability and long-term career opportunities
• Real support as you step into, or continue growing in, a supervisory role
• The opportunity to lead skilled tradespeople, mentor apprentices and build capability within your team
• Hands-on involvement in complex ship repair, maintenance and project work that keeps the job interesting
• The opportunity to play a key role in the growth of the Shipwright department and further develop your leadership capability as the team expands
• A business actively investing in the future workforce, with more than 20 apprentices currently employed across our Cairns operations. We are committed to developing the next generation of tradespeople and leaders, creating long-term opportunities for both our people and our business
• Fitness Passport membership program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for employees and their families
• A role where your decisions, standards and leadership will have a visible impact every day

Why Cairns?

Cairns offers an enviable tropical lifestyle with access to world-class fishing, boating, diving and outdoor recreation, all while building your career in one of Northern Australia's leading marine businesses.

Relocation assistance may be available for the right candidate, helping make the transition to Cairns and your next career opportunity as seamless as possible.

About Norphism

Norphism is a leading Northern Australian marine and engineering company delivering ship repair, maintenance, fabrication and project services to commercial, government and defence customers.

Operating from Cairns and Darwin, our teams deliver a wide range of marine maintenance, repair, refit and project work across Northern Australia.

Norphism is proudly part of the Varley Group, a long-established Australian-owned engineering and manufacturing organisation supporting the Defence, Aerospace, Transport and Advanced Manufacturing sectors. As part of the Group, Norphism benefits from the strength and support of a larger organisation while maintaining the agility, culture and local decision-making that defines our business.

As a Defence Industry Security Program (DISP) aligned organisation, we support critical defence-related activities while maintaining high standards of security, governance and operational excellence.

Ready to Lead?

If you're a trade-qualified Shipwright looking for the opportunity to lead a great team, develop your leadership career and make a lasting impact, we'd love to hear from you.