Workshop Manager

Swissport International; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Swissport is seeking a hands-on Workshop Manager to lead the Ground Support Equipment (GSE) workshop, ensuring safe, efficient maintenance and regulatory compliance. You’ll oversee PMI execution, spare parts management, and contractor performance to maximise fleet availability.

You will guide a technical team in a fast-paced aviation environment, balancing priorities and workforce development while upholding Swissport’s safety culture and standards.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years' experience in workshop management or maintenance supervision.
• Strong mechanical experience within automotive, heavy vehicle, plant, material handling or GSE.
• Relevant mechanical trade qualification.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing technical teams.
• Experience using CMMS with Maximo preferred.
• Valid Australian driver’s licence.
• Aviation or GSE experience is highly regarded.

Responsibilities

• Lead, supervise and develop the GSE workshop team to meet maintenance requirements.
• Plan and prioritise preventive maintenance, servicing and repairs to maximise fleet availability.
• Ensure PMIs are completed on time and compliant with requirements.
• Record all activities in Maximo with accurate labour, parts usage and history.
• Monitor fleet availability, reliability and workshop performance.
• Manage contractor performance and external service providers.
• Control workshop parts/inventory and manage stock costs.
• Coordinate tooling, parts and external service requirements.
• Ensure compliance with WHS, regulatory and company standards.
• Monitor productivity and costs, pursue continuous improvement.
• Foster safety, accountability and operational discipline.

Skills

Workshop leadership

Planning & prioritisation

Problem solving

Communication

Stakeholder management

WHS awareness

CMMS experience

Maximo knowledge

Safety culture

Education

Mechanical trade qualification

Tools

Maximo CMMS

Job description

Are you ready to take flight in a dynamic and fast-paced aviation industry? As a global leader in aviation services, Swissport provides Ground Handling, Cargo Handling, and Passenger Services to over 300 million passengers annually. Our mission is simple – “To provide the aviation industry with consistent and tailor‑made solutions around the globe, for a better customer experience.”

We believe that our people are what differentiates us from our competition. At Swissport, we are driven by our core values of Show You Care, Do the Right Things and Win as a Team, and we are currently seeking dedicated individuals, who align with these values, to join our team at various locations across the globe.

Job Summary

The Workshop Manager is responsible for the day-to-day leadership and operation of the GSE workshop, ensuring maintenance activities are completed safely, efficiently and in accordance with company, manufacturer and regulatory requirements.

The role provides leadership to the workshop team and holds accountability for preventative and corrective maintenance delivery, the on-time completion of Planned Maintenance Inspections (PMIs), Maximo work‑order accuracy, contractor performance and effective spare parts management. Working closely with operational and maintenance stakeholders, the Workshop Manager manages workshop priorities, resources and performance to maximise the reliability, availability and operational readiness of the Ground Support Equipment fleet.

Your activities

• Lead, supervise and develop the GSE workshop team, ensuring resources are effectively allocated to meet operational and maintenance requirements.
• Plan and prioritise preventative maintenance, servicing, repairs and breakdown maintenance to maximise fleet availability and minimise equipment downtime.
• Take accountability for the on-time completion of all Planned Maintenance Inspections (PMIs), ensuring scheduled maintenance is completed within required timeframes and in accordance with company, manufacturer and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure all maintenance activities and work orders are accurately recorded and maintained in Maximo, including timely updates to job status, labour, parts usage, maintenance history and work-order completion.
• Monitor fleet availability, equipment reliability and workshop performance, proactively addressing maintenance risks, recurring faults and equipment downtime.
• Manage contractor performance, ensuring external service providers meet agreed safety, quality, cost and delivery expectations, and address performance issues where required.
• Maintain effective control of workshop spare parts and inventory, ensuring appropriate stock availability, accurate usage and timely replenishment while managing costs and minimising unnecessary or obsolete stock.
• Coordinate tooling, parts and external service requirements to support planned and corrective maintenance activities.
• Ensure all workshop activities comply with WHS, company, manufacturer and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Monitor workshop productivity, maintenance expenditure and key performance indicators, identifying and implementing opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Support a culture of safety, accountability, operational discipline and continuous improvement across workshop operations.

About You

You will be a hands‑on and experienced workshop leader with a strong mechanical background and the ability to lead teams in a fast‑paced operational environment.

You will be organized, safety-focused and confident managing competing priorities while maintaining high standards of equipment reliability and workshop performance.

Skills and Experience

• Minimum 3 years’ experience in workshop management or maintenance supervision.
• Strong mechanical experience within automotive, heavy vehicle, plant, material handling or GSE.
• Relevant mechanical trade qualification.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing technical teams.
• Strong knowledge of preventative and corrective maintenance practices.
• Excellent planning, prioritisation and problem‑solving skills.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management capability.
• Sound understanding of WHS and workshop compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated experience using computerised maintenance management systems (CMMS), including the accurate management and completion of maintenance work orders. Experience with Maximo is highly regarded.
• Experience managing contractor performance and spare parts or inventory within a maintenance environment.
• Valid Australian driver’s licence.
• Aviation or Ground Support Equipment experience is highly regarded.

Why Join Swissport?

This is an opportunity to lead the GSE workshop, develop a capable and engaged maintenance team, and drive improvements in fleet safety, reliability and availability within a fast‑paced aviation environment.

At Swissport, we believe in diversity, equal opportunity, and the power of our values to drive our success. We are committed to providing a workplace that fosters inclusion and where all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Visit our website at Swissport Careers to learn more about Life at Swissport.

Join Swissport today and be part of a team that connects the world of aviation!

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Swissport is an equal opportunity employer. We base our hiring decisions on business needs and the best-qualified candidates available, without discrimination based on any protected category. Candidates offered employment may be subject to criminal record and other background checks as permitted or required by company policy or applicable law.

Only permanent residents of Australia or New Zealand, or those who have the right to work in Australia or New Zealand, may apply.