Operations Manager | Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council

Operations Manager

• Report to the CEO | Live and Work in Beautiful Wujal Wujal
• Career Development Opportunity | 3-year Contract
• Up to $140K + Super + 5 weeks’ Leave + House + Relocation Assistance

This is no ordinary role! Provide strong leadership | Drive infrastructure projects | Connect with the community across this beautiful region

The Organisation

The Wujal Wujal community is in the Cape York region on the banks of the Bloomfield River and is surrounded by high mountains, waterfalls, river tributaries and creeks. The area’s boundaries are the Cook Shire to the north and Douglas Shire to the south. It is located about 4 hours north of Cairns or 1 hour south of Cooktown by road. Wujal Wujal covers an area of 64 Hectares and the Shire has a tropical climate with both dry and wet seasons.

Located between two UNESCO World Heritage sites, Wujal Wujal is where the rainforest meets the reef – a haven for nature-lovers, photographers, and travellers. Population of the Wujal Wujal Community is approximately 280 people, and it is accessible by road via the coastal road across the Daintree River and by inland road. There is a private airstrip 20km from the Shire.

The Council plays an important role in the provision of essential services, infrastructure and housing and has a strong commitment to ensuring that all other services such as health, education, law and order, land management, employment and training are available and accessible to all members of the community. You will play a part in leading a vision which is strongly focussed on community engagement and building a healthy, connected, inclusive and ultimately, prosperous community. Council operating budget is approximately $9.5M with a staff base of 45 and is led by the Mayor and four Councillors.

The Position

Reporting to the CEO and with 4 direct reports and approximately 30 Staff plus contractors you will lead, manage, and control the operation of Council’s Project Management, Essential Services Parks and Gardens, Civil Services and Building Maintenance teams.

In this critically important role, the focus will be to bring in a ‘hands on’ style of leadership underpinned by a warm and engaging personality and the wisdom to deal with people from all walks of life and abilities up to the highest levels of Council.  Working with a broad cross section of staff you will ensure a 'whole of business' approach to integrating service delivery and ensure an innovative view of the Council’s long-term opportunities.

Your leadership skills will enable you to guide and support your team to execute maintenance, renewal, and civil construction activities across the Shire. Community engagement underpinned by process improvement will also assist you to ‘tell the story’ and manage resident expectations around what requests are achievable and realistic

The Candidate Briefing Document can be accessed HERE

About You

With qualifications in Engineering and/or Project Management or similar, you are renowned for your natural leadership style and for being commercially savvy.  Your leadership capability will be underpinned by a solid and rigorous track record in delivering projects including the development of Council’s water and wastewater infrastructure as well as the passion and drive to add value and stretch the boundaries in both thinking and execution. Understandably, you have highly developed organisational skills including a demonstrated ability to effectively plan, program, organise and schedule a multitude of diverse tasks and projects. Preparing estimates and budgets, monitoring job and budget expenditure and activity reports to Council underpinned by strong IT skills are prerequisites.

This is a working environment and culture that is unique and offers a diversity of experiences both personally and professionally that would be hard to equal elsewhere.  You could be currently working in local government, state government, a consulting group or large infrastructure organisation.  If you genuinely want to realise your career aspirations, are prepared to roll up your sleeves, motivate the team, and bring a high level of energy and enthusiasm to the role, then this position is worth exploring further.

Why this Role?

The variety of work you will be involved in and the opportunity to work with different entities in State, Federal and other Councils will build your skills and experience to an extent not possible in larger organisations. You will also make great contacts within the Grants area as you work with Finance to ensure Council is across every feasible opportunity available to continue building the community.

The housing provided is in a setting that is unique compared to other communities and is in good condition. Wujal Wujal has an undulating topography which gives it character and with the river running along the bottom of the community it truly is a place of peace and tranquility. The magnificent Bloomfield Falls are walking distance from the Operation Manager’s house.

Relocation Assistance will be provided together with salary of up to $140K, 12% super and 5 weeks annual leave.

Before you apply for this position, please read the Candidate Briefing Document carefully to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position.  You will be required to answer a few questions that relate to the criteria on the online application below.  Please note that you cannot submit your application without attaching your resume.  A cover letter is not mandatory, but may be added if so desired. When uploading your Resume or documents please ensure file names should only include 'A-z', '0-9', '.' and '-' characters.

Position Details

PEAK Services is working in conjunction with Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council, exclusively on this position. We offer local government expertise across a wide range of professional fields, providing tailored solutions for councils and other similar organisations. We work with our clients to deliver meaningful outcomes in recruitment and contracting services. 

How to Apply

You will be required to answer a few questions that relate to the criteria on the online application below.  Please note that you cannot submit your application without attaching your resume.  A cover letter is not mandatory but may be added if so desired. When uploading your Resume or documents please ensure file names should only include 'A-z', '0-9', '.' and '-' characters.

Applications will close at 10pm on Monday 6th March 2023

PLEASE NOTE: Once you have commenced your application you cannot save and continue at a later stage. 

For a confidential conversation, please call Rona Horsfall - Principal Consultant at Peak Recruitment Services on 0438 943854.