Workshop Manager – Mechanic & Freight
Tjuntjuntjara is a small, remote Aboriginal community located on the Spinifex Lands in the Western Desert region of Western Australia. Within this area, Paupiyala Tjarutja Aboriginal Corporation (PTAC) is an Aboriginal corporation with responsibility for managing the essential and community services in the community. This includes, but is not limited to, the Community Store, Community Resource Centre, a Women’s Centre, an Environmental Health program, municipal services (airstrip, tip, road maintenance, water, power, sewerage), mechanics workshop, and Spinifex Health Service’s (including Youth and Home and Community Care programs). Tjuntjuntjara is the main population Centre for the Spinifex Lands, over 55,000 sq. kms of Native Title area in the Great Victoria Desert region of Western Australia.
Role
Paupiyala Tjarutja Aboriginal Corporation (PTAC) is seeking an experienced Workshop Manager & Diesel Mechanic to lead our mechanical workshop and maintain the vehicles, heavy equipment and essential plant that keep the remote community of Tjuntjuntjara running. This is far more than a mechanic role. You’ll be responsible for managing a busy workshop operation, maintaining critical community infrastructure assets, mentoring local staff, and contributing to the wellbeing and sustainability of one of Australia’s most remote Aboriginal communities.
Reporting to the Municipal Services Operations Manager, you will oversee the day-to-day operation of the workshop while providing high-quality mechanical services across a diverse fleet including:
- Heavy commercial vehicles
- Earthmoving equipment
- Agricultural machinery
- Light vehicles
- Essential service infrastructure equipment
- Emergency and firefighting vehicles
As Workshop Manager, you will also oversee workshop administration, parts management, customer service, staff supervision, budgeting support, and business operations.
Workshop & Mechanical Services
- Manage the workshop’s daily operations and assets.
- Diagnose, service and repair vehicles, heavy equipment and machinery
- Implement preventative maintenance programs
- Coordinate parts procurement, inventory and sales
- Maintain accurate job cards, servicing records and repair documentation
- Support emergency breakdowns and after-hours callouts when required
- Provide technical advice on fleet and equipment purchases
- Ensure workshop equipment and tools are maintained to a high standard
Leadership & People Management
- Lead and support workshop staff and trainees
- Mentor and develop local Aboriginal employees
- Foster a safe, respectful and inclusive workplace
Business & Customer Service
- Maintain workshop profitability through effective management of repairs, servicing and parts sales
- Prepare estimates and support budget monitoring
- Build positive relationships with community members, suppliers and contractors
- Represent the workshop at management meetings
- Promote excellent customer service and culturally safe practices
The ideal candidate will have:
- Trade qualification in Diesel Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering or equivalent
- Minimum 5 years’ experience as a qualified diesel mechanic
- Previous workshop, business or operational management experience
- Strong experience servicing and repairing heavy vehicles and plant
- Experience managing workshop assets, parts and inventory
- Knowledge of mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic systems
- Proven ability to diagnose faults and use vehicle diagnostic systems
- Strong leadership and people management skills
- Ability to work independently in a remote environment
- Heavy Rigid (HR) driver’s licence
- Current manual driver’s licence
- Excellent problem-solving and organisational skills
- Understanding of and respect for Aboriginal culture and communities
- Willingness to participate in emergency callouts when required
Before an offer of employment can be made PTAC requires a National Police Clearance, not older than 6 months.
Document
Apply for this job
Before you apply:
- Selection Criteria must be addressed (if applicable).
- Ensure that you have included the contact details of at least 3 employment-related referees.
Eligibility:
- You must be an Australian resident with full working rights.
OK, with that out of the way…..
