Southern Ports operates the gateway ports of Albany, Bunbury, and Esperance, connecting regional WA to global markets. We focus on safe, productive, and sustainable port operations, delivering value to our customers and communities. With a strong commitment to our people, we’re building a diverse, high-performing workforce to support the future of regional trade.

Benefits of Joining Southern Ports

Joining Southern Ports Authority comes with numerous benefits that cater to a wide range of professional and personal needs, some examples being:

Flexible Working Arrangements: Enjoy a work-life balance that suits your lifestyle and personal commitments.

Annual Health and Well-being Benefits: Take advantage of programs and resources aimed at maintaining your physical and mental health.

Salary Sacrificing Options: Maximise your take-home pay through tailored salary packaging arrangements such as Novated Car Leasing and Superannuation

Opportunity to Travel: Experience different geographical regions in Western Australia, enhancing your professional and personal growth.

Generous Purchase Leave Options: Gain additional leave options to suit your personal needs and preferences.

The Role

Join Southern Ports as our Trade and Business Development Manager and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of trade across the Ports of Albany, Bunbury and Esperance. This senior leadership opportunity is ideal for a commercially driven professional who can identify trade growth opportunities, build strong customer and stakeholder relationships, and lead the strategic management of trade, property and regulatory licensing. You'll drive sustainable revenue growth, optimise commercial outcomes, ensure regulatory compliance, and help deliver long-term value for Southern Ports and the communities we serve.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Lead the Trade, Property and Regulatory Licensing functions, fostering a high-performing, customer-focused team and driving continuous improvement.

Build and maintain strong relationships with customers, industry partners and stakeholders to identify growth opportunities and deliver commercial value.

Negotiate and manage commercial contracts, leases, licences and port service agreements, ensuring effective governance and compliance.

Provide strategic oversight of Southern Ports' property portfolio, including land, leased assets and port waters, to maximise commercial outcomes.

Analyse market trends, customer insights and commercial performance to support pricing, business cases, asset utilisation and sustainable revenue growth.

Collaborate across the business to manage commercial risk,



ensure regulatory compliance and deliver strategic trade, property and licensing initiatives.

Required

Relevant tertiary qualification in Business, Commerce, Law or a related discipline.

Extensive senior commercial management experience, including negotiating, managing and administering complex commercial agreements.

Demonstrated experience in stakeholder engagement, commercial analysis, due diligence and delivering commercially sound outcomes.

Strong knowledge of property and lease management, relevant legislation, governance and commercial best practice.

Excellent negotiation, communication and relationship management skills, with strong financial and analytical capability.

Preferred

Experience leading commercial functions through significant organisational change or business transformation.

Strong financial and commercial acumen, with experience in property portfolio optimisation and strategic asset management.

Experience within the ports, shipping, transport or broader logistics sectors.

Knowledge of best-practice contract and property management systems and processes.

Understanding of regional export commodities, particularly grain, woodchip and mineral products, and the State Government environment in which Government Trading Enterprises operate.

Requirements

To be eligible for this role, applicants must reside either Perth, Bunbury, Albany or Esperance and provide proof of Australian citizenship or permanent residency.

The successful applicant must:

- Have a current Western Australian driver’s licence
- Be able to obtain and maintain a Maritime Security Identification Card
- Pass a pre-employment medical assessment including drug and alcohol testing
- Provide a National Police Certificate that is within a 6-month period.

Southern Ports is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and does not discriminate against race, gender, age, religion, sexual preference or disability. We encourage applications from all culturally diverse backgrounds, Indigenous Australians and Non-Indigenous Australians. Southern Ports is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and impartial workplace with equal opportunities for all employees.

Applications close: COB 17 August 2026





We reserve the right to commence the recruitment process during the application period.

Your application will include the following questions:

- Which of the following statements best describes your right to work in Australia?
- Do you have a current Police Check (National Police Certificate) for employment?
- Are you willing to undergo a pre-employment medical check?
- Do you have a current Australian driver's licence?

Logistics, Freight & Delivery Services 101-1,000 employees

The Southern Ports Authority was established on the 1st of October 2014 following the merger of the Albany Port Authority, Bunbury Port Authority, and Esperance Port Authority.

The legislation enabling the merger of the ports, The Ports Legislation Amendment Act 2014, was given Royal Assent on 20 May 2014.

The merger of the previous three port authorities was initiated by a comprehensive review of Western Australia’s ports commissioned in 2010. The scope of the review was to look at all matters concerning port operations, port governance and port performance to ensure that Western Australia’s ports could continue to respond to the demands of the State’s rapidly growing economy.

The Southern Ports Authority was established on the 1st of October 2014 following the merger of the Albany Port Authority, Bunbury Port Authority, and Esperance Port Authority.

The legislation enabling the merger of the ports, The Ports Legislation Amendment Act 2014, was given Royal Assent on 20 May 2014.

The merger of the previous three port authorities was initiated by a comprehensive review of Western Australia’s ports commissioned in 2010. The scope of the review was to look at all matters concerning port operations, port governance and port performance to ensure that Western Australia’s ports could continue to respond to the demands of the State’s rapidly growing economy.

The Southern Ports Authority was established on the 1st of October 2014 following the merger of the Albany Port Authority, Bunbury Port Authority, and Esperance Port Authority.

The legislation enabling the merger of the ports, The Ports Legislation Amendment Act 2014, was given Royal Assent on 20 May 2014.

The merger of the previous three port authorities was initiated by a comprehensive review of Western Australia’s ports commissioned in 2010. The scope of the review was to look at all matters concerning port operations, port governance and port performance to ensure that Western Australia’s ports could continue to respond to the demands of the State’s rapidly growing economy.

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📌 Trade and Business Development Manager (Western Australia)
🏢 @
📍 Western Australia