• Newly created national leadership role
• Based in Melb, Syd or Bne
• Drive enterprise-wide uplift
• Reshape a national engineering capability

About the opportunity 
This is a newly created national leadership role for an engineering executive who thrives in transformation environments. 
Our client is reshaping how engineering, asset management and capital projects are led across a large, fixed plant, multi-site operation. The mandate is to move from fragmented, reactive practices to a disciplined, reliable and compliant national operating model. 
You will set the direction for engineering strategy, asset performance and capital delivery nationally. This is not a role inheriting a mature function. It is about building structure, standards and confidence where they are still evolving. 

Success will be defined by improved reliability, stronger compliance, reduced operational risk and consistent performance of critical infrastructure. You will partner closely with operational and executive leaders to ensure engineering is a trusted enabler of safety, continuity and growth.  This role combines strategic leadership with practical execution. You will build and lead a capable national team, establish clear governance and standards, and ensure engineering decisions are commercially sound, visible and trusted. 
  
About you 
You are a senior engineering leader from asset intensive, multi-site environments such as manufacturing, industrials, energy, resources, utilities, infrastructure or similarly complex operations. You have led transformation, not just managed steady state. You are comfortable setting direction in ambiguous environments and building capability from first principles. You bring strong credibility across engineering governance, asset lifecycle management, reliability frameworks and capital project oversight. Just as importantly, you can translate technical complexity into clear, commercial decisions for non-technical stakeholders. Your leadership style is calm, disciplined and outcomes focused. You hold high standards, lead by example and know how to bring teams with you through change. You define success by results. Safer plant. Stronger compliance. Higher uptime. Disciplined investment. Teams that trust the systems they operate within. 

Role can be based in Melbourne (preference), Sydney, or Brisbane for the right candidate, providing you are happy to travel as required.  
 
What’s on offer 
This is a mandate-rich leadership role with real scale and visibility, offering the opportunity to design a national engineering function rather than inherit a fixed model. You will partner closely with an engaged executive team that is committed to long-term capability uplift and investment.  The environment rewards leaders who take ownership, think nationally and act pragmatically. You will work across varied plant types and technologies, influence major capital decisions, and see the tangible results of your leadership in safer, more reliable operations. 
On offer is a strong salary package, change to influence your own role design, and strong career progression opportunities within this high growth ASX100 leader.   
 
You must have unrestriced working rights in Australia to apply. 
 
As part of the recruitment process, reference checks will be conducted, with two recent references from direct line managers being mandatory. In addition, employers may require other pre-employment checks at their discretion, which can include medical, police, or psychometric assessments depending on the specific requirements of the role.  For further information please apply via the role advert or contact Sarah Layer or Tiffany Cording with any specific questions: tiffanyc@areteexecutive.com.au or 0450 277 192.   
  
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