At UGL, our Utilities business is at the forefront of Australia’s energy transition, delivering essential design and construction services for critical infrastructure across the power sector. We provide end-to-end solutions on major projects including transmission lines, switchyards, substations, and electrical distribution networks.

Our expertise spans the full project lifecycle—design, construction, commissioning, operations, and maintenance. Whether through self-performed work, collaboration with subcontractors, or joint ventures, our teams deliver projects safely and effectively across Australia. Our capabilities cover everything from engineering and structural works to civil, electrical installation, and commissioning.

To date, we’ve successfully delivered over 7,300 km of transmission lines and completed more than 300 substation projects—and we’re just getting started

The Opportunity

UGL Utilities is seeking a strategic and results-driven Operations Director to lead and oversee commercial strategy and project execution across our Major Projects portfolio, with a strong focus on engineering and construction delivery in the Power sector.

In this key leadership role, you will shape and drive the long-term success of our Utilities business by contributing to strategic planning, identifying growth opportunities, and ensuring exceptional delivery across major infrastructure projects.

What will a day in this role look like:

· Develop strategies, plans, structures, systems and procedures for a safe, cost effective and efficient business operation aligned with UGL long and short-term business objectives.

· Provide strong senior management and strategic leadership and direction, establishing clear divisional objectives, setting standards, targets and goals, implementing controls and KPIs to measure and compare performance (profit, cost, quality, time etc.) within and across the business.

· Monitor the use of all resources (Assets, Human and Financial) initiating ongoing review, benchmarking, development and continual improvement of processes, facilities and resources across all of the operation, looking for new ways to improve efficiency, minimise costs, increase quality, safety and client satisfaction.

· Oversee the contract management and commercial execution of all contracts/ projects/ programs for the major projects portfolio, ensuring all risk is mitigated, all deliverables are achievable prior to acceptance, all changes are approved and casted, all customer requirements/ specifications/ agreed configuration and standards are achieved and all programs/projects are carried out in a controlled and documented manner.

The following qualifications and experience are highly desired, but if you don’t tick all the boxes you could still be a perfect fit for this role. Please apply, all applications will be considered.

What are we looking for you to bring to the team:

· An appropriate Tertiary qualification from an accredited institution or equivalent industry experience.

· Substantial trade experience preferably gained in an engineering environment and proven experience of leading operations and projects in a multi-discipline engineering design, build and commission operating environment.

· A high level of business and commercial acumen backed by a sound ability to create read and interpret budgets, financial statements and analyse variance reports.

· Strong communication skills (oral and written) including strong negotiation and influencing skills and the ability to establish effective working relationships with a variety of people at different levels both internally and externally.

· Demonstrated ability to work independently to organise and prioritise demands, handle multiple complex tasks simultaneously, set and meet deadlines and follow-through within a fast paced environment with multiple and competing demands.

· Proficient skills in computers: MS Word, Excel, email.

Why Unite with the Very Best…

• A competitive salary working in a rewarding, supportive and successful team
• Back yourself and your development, and UGL will back your growth
• Flexible and blended work environment; make use of flexible working and our impressive employee benefits, including:
o A rewarding Wellness Program with AIA Vitality – earn cashback for gym shoes
o We’ll give you access to a multitude of rewards: Through our partnerships we can offer you discounts across shopping, food and wine, insurance, health and wellbeing, leisure and entertainment.
o You can also take advantage of our salary sacrifice options including cars, eligible portable electronic devices and professional memberships.

UGL – Big projects. Big careers.

We keep Australia moving through our transport manufacturing, maintenance and operations offering, and we support the energy sector through our renewables, power generation, resources and transmission operations. We are an end-to-end engineering and services provider (one of Australia’s biggest inhouse design houses)

We’re the people behind communications, transport, utilities, power, oil, gas, Defence and renewables. We build tunnels under rivers and flyover roads. We’re the people who take on the problems that have never been solved. The ones that stretch you outside of what’s known, where your true genius is challenged and shines.

Diversity Social Inclusion

UGL is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment where each employee feels safe to bring their whole selves to work. We encourage applications from Indigenous Australians, Women, Military Veterans, those from diverse cultural backgrounds, people with a disability and our friends in the LGBTIQ Community.

UGL respectfully acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land in which we work and pays our respects to elders past, present and emerging.

As part of the recruitment process, there are a number of checks which may be conducted to demonstrate an applicant’s suitability for a role including police / criminal background checks, medical, drug and alcohol testing, due diligence checks, right to work checks, and/or reference checks. It’s good to know that UGL does not discriminate based on a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check.