Testing and Commissioning Manager

John Holland Group; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

John Holland Group in Adelaide seeks an experienced Testing & Commissioning Manager to lead end-to-end commissioning for the Torrens to Darlington tunnel project, ensuring all systems are tested, integrated, verified, and certified for safe public operation.

You will coordinate with construction, engineering, operations, road authorities and emergency services, manage budgets and schedules (Primavera P6), and mentor engineers and technicians while driving continuous improvement and a safe

Qualifications

• Proven senior Testing & Commissioning experience on major road/rail tunnel projects.
• Experience delivering multidisciplinary commissioning programs through testing, integration and handover phases.
• Deep technical knowledge of tunnel systems including ventilation, fire & life safety, SCADA, ITS.
• Demonstrated leadership in managing commissioning teams, contractors and stakeholders in high-risk live environments.
• Experience with defect tracking, turnover and commissioning assurance using Hexagon or similar.

Responsibilities

• Lead the testing strategy, governance framework, and execution plan across tunnel packages.
• Drive the transition from construction to operations with all systems tested and certified.
• Oversee commissioning delivery across electrical, mechanical, civil interfaces, and ITS.
• Manage integration of tunnel ventilation, life safety, lighting, power, and drainage systems.
• Develop and optimise integrated commissioning schedules using Primavera P6; align milestones.
• Govern FAT, SAT, IST and operational readiness testing with robust documentation.
• Lead defect identification, tracking, and punch-list close-out via structured systems.
• Monitor risks in live environments and implement mitigation for safety and delivery.
• Guide multidisciplinary commissioning teams and mentor engineers and technicians.
• Collaborate with contractors, designers, operators, authorities and emergency services.
• Ensure compliance with road authority standards, WHS, environmental requirements and safety systems.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic commissioning

Stakeholder management

Defect tracking

Team coaching

Primavera P6

Hexagon (completions)

Project controls

Safety culture

Live environment

Education

Degree or Masters in Electrical/Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Primavera P6

Hexagon

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Description

The Project

The consortium of John Holland, Bouygues Construction, Arcadis Australia, Jacobs and Ventia has been selected to build South Australia's biggest-ever road infrastructure project. In partnership with the South Australian Government, this consortium forms the Torrens to Darlington (T2D) Alliance.

The Torrens to Darlington (T2D) Alliance, will deliver the final 10.5km section of the North-South Corridor, forming a continuous 78 km, non-stop, traffic light-free motorway, and contributing to a long-lasting legacy for the community and people of Adelaide.

The T2D Project involves constructing two separate tunnels - the Southern Tunnels and the Northern Tunnels connected by an open motorway, with a combined total distance of 10.5km, open to traffic in 2031. The T2D project comprises the tunnels, surface works including road and bridge construction in addition to services buildings and complex mechanical and electrical infrastructure. The T2D Alliance is committed to providing opportunities for local people, Aboriginal workers, apprentices, trainees and job seekers who are long-term unemployed and offers people an incredible opportunity to be a part of an iconic project.

The Role

Reporting directly to the Mechanical and Electrical Director, the Testing & Commissioning Manager will play a pivotal leadership role in one of the project's most critical phases - the safe transition from construction into live operations.

This role is responsible for leading the end-to-end commissioning strategy, program, and budget, ensuring all tunnel systems are fully tested, integrated, verified, and certified as safe, reliable, and ready for public operation.

You will act as the key interface between construction, engineering, operations, road authorities, and emergency services, driving coordination across highly complex, safety-critical systems in a live commissioning environment.

This is a high-impact leadership position at the centre of project delivery, where your expertise will directly influence operational readiness, safety outcomes, and successful project handover of a major tunnel infrastructure asset.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the overall Testing & Commissioning strategy, governance framework, and execution plan across all tunnel systems and packages.
• Drive the successful transition from construction to operations, ensuring all systems are tested, integrated, verified, and commissioned in line with project and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee commissioning delivery across all disciplines including electrical, mechanical, civil interfaces, and intelligent transport systems.
• Manage complex system integration of tunnel ventilation, fire and life safety systems, lighting, SCADA, power distribution, drainage, and ITS infrastructure.
• Develop, maintain, and optimise fully integrated commissioning schedules using Primavera P6, ensuring alignment with project milestones and handover requirements.
• Govern all testing activities including FAT, SAT, integrated system testing (IST), and operational readiness testing, ensuring robust documentation and compliance.
• Lead defect identification, tracking, prioritisation, and close-out through structured completions and punch-list management systems (e.g. Hexagon).
• Monitor commissioning risks in live environments, implementing mitigation strategies to ensure safety, system integrity, and delivery certainty.
• Lead multidisciplinary commissioning teams, providing clear direction, coaching, and performance leadership to engineers, technicians, and specialist contractors.
• Facilitate collaboration across contractors, designers, operators, emergency services, and road authorities to resolve complex interface and operational challenges.
• Ensure all commissioning activities comply with road authority standards, WHS legislation, environmental requirements, and project safety systems.
• Drive continuous improvement across commissioning processes, systems integration, and handover efficiency.
• Support final acceptance, documentation, and seamless asset handover to the operating authority.

About You

• Proven experience in senior Testing & Commissioning roles on major road or rail tunnel infrastructure projects, ideally within Australia.
• Strong track record delivering large-scale, multidisciplinary commissioning programs through testing, integration, and operational handover phases.
• Deep technical understanding of tunnel systems, including ventilation, fire and life safety, SCADA, lighting, power distribution, and ITS systems.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing commissioning teams, contractors, and stakeholder groups in high-risk, live environments.
• Strong capability developing commissioning strategies, methodologies, procedures, and integrated delivery schedules.
• Hands-on experience with Hexagon or similar completions management systems for defect tracking, turnover, and commissioning assurance.
• Advanced proficiency in Primavera P6 and Microsoft Office Suite, with strong project controls awareness.
• Degree or Master's qualification in Electrical, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline.

We Offer

Your success is reflected in ours, and as an Alliance we are committed to being an employer of choice here in Adelaide. We pride ourselves on having a diverse and inclusive workplace, as different perspectives and ideas will deliver our long-term success.

We want you to be with us for the long-term, so providing you with rich career experiences and ongoing training and development is our priority.