- Work with unique Antarctic equipment
-
Based in Kingston, Tasmania
-
Full?time EL1 role
Who we are
The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) is part of the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. As primary agency for Australia's Antarctic Program (AAP), the AAD is responsible for achieving the Australian Government's Antarctic goals.
These goals are to:
- maintain the Antarctic Treaty System and enhance Australia's influence within it
-
protect the Antarctic environment
-
understand the role of Antarctica in the global climate system
-
undertake scientific work of practical, economic and national significance.
The AAD also has responsibility for administering the Australian Antarctic Territory and the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands.
The Assets and Technology (A&T) Branch provides and maintains the equipment and infrastructure to support the AAP. A&T Branch activities range from the maintenance of existing Antarctic stations and equipment through to the design, manufacture, testing, operation and procurement of advanced scientific equipment and systems. The Branch manages major infrastructure projects in support of AAP outcomes.
The AAD Mechanical Workshop provides equipment maintenance and refurbishment, technical support and training services to support the Australian Antarctic program.
For more information about us please visit our website.
The job
The Mechanical Workshop Manager provides senior leadership, technical oversight and operational coordination for Mechanical Workshop Services (MWS), ensuring safe, reliable and fit-for-purpose mechanical assets that support the Australian Antarctic Program.
Key Duties Leadership & Workforce Management:
- Lead and develop a multidisciplinary trades workforce, fostering a positive, collaborative, cohesive and safety-focused team culture.
-
Manage recruitment, onboarding and capability development for workshop staff.
-
Oversee maintenance, modification and lifecycle management of Hägglunds, LARC-V, refuelling systems and other specialised Antarctic assets.
-
Modify commercial off-the-shelf machinery for Antarctic use, including designing, documenting and risk-assessing mechanical modifications to ensure compliance, safety and operational suitability.
-
Manage maintenance planning, scheduling and reporting for all Mechanical Workshop activities.
-
Develop long-term strategies for workshop capability, asset lifecycle planning and specialised vehicle fleet support. Procurement, Inventory & Resource Management.
-
Lead procurement of specialist mechanical components, including hard-to-source rebuild items.
-
Manage inventory and resourcing to ensure availability of critical mechanical parts for domestic and Antarctic operations.
-
Lead disciplined financial management of labour, materials and project costs, ensuring expenditure remains within budget and supports long term asset planning priorities. Project & Contract Coordination.
-
Plan and deliver Mechanical Workshop projects, ensuring effective prioritisation, risk management and completion.
-
Manage subcontractors such as auto-electrical and mechanical services during peak periods.
-
Provide responsive, customer-focused support to AAD sections, ensuring timely coordination of mechanical services and requests. Safety, Compliance & Risk Management.
-
Promote safe systems of work and lead risk identification and mitigation across workshop activities.
-
Conduct incident and equipment failure investigations and ensure corrective actions are completed.
-
Ensure strict WHS compliance through effective risk management, safe work practices, and adherence to WHS regulations and relevant codes of practice.
What you’ll gain from the experience
This role provides a unique opportunity to work with highly specialised Antarctic vehicles and equipment, including Hägglunds BV206, LARCV amphibious vehicles and bespoke over water refuelling systems. You will gain experience maintaining and modifying unsupported and legacy assets in extreme environments, develop innovative engineering solutions, and contribute to the long-term capability of a nationally significant program.
What we are looking for
We are seeking candidates who can demonstrate the following:
Knowledge and experience
- Extensive experience managing diverse trades teams in a mechanical workshop environment, including coordinating diesel fitters, boilermakers, fitters & turners, fibreglass technicians and apprentices.
-
Strong trade knowledge and practical understanding of mechanical systems, heavy plant, specialised vehicles and workshop practices.
-
Familiarity with maintenance planning practices and compliance requirements, including asset lifecycle and maintenance governance frameworks.
-
Commitment to modern workshop safety, including WHS principles, risk mitigation, safe systems of work and incident management.
-
Experience modifying or adapting commercial off-the-shelf equipment, including documenting work and conducting safety and risk assessments.
-
Experience with procurement processes, including tender development, evaluation and contract engagement for specialised goods and services
Skills and capabilities
- Ability to lead and coordinate multidisciplinary workshop teams to deliver safe, efficient and high-quality mechanical maintenance and equipment outcomes.
-
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey instructions, technical requirements and operational expectations to trades staff, technical specialists and non-technical stakeholders.
-
Well-developed planning, organisational and analytical skills, including problem-solving, investigation, evaluation and report writing.
-
Ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines and apply sound judgement in dynamic operational environments.
Mandatory qualifications
- Must hold a valid, trade certificate (Certificate III or higher) relevant to the role.
Eligibility and other requirements
Citizenship - to be eligible for employment with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water you must be an Australian citizen.
Mandatory qualifications – your suitability for employment will be dependent on you holding relevant mandatory qualifications.
Pre-employment checks - your suitability for employment will be assessed through a pre-employment screening process. This process includes a requirement to undergo and satisfy a National Police Check, referee checks, character clearance and where required a pre-employment medical assessment, specified mandatory qualification(s) validation and a probation period.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in recruitment
You may use AI tools to support your participation in this recruitment process, unless advised otherwise. If you use AI, you must ensure your use is transparent, authentic and truthful, and that all information reflects your own skills and experience.
The department may use AI in a limited, transparent and responsible way to support parts of this recruitment process. AI does not make decisions - all assessments and selection outcomes are made by people.
For more information, see:
- Artificial Intelligence Transparency Statement
-
AI in recruitment | Australian Public Service Commission
