Trades Team Leader

Lead a skilled trades team. Support critical water and wastewater assets. Drive continuous improvement across one of the South West's most important infrastructure networks.

At Water Corporation, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We are seeking a Trades Team Leader to lead a close-knit team based in Busselton, supporting a vast network of water and wastewater assets stretching from Augusta to Capel.

This is a hands-on leadership role where you will be responsible for leading people, coordinating planned and reactive maintenance activities, managing operational priorities, and ensuring the safe and reliable operation of critical electrical and mechanical assets.

If you are a confident people leader with a strong technical background and enjoy solving complex problems, we'd love to hear from you.

This is a permanent full-time opportunity based in Busselton.

About The Role

Reporting to the Operations Manager, you will lead a team of six field-based trades and operational employees responsible for maintaining and operating a diverse portfolio of assets including:

• Large sewer reticulation networks with mechanical and electrical infrastructure
• Four complex water treatment plants
• Four complex wastewater treatment plants
• Pump stations and associated operational assets across the Southwest region

You will balance planned maintenance activities with reactive operational demands while ensuring safety, service delivery, and customer outcomes remain front of mind.

This role is highly visible and requires regular travel between the depot and operational sites. A work vehicle will be provided and may be taken home.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead, coach and develop a team of tradespeople and operational employees
• Coordinate and prioritise planned and unplanned maintenance activities
• Support maintenance planning and scheduling across electrical and mechanical assets
• Manage contractors and service providers to achieve operational outcomes
• Oversee parts procurement and inventory requirements
• Investigate recurring operational issues and lead root cause analysis efforts
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across technical and administrative processes
• Contribute to long-term asset improvement opportunities and capital upgrade initiatives

About You

You are a logical, methodical problem-solver who enjoys leading people and bringing teams together to achieve outcomes.

You can confidently communicate with a wide range of stakeholders from field crews and contractors through to senior leaders and executives and executives, and have the ability to translate technical issues into practical solutions.

You Will Ideally Bring

• A trade qualification or strong technical background in mechanical, electrical or process operations
• Experience working within maintenance, utilities, industrial, manufacturing or similar asset-intensive environments
• Sound understanding of planned and reactive maintenance principles
• Ability to investigate complex operational issues and drive solutions
• Excellent communication and influencing skills
• A current and valid driver's licence (essential)

What Success Looks Like

In your first few months you will focus on:

• Building trust and relationships with the team
• Understanding the assets and operational environment
• Learning customer and stakeholder requirements
• Gaining a strong understanding of maintenance priorities and performance expectations

Within 1–2 Years You Will Be

• Driving continuous improvement initiatives across the business
• Delivering efficiencies in maintenance and operational processes
• Identifying opportunities to improve asset performance and reliability
• Supporting business cases and capital investment opportunities for future upgrades

Our Team Culture

This is a team that genuinely looks after one another.

The Busselton team prides itself on being open, honest and supportive.

People are encouraged to speak up, ask for help when needed, and work together to solve problems. You will join a collaborative leadership group where Team Leaders support each other and share resources and knowledge across the region.

Your leader takes a fair approach providing consistency, accountability and support while helping people grow in the areas that matter most to them.

If you are someone who likes to "walk the walk", lead from the front, and be actively involved with your people and projects, you will fit right in.

Real Benefits That Matter

• 9-day fortnight roster (RDO)
• Two well-being days each year to do whatever you need to do to feel good
• Access to long service leave pro rata after 3 years of service
• Take advantage of our co-contribution superannuation scheme. Receive a 12% employer contribution and enjoy an additional 2% employer co-contribution when you elect to salary sacrifice 2%.
• Purchase additional leave of up to 12 weeks or work 4 years at a reduced salary and take the fifth year off as paid leave
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural and ceremonial leave of up to 5 days so you can maintain your cultural connection and wellbeing.

Discover more benefits we offer to support the unique and individual ways our employees live.

Sound like a match? Apply today

If you are interested in the above opportunity, please submit a covering letter and resume that best demonstrates your skills and experience as well as your ability to meet the requirements of the role.

As part of the recruitment process you will be required to complete Pre-Employment screening which may include a medical, qualification check police clearance and Australian working rights check.

Applications close 11th August 2026

We reserve the right to withdraw this ad prior to the closing date.

Our Commitment To a Diverse And Inclusive Workplace

Diversity and inclusion are more than words. They guide us on building a thriving workforce that reflects the diversity of our customers and our community.

We encourage applications from every background, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, women, youth, LGBTQIA+ folks and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

We are committed to ensuring an accessible and inclusive work environment to enable people with disability to participate fully in all aspects of employment.

Applicants with disability who require adjustments during the recruitment process including an alternative format of the application form, can contact a Recruitment Officer at [email protected] or 08 9420 2000.

To read our diversity and inclusion statement, please visit our website