Specialist Plant Operator - Civil Construction

Contract Type: Full Time, 38 hours per week - 9 day Fortnight

Salary Range: Grade 8-9 ($1300.36 - $1508.02 per week + 12% Super & $8,000 Retention Bonus*)

Application Deadline: 5:00pm, Monday 9 November 2026

Open Current Horizons – Your Career, Your Community

At Gunnedah Shire Council, we create opportunities for you to Open New Horizons – in your career, within your community and for your future.

Whether you are starting your career journey, developing new skills, or taking the next step professionally, we provide a supportive environment where you can grow, contribute, and make a meaningful impact.

We are committed to fostering a workplace where employees feel valued, connected and empowered to succeed – but also understand the importance of your personal wellbeing and your life outside of work.

Gunnedah Shire Council is committed to recognising, rewarding, and supporting our people through a range of benefits and opportunities designed to help employees open new horizons in their career, community, and lifestyle.

Are you skilled in plant operations? Do you have experience with GPS guided machinery?

Gunnedah Shire Council is seeking a number of Specialist Plant Operators to join our Works team as Advanced and Versatile Operators.

- Looking for a tree change? Enjoy a rural community lifestyle
- Fantastic opportunity to advance your career in a vibrant local community
- Receive an attractive salary, 9 day fortnights and enjoy the many perks of work for your local community

Reporting to the Coordinator Construction/Maintenance, you will be responsible for operating various construction and maintenance machinery,



assisting in infrastructure projects, and ensuring the upkeep of public facilities and spaces.

- Key Responsibilities for this role include:
- Operate and maintain assigned complex plant effectively, safely and in accordance with standing operating procedures.
- Ensure compliance with Council’s WHS policies and with legislative requirements or regulations.
- Accurately perform general road maintenance operational works required to construct, repair, maintain Council’s infrastructure. This would typically include but not be limited to; the operation of small plant and hand tools, performing traffic control duties and applying basic engineering principles, systems and processes.
- Quality check work and identify and remediate defects.
- Supervise staff where delegated by the Team Leader.
- Work constructively and cooperatively with other members of the department to complete work programs in accordance with agreed timeframes and standards.
- Apply WHS and risk management systems in accordance with Council’s policies and procedures.
- Complete assigned administrative tasks accurately in accordance with Council’s policies and procedures.
- Maintain required qualifications essential for the position and undertake agreed training to meet the positions desired skill level.




- Participate in on-call duties as required.

To read the full position description, please click on the following:

Advanced Operator

Versatile Operator

What You’ll Bring to the Team

To be eligible for an Advanced or Versatile Operator role you will need at minimum a Cert 3/Cert 4 qualification in Civil Construction, or willingness to undertake with 5+ years of direct work experience.

Other key requirements for the positions are as follows:

Advanced Operators:

- Cert 4 in Civil Construction or a similar field, or willingness to undertake with 5+ years of direct work experience.

- - Experience in GPS guided grader operation and other plant.
- - HC class driver's licence highly desired
- - All essential requirements of a Versatile Operator
- - PWZ ticket highly desired

Versatile Operator:

- Cert 3 in Civil Construction or a similar field, or willingness to undertake with 5+ years of direct work experience.

- - Highly competent in operating 3 or more of the following items of plant – Grader, Excavator, HR/MR/HC Truck, Backhoe, Jet Patcher, Dozer, Stabiliser/Mixer, Loader.
- - HC class driver's licence highly desired
- - PWZ ticket highly desired

No candidate will meet every single desired qualification or skill. If your experience looks a little different from what we have identified and you think you can bring value to the role, we would love to learn more about you

Why Join Gunnedah Shire Council?

Working at Gunnedah Shire Council offers a range of benefits, some of which include:

- Accrue a Rostered Day Off (RDO) every 2 weeks, helping you manage the work-life balance
- Eligib

📌 Specialist Plant Operator (Gunnedah)
🏢 Gunnedah Shire Council
📍 Gunnedah