We are partnering with a well-established industrial engineering business entering a significant growth phase in Australia. With a strong pipeline and a material uplift in project volume forecast over the next 12 months, the business is investing in a Senior Operations Manager to strengthen delivery execution and scale sustainably.
This is a high-impact leadership role suited to someone who thrives in complex, project-led environments and enjoys bringing structure, predictability and discipline to overlapping jobs.
The opportunity:
This organisation delivers engineered-to-order industrial solutions for blue-chip clients, including major mining operators and EPCs. Projects range from smaller equipment packages through to large, multi-discipline turnkey systems with rigorous contractual requirements.
The business is technically strong and commercially well positioned. The purpose of this hire is to lift execution maturity — improving planning, coordination, quality and customer communication as project volumes increase.
A unique element of this role is exposure to a multinational operating model, including collaboration with offshore engineering and delivery resources to support scale and cost efficiency. This is not about wholesale transformation — it's about practical, incremental improvement while keeping projects moving.
Key responsibilities:
* Own end-to-end delivery across multiple concurrent industrial projects, with accountability for schedule, margin, quality and risk
* Build stronger project planning and coordination to reduce late-stage "firefighting" and cost blowouts
* Lead customer-facing project communication including kick-off meetings, progress updates and escalation where required
* Strengthen QA outcomes and reduce defects that surface late on site and erode profitability
* Improve documentation control and deliverables tracking in a pragmatic, value-add way
* Integrate offshore and international engineering resources into delivery workflows with clear accountability and quality controls
* Lead a lean, experienced team through change while maintaining engagement and stability
* Partner closely with internal stakeholders across sales, finance and leadership to ensure delivery commitments are realistic and met
What we're looking for:
You may come from engineered-to-order equipment, heavy engineering, fabrication, mining services, process equipment or a similar project-driven industrial environment.
You will likely bring:
* Senior experience across operations, project delivery, engineering management or project management
* Proven success running multiple overlapping projects with commercial accountability
* Comfort operating under tight schedules and contract-driven environments
* Exposure to offshore or international delivery models, or experience within multinational organisations
* Strong commercial acumen including cost-to-complete thinking and early identification of delivery risk
* A practical mindset when improving systems and reporting — focused on outcomes, not bureaucracy
* Clear, confident communication skills, including the ability to manage expectations and deliver tough messages early
What's on offer:
* A rare opportunity to step into a delivery-critical leadership role during a high-growth phase
* Exposure to complex industrial projects and tier-one clients
* Genuine scope to shape how projects are delivered and scaled long-term
* Salary guide: $150k–$180k + super (final package dependent on experience)