Operations Manager – Defence & Industrial Services

Lead people. Deliver projects. Drive operational performance.

Griffin Marine is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead the successful delivery of projects across our marine, defence, industrial and commercial operations.

This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who understands the realities of delivering complex projects, managing trades and subcontractors, controlling costs and maintaining strong relationships with clients.

You’ll work closely with our project teams and senior leadership to ensure projects are delivered safely, efficiently, on time and to the quality standards our clients expect.

About the Role:

Reporting to the State Manager NT, the role leads operational performance, project delivery, workforce planning, client relationships and HSEQ outcomes across a multidisciplinary operation.

You will provide clear leadership across concurrent projects and service activities, ensuring work is delivered safely, efficiently, on time and within budget.

The role is central to strengthening operational capability across the NT, improving productivity and commercial performance, developing our people and building scalable systems and processes to support continued growth.

This opportunity is suited to a high-performing senior operational or project leader ready to step into an Operations Manager role, or an established Operations Manager seeking a hands-on, growth-focused environment with leadership and genuine influence.

Experience across marine and HVAC environments will be particularly valuable, with exposure to defence, shipbuilding, sustainment, or complex industrial services highly regarded.

Key Responsibilities:

- Leading employees, trades and subcontractors across multiple concurrent projects and sites
- Overseeing project delivery from planning and mobilisation through to completion
- Monitoring project budgets, labour utilisation, costs, forecasting and overall financial performance
- Managing contracts, variations, scope changes and commercial requirements




- Collaborating closely with clients and key stakeholders to maintain strong relationships and resolve delivery issues
- Identifying and managing operational, commercial and project risks
- Supporting resource and workforce planning across current and upcoming projects
- Driving accountability, productivity and continuous improvement across operational teams
- Ensuring works are delivered in accordance with project specifications, contractual requirements and relevant quality standards
- Maintaining a strong focus on health, safety, environment and quality (HSEQ) requirements
- Supporting compliance with ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 and other applicable management systems
- Using job management and reporting systems to monitor project performance and provide visibility across operations

About You

- Minimum 5 years’ experience in an operations leadership, project delivery or similar role within marine, defence, industrial, commercial, mining and/or HVAC environments
- Demonstrated experience working within the defence sector, ideally across defence contracting, maritime sustainment, shipbuilding, maintenance or regulated technical services
- Proven experience leading multidisciplinary employees, trades and subcontractors across multiple concurrent projects
- Strong commercial understanding, including budget and cost control, contract management, forecasting and project risk
- Demonstrated ability to manage client relationships and engage effectively with internal and external stakeholders
- Effective communication, negotiation, problem-solving and decision-making skills
- Experience using Aroflo or comparable project and job management systems
- A current Construction Induction Card (White Card) and Australian driver’s licence




- Eligible to apply for and hold a National Police Clearance and any required client or defence security clearances

Desirable:

- A relevant trade, engineering or commercial qualification, such as Certificate III Engineering, Diploma of Engineering or Bachelor of Commerce.
- Certificate IV/Diploma in Leadership and Management or a recognised project management qualification such as PMP or PRINCE2.
- Experience working with ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 integrated management systems.

Why Join Griffin Marine:

At Griffin, you will have the opportunity to take ownership of operational delivery while working across a diverse portfolio of projects and industries.

We offer:

- A key leadership position with genuine responsibility and influence
- Exposure to marine, defence, industrial and commercial projects
- The opportunity to work alongside experienced trades, project professionals and operational leaders
- A practical, team-focused working environment
- Variety across projects, clients and operational challenges
- The opportunity to contribute to the continued growth of Griffin’s capability
- Package includes fully maintained company vehicle, laptop and mobile phone
- Relocation assistance offered to the right candidate

Apply now to join a team that takes pride in its craft and is committed to delivering results that matter.

Griffin Marine celebrates diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for all employees.

We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer.

Company Overview

Griffin Marine offer comprehensive support services to the Defence and Commercial sectors, catering to their specific requirements with teams of qualified and certified professionals. Our skilled workforce includes welders, boilermakers, painters, insulators, trade assistants, mechanical fitters, hydraulic specialists, load testing, and non-destructive testing (NDT). With our diverse range of capabilities, we are committed to providing exceptional services to meet the unique demands of our clients in these sectors

📌 Operations Manager - Defence & Industrial Services (Darwin)
🏢 Griffin Marine Services
📍 Darwin