The Head of Trade Operations is a senior executive role responsible for the strategic leadership and operational performance of a commercial builder’s entire trade group. Spanning all three business divisions — Reactive Maintenance, Minor Works, and Construction — and operating across both the Perth Metropolitan and South West WA regions, this role is the single point of accountability for how the companies trade resource is managed, developed, and deployed.

Reporting directly to the General Manager and sitting on the Leadership Team, the Head of Trade Operations translates the company’s strategic objectives into trade-level operational reality. The role has direct line accountability for three Trade Resource Managers (Reactive, Minor Works, and South West) and the Cabinetry Manager, and works in close partnership with the Operations Manager, Construction Manager, and South West Operations Manager to ensure the trade group operates as a high-performing, integrated capability rather than a siloed cost centre.

A core remit of this role is to drive trade utilisation, charge-out recovery performance, and the development of trade teams capable of delivering complex Minor Works and Construction projects that competitors avoid. The position carries a clear pathway to full P&L; ownership as the trade group matures its performance reporting and cost centre discipline.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Planning

- Participate actively in Leadership Team and strategic planning forums, representing the trade group’s capability, constraints, and opportunities.
- Translate company strategic objectives into clear operational plans for the trade group and ensure consistent implementation by Trade Resource Managers.
- Identify structural or capability gaps in the trade group and develop solutions that align resourcing with divisional growth targets.
- Contribute to organisational structure reviews, including trade team portfolio design, leading hand development, and cross-divisional trade flow.
- Assist in tender preparation and business development activities where trade capability is a differentiator.

Trade Operations & Performance

- Own the day-to-day operational performance of the trade group across all divisions and regions.
- Lead, coach, and develop Trade Resource Managers deliver consistent resourcing outcomes aligned to client requirements and sales targets.
- Monitor and analyse trade KPIs including trade utilisation, quoted vs actual hours,



JLP, charge-out recovery rate, and trade hours by division (MW, Reactive, Construction).
- Identify operational risks and opportunities; escalate critical items to the General Manager with recommended solutions.
- Facilitate effective communication and coordination between trade teams and client-facing teams (Client Operations Supervisors, Project Managers).
- Ensure labour allocation plans are maintained and responsive to fluctuating work volumes across divisions.

Financial Accountability

- Maintain accountability for charge-out recovery rates across the trade group, with a clear expectation of progression toward full P&L; ownership.
- Drive cost centre accuracy across all trade areas to enable accurate reporting and performance visibility.
- Contribute to the development of the maintenance and trade operations budget.
- Monitor entry vs actual margin performance and identify corrective action where recovery is below target.
- Provide timely and accurate operational reports to the General Manager to support decision making and continuous improvement.

People Leadership & Culture

- Build and sustain a high-performance, positive team culture across the trade group, consistent with the companies values of being Reliable, Honest, and Respectful.
- Implement and oversee the performance management framework across trade teams, including structured reviews, development planning, and performance improvement where required.
- Drive employee retention through identifying growth pathways, mentoring trade supervisors and leading hands, and fostering a culture of accountability and empowerment.
- Lead recruitment, onboarding, and HR lifecycle management for trade team members in partnership with the WHS & HR Administrator.
- Prepare for and lead toolbox talks that reinforce strategic objectives, quality standards, and safety expectations.

Health, Safety & Compliance

- Actively champion a positive safety culture across all trade teams and divisions.
- Lead implementation of and compliance with WHS policies, procedures, and Integrated Management System (IMS).




- Ensure all trade works are carried out in accordance with relevant building codes, regulations, and licensing requirements.
- Ensure PPE requirements, licensing, and Working at Heights/Confined Space compliance is maintained across all relevant trade workers.
- Report and respond to hazards, near misses, incidents, and accidents in accordance with company safety protocols.

Quality & Continuous Improvement

- Define and embed quality standards at the trade level for both Reactive Maintenance and Minor Works, translating expectations into measurable outcomes.
- Implement KPI reporting frameworks and drive a culture of data-informed decision making within the trade group.
- Contribute to systems suitability reviews, including job management platforms (SimPro), to ensure operational tools support current and future work types.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives that improve efficiency, reduce defects, and increase client satisfaction across trade delivery.

About You:

Leadership & Commercial

- Proven senior leadership experience, with the ability to lead and develop teams through managers.
- Strong commercial acumen, including an understanding of P&L;, margins, charge-out rates and cost recovery.
- Strategic thinker with the ability to translate business objectives into operational outcomes.
- High emotional intelligence, with strong communication, relationship-building and conflict resolution skills.
- Confident communicator, able to engage with everyone from tradespeople through to senior leadership and the board.

Operational & Technical

- Solid understanding of commercial building services operations.
- Experience managing multi-trade, multi-site workforces and resource allocation.
- Competent in developing, monitoring and reporting on KPIs and operational performance.
- Experience using SimPro or equivalent job management platforms.
- Advanced Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel.
- Sound understanding of WA WHS legislation, building codes and compliance requirements.

What's on offer?

- Strong support and career progression.
- Niche senior leadership role requiring a combination of trade operations, commercial management and strategic leadership experience.
- Tools of the trade (car, laptop, phone)
- Salary up to $160k + super etc.

If you are interested in this role and are looking to take the next step in your career, please reach out!

📌 Trade Operations Manager (Perth)
🏢 The Technical and Engineering Network
📍 Perth