Job Description

We are working with one of Queensland's most abundant agricultural resources to develop a first-of-a-kind Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) & Renewable Diesel (RD) project, converting sugarcane tops-and-trash into SAF and RD through thermal gasification and Fischer-Tropsch technology.

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The ambition is significant: to take an agricultural waste stream that has historically had limited value and turn it into a commercially viable source of biofuel - creating a new value chain for Queensland agriculture while contributing to Australia's biofuels future.

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We are looking for the person who can drive this ambition into reality at the project level.

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The Opportunity

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Reporting directly to the Founder and CEO, you will own the project's development and delivery, working with a small team of highly experienced professionals and a network of technical, commercial, and delivery partners of the highest calibre.

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Your immediate focus will be to progress the Queensland SAF/RD project through PDP, pre-FEED and FEED; working with technology partners and EPC, leading to Final Investment Decision (FID) in early 2029, while also supporting the development of further projects across the Australian business.

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This is nothing less than ahands-on Project Director role with clearly measurable success.

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You will understand the details, challenge assumptions, connect the technical and commercial pieces, and keep multiple parties moving in the same direction to ensure on-time and seamless delivery.

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You will work across:

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- Project development, feasibility, design, and delivery
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- Project planning, scheduling, budgets, and cost control
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- Technical and commercial risk assessment and mitigation
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- Technology suppliers, OEMs, package suppliers, and EPC contractors
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- Engineering, technical, and environmental scope development
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- Commercial modelling and project assumptions
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- EPC, supplier, and construction contracts
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- Variations, negotiations, and commercial issues
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- Steering Committee and executive-level reporting
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- Site inspections, project assurance, and safety
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- Multiple projects and geographically dispersed stakeholders
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Who are we looking for?

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We are looking for a proven project delivery professional, rather than someone whose experience is limited to one particular renewable technology.

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You will ideally have:

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- 20+ years' experience across complex project management and delivery
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- A tertiary engineering qualification — preferably Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical or Process.
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- A strong track record taking complex projects from development through design, delivery, and ultimately financial close/FID
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- Significant experience managing EPC/EPCM contractors, consultants, suppliers, and multiple project stakeholders
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- Strong understanding of technical risk, commercial considerations, and project economics
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- Demonstrated experience managing budgets, schedules, contracts, and project controls
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- The ability to understand technology and translate technical issues into practical commercial decisions
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- Strong working knowledge of project scheduling tools, including Microsoft Project and Gantt-based planning
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- Experience across power generation, gas, process engineering, emissions control, heat exchangers, and/or steam systems will be highly regarded
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- Commercial nous and the confidence to challenge, negotiate and make decisions
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- The ability to manage multiple workstreams without losing momentum or attention to detail
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Experience in bioenergy, SAF, Renewable Diesel, gasification, Fischer-Tropsch, waste-to-energy or other complex process projects would be particularly valuable.

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However, we are deliberately not limiting this opportunity to one sector.

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If you have delivered technically complex,



capital-intensive projects and have the curiosity and commercial mindset to learn a new technology and industry, we want to hear from you.

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More than a Project Director

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You will need to be a doer, someone who leads from the front.

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Someone who doesn't wait for perfect conditions, perfect information, or someone else to solve the problem.

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You will be curious. Commercial. Practical. Collaborative.

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You'll be comfortable working both inside and outside the box, working through the detail, joining the dots, and finding a way forward.

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You will understand that major projects rarely travel in a straight line, and you'll have the resilience and judgement to keep moving them forward.

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Most importantly, you'll enjoy the challenge of building something new.

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The opportunity behind the opportunity

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This organisation is at an exciting point in its growth through energy and persistence.

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The SAF project will establish a recent pathway for agricultural waste in Queensland and create significant opportunities beyond the initial project.

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You will work closely with the Founder and Managing Director and have genuine influence over how these projects are developed, structured, and ultimately delivered.

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The remuneration package reflects the opportunity's entrepreneurial nature.

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On offer is base salary + superannuation + performance bonus, complemented by a meaningful equity/shareholding opportunity.

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For the right person, the equity component is designed to provide significant upside and is an important part of the overall proposition.

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This is therefore an opportunity that may particularly appeal to an experienced project leader who is prepared to be part of a core team in building tremendous shareholder value, rather than simply comparing base salary against their current package.

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Additional information

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- Sustainable Aviation Fuel, Renewable Diesel
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- Brisbane or Townsville location
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- Build something that is first-of-a-kind and highly scalable
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📌 Project Director (Queensland)
🏢 Onten
📍 Queensland