Team Leader Waste and Quarry Services

Walgett Shire Council; Walgett, Lightning Ridge; On-site; AUD 62,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

9 day fortnight

5 weeks annual leave

Long service leave after 5 years

Wellness leave (MyLeave)

Professional development

Job summary

Walgett Shire Council is seeking a capable Team Leader, Waste and Quarry Services to oversee operations across Walgett and Lightning Ridge. The role combines hands-on heavy plant work with day-to-day supervision of waste facilities, transfer stations and a quarry network.

You will plan rosters, allocate resources, enforce WHS, and drive safe, efficient service delivery in a remote outback setting. A strong safety mindset and practical leadership are essential for success.

Qualifications

• Experience in leading waste or quarry operations.
• Proven ability to operate heavy plant safely.
• Strong safety leadership and WHS compliance.
• Effective communicator and team collaborator.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily site activities and supervise staff across sites.
• Plan rosters, allocate plant and resources.
• Ensure operations meet safety, compliance and reporting.
• Manage weighbridge, gatehouse and customer service tasks.

Skills

Heavy plant operation

Worksite supervision

Safety leadership

Team coordination

Tools

Garbage trucks

Skid steer

Bulldozers

Job description

Task variety working across landfill, transfer station and quarry operations

Attractive salary between $1,373 - $1,676 per week, plus 12% superannuation

Generous benefits including 9 day fortnight, 5 wee ks annual leave, long service leave after 5 years

About the role:

Council is seeking a capable, practical and safety-focused person to join our team as Team Leader, Waste and Quarry Services. The role works across Walgett and Lightning Ridge areas.

The Team Leader Waste and Quarry Services is responsible for the safe, efficient and compliant operation of Council’s waste facilities, landfill sites, transfer stations and quarry operations across the Shire. The role is a hands-on working leadership position that operates heavy plant and equipment while providing day-to-day supervision, coordination and support to staff engaged in waste services and quarry operations.

The role leads daily site and field activities, allocates staff, plant and resources, prepares rosters and work plans, and ensures works are delivered safely, efficiently and in accordance with Council requirements, legislative obligations and operational procedures. It supervises waste and quarry operations, site presentation, environmental controls, weighbridge and gatehouse activities, customer service and operational records, while actively participating in the delivery of those services.

This is a role for someone who can think on their feet, provide practical leadership and keep operations moving in a dynamic outdoor environment.

About you:

The successful applicant will:

• be able to drive heavy plant and equipment, including garbage trucks, skid steer loaders, front end loaders, compactors, bulldozers, excavators, and tipper trucks.
• be able to implement and enforce workplace health and safety for you and your team
• be willing and able to follow instructions, work within timeframes, and contribute effectively to a team
• have a positive attitude, strong communication skills, and a willingness to learn and adapt
• understand the importance of public service and take pride in upholding the reputation of Council and the community
• be reliable, respectful, team-oriented, and able to meet the physical and practical demands of t he position.

At Walgett Shire Council, we understand that not every candidate will meet every criterion, and that is perfectly fine—your passion and potential matter most to us.

• A highly competitive hourly rate between $36.13 to $44.11, depending on your experience, plus superannuation
• Generous benefits including 5 weeks of annual leave, long service leave after 5 years, and one week of wellness and wellbeing leave each year (MyLeave)
• Professional development opportunities to support your growth and success
• Employee Assistance Program available to support you and your family through all life’s challenges
• Exceptional working conditions within a supportive, family-friendly environment.

About us:

Walgett Shire Council proudly serves a diverse and unique region in the heart of outback New South Wales. Covering over 22,000 square kilometres, with a population of approximately 7,000, the Shire supports key industries such as agriculture, grazing, grain handling, opal mining, and tourism.

Life in Walgett Shire offers the best of outback living—open skies, a strong sense of community, and endless opportunities to explore. Whether it’s fossicking for opals, exploring underground art galleries, soaking in naturally heated artesian springs, or enjoying the tranquillity of river fishing, the region offers a truly one-of-a-kind experience. For more information about Walgett and the Lightning Ridge area, please click here .

Closing date for applications:

Applications will close 9.00am on Monday, 30 November 2026.

Council reserves the right to close, withdraw or extend vacancies without prior notice.

Walgett Shire Council is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering diversity and inclusion in our workplace. We encourage applications from people with disabilities, culturally and linguistically diverse persons, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, veterans, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Walgett Shire Council proudly serves a diverse and unique region in the heart of outback New South Wales. Covering over 22,000 square kilometres, the Shire includes the towns of Walgett, Lightning Ridge, and Collarenebri, along with the villages of Carinda, Cumborah, Rowena, and Burren Junction, as well as expansive rural areas. With a population of over 7,000, the Shire supports key industries such as agriculture, grazing, grain handling, opal mining, and tourism.

Nestled at the junction of the Namoi and Barwon Rivers, Walgett is rich in history and natural beauty. Once a bustling paddle-steamer port, it is now the northern gateway to the iconic Darling River Run, offering breathtaking landscapes and a deep connection to Australia’s heritage.

Just an hour north, Lightning Ridge is famed for its vibrant opal mining culture and distinctive outback charm. Whether it is fossicking for opals, exploring underground art galleries, soaking in naturally heated artesian springs, or enjoying the tranquillity of river fishing, the region offers a truly one-of-a-kind experience.

At Walgett Shire Council, we are rebuilding with a people-first culture. Safety, our people, and service to the community are at the core of everything we do. We are looking for passionate and committed professionals who are aligned with our core values: Respect, Integrity, Ethical Conduct, Courage, Honesty, Accountability, and Responsibility.