Heavy Diesel / Plant Mechanic - Fleet Manager
Full time PositionNewcastle / Lake Macquarie
The Role
We are seeking an experienced and highly capable Heavy Diesel / Plant Mechanic to take primary responsibility for the hands-on servicing, maintenance, fault diagnosis and repair of our extensive fleet of trucks, vehicles and specialist plant.
This is first and foremost a hands-on mechanic position.
We need someone who enjoys working on machinery, diagnosing problems, carrying out repairs and keeping equipment operating reliably.
The successful applicant will work from our existing workshop and build on the mechanical capabilities, tooling and maintenance systems we already have in place.
Over time, the position will develop into a broader Fleet Manager role, with responsibility for preventative maintenance planning, workshop systems, parts management, external repairs, maintenance expenditure and fleet replacement planning.
The objective is to progressively complete more servicing and repairs internally, reduce our reliance on third-party mechanics and improve the reliability and availability of our equipment.
Our Fleet
The successful applicant will work across a diverse fleet including:
Vehicles
11 utes and light vehicles
15 trucks including tippers and specialist arboricultural vehicles
Wood Chippers
10 Bandit wood chippers
Stump Grinders
4 Rayco stump grinders
2 Vermeer stump grinders
Loaders
1 Vermeer compact utility loader
2 Avant articulated loaders
Excavators
1.8t Eurocomach excavator
5.5t Kobelco excavator
9t Kobelco excavator
Rock breaker and attachments
Other Plant
Elevated work platforms
Professional chainsaws
Trailers
Hydraulic attachments
Small engines
Pumps, generators and associated plant
Primary Responsibility - Hands-On Mechanical Work
The initial focus of this position will be approximately *****% hands-on mechanical work.
Day-to-day duties will include:
Routine servicing of trucks, vehicles and plant
Preventative maintenance
Diesel engine diagnostics and repairs
Mechanical fault finding
Hydraulic fault diagnosis and repairs
Electrical fault diagnosis
Brake and suspension repairs
Cooling system repairs
Driveline repairs and maintenance
Bearings, belts, hoses and component replacement
Chipper servicing and repairs
Stump grinder servicing and repairs
Loader and excavator servicing and repairs
EWP maintenance and repairs within the person's competency
Trailer servicing and repairs
Minor welding and fabrication where competent
Breakdown diagnosis and repairs
Field repairs where practical
Pre-start defect investigation and rectification
Preparing equipment for scheduled inspections and compliance requirements
A major focus will be identifying and repairing issues before they become expensive breakdowns or result in equipment being unavailable for work.




Preventative Maintenance
The mechanic will take ownership of ensuring the fleet is properly maintained rather than relying predominantly on reactive repairs.
This will include:
Scheduling services by kilometres and engine hours
Reviewing operator pre-start reports
Identifying developing mechanical issues
Planning maintenance around operational requirements
Establishing preventative replacement intervals
Greasing and lubrication schedules
Hydraulic hose inspections
Chipper knife and wear-component management
Tyre and brake monitoring
Maintaining service histories
Recording defects and completed repairs
Planning upcoming major maintenance
Existing Workshop
The successful applicant will work from and build on our existing workshop and current mechanical capabilities.
We already have workshop facilities, tooling and established maintenance practices in place.
We want the successful applicant to progressively improve these capabilities by:
Identifying additional tooling required
Improving workshop organisation
Introducing additional diagnostic equipment
Improving parts and consumables storage
Maintaining stocks of critical filters, oils, bearings, belts, hydraulic fittings and common components
Improving service records
Developing maintenance schedules
Increasing the range of repairs that can efficiently be completed internally
Developing hydraulic repair capability where appropriate
Improving workshop safety and housekeeping
This is not a role where someone is expected to build a workshop from nothing.
We are looking for an experienced mechanic who can take what we already have and progressively make it better.
External Repairs
The objective is not to eliminate external mechanics completely.
Specialist repairs, warranty work, major engine or transmission work and work requiring specialist equipment may continue to be outsourced.
The successful applicant will help determine:
Can we fix it ourselves?
Should we fix it ourselves?
Or is it more economical to send it to a specialist?
Over time, we expect the amount of routine servicing and mechanical repair completed internally to increase substantially.
Development into Fleet Manager
As the successful applicant becomes familiar with the fleet, the position will progressively include greater Fleet Manager responsibility.
This may include:
Fleet maintenance planning
Maintenance budgets
Monitoring external repair expenditure
Reviewing repair quotations




Parts purchasing
Supplier relationships
Equipment service histories
Fleet condition reporting
Repair-versus-replace recommendations
Equipment lifecycle planning
Identifying unreliable or high-cost equipment
Providing input into recent plant purchases
Forecasting upcoming major repairs and expenditure
The successful applicant may eventually supervise an apprentice, trade assistant or additional mechanic as the internal workshop develops.
However, this will remain a hands-on mechanical position rather than becoming a purely administrative Fleet Manager role.
Essential Requirements
Qualified Heavy Diesel Mechanic, Plant Mechanic or equivalent trade qualification
Solid hands-on mechanical experience
Diesel engine experience
Experience maintaining heavy vehicles and/or construction plant
Strong mechanical diagnostic skills
Hydraulic experience
Ability to work independently
Strong preventative maintenance mindset
Current driver's licence
Ability to maintain accurate maintenance records
Strong understanding of workshop and plant safety
Highly Desirable
Heavy vehicle licence
Experience maintaining wood chippers and specialist plant
Excavator and loader experience
Hydraulic hose and fitting experience
Auto-electrical diagnostic capability
Welding and fabrication skills
EWP experience
Small-engine experience
Experience maintaining a mixed commercial fleet
Previous workshop or fleet management responsibility
Experience specifically with Bandit, Vermeer, Rayco, Avant, Kobelco or Eurocomach equipment would be highly regarded but is not essential.
The Person We're Looking For
We are looking for someone who takes pride in their mechanical work and treats the fleet as though it were their own.
Someone who sees an oil leak, worn hose, unusual noise or developing problem and deals with it before the machine fails on site.
We want someone who can work independently, prioritise repairs around operational requirements and communicate clearly with operators and management.
This position would suit an experienced mechanic looking for long-term ownership and responsibility for a substantial fleet, while still spending the majority of their time working hands-on with machinery.
What We Offer
Permanent full-time position
$120,000-$145,000 + super, depending on experience and capability
Established workshop and existing tooling
Large and varied fleet
Opportunity to further develop the workshop
Significant autonomy
Long-term stable position
Opportunity to progress into Fleet Manager responsibility
Potential to build an internal mechanical team around the position
If you're an experienced diesel or plant mechanic who wants to take ownership of a fleet rather than just being handed the next job card, we'd like to hear from you.

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