PTW Manager

About John Holland:

At John Holland, our purpose is simple, we transform lives with everything we do.

We've always known that at its heart, infrastructure is about people - our customers, our employees, and their communities in which we work.

That's our difference. Deep experience and capability with a genuine care about creating better lives for people along the way.

Be part of a team that thrives on rising to the challenge of transforming lives for good.

About the Project - Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro:

John Holland in partnership with McConnell Dowell (Joint Venture) are delivering the Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project in Far North Queensland. This is an innovative project that involves the world-first conversion of a disused gold mine into a pumped storage hydroelectric power generation facility in far-north Queensland (270km NW of Townsville).

The project will see the conversion of two existing mine pits into reservoirs, involving the construction of significant underground infrastructure including a large powerhouse cavern and waterway shafts and tunnels to allow the transfer of water between upper and lower reservoirs to generate power during peak periods and return water back to the upper reservoir during off peak periods.

This project received funding from ARENA as part of ARENA's Advancing Renewables Program and is a gamechanger for the clean energy industry worldwide as it is an entirely new approach to large-scale energy storage.

About the Opportunity

We’re seeking an experienced Permit to Work (PTW) Manager to lead and manage the Permit to Work system on the Kidston Pumped Hydro Project.

Working on one of Australia’s most significant renewable energy projects, this role is critical to ensuring the safe coordination of high-risk energy, civil and construction activities across site. You’ll drive a disciplined permit framework that enables safe execution of works involving complex interfaces such as electrical systems, isolation, tunnelling and heavy civil construction.

You’ll partner closely with delivery, safety and engineering teams to ensure robust permit governance, effective management of simultaneous operations (SIMOPs), and full compliance with regulatory and project requirements.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the implementation, governance and continuous improvement of the Permit to Work system across the project


• Act as the site’s central authority for permit control and authorisation, ensuring consistency and compliance


• Oversee the review, approval, issue, revalidation and closure of permits in accordance with project procedures


• Ensure all permits are underpinned by robust risk assessments, SWMS and control measures, aligned to energy and high-risk work activities


• Coordinate SIMOPs across mechanical, electrical, civil and underground works, identifying and mitigating interface risks


• Manage permits associated with critical energy and construction activities (e.g. isolations, confined space, excavation, temporary works, hot works)


• Liaise with engineering, commissioning, subcontractors and asset stakeholders to ensure all technical and regulatory approvals are in place


• Provide training and guidance to frontline teams on PTW systems, isolation standards and compliance requirements


• Conduct audits and assurance activities to maintain WHS, environmental and energy project compliance


• Maintain accurate permit registers, reporting dashboards and system data integrity


• Support integration of the PTW system with commissioning, energisation and operational readiness activities

Key Requirements:

• Proven experience managing or operating Permit to Work systems on major energy, renewables, power, mining or heavy infrastructure projects


• Strong understanding of high-risk energy and construction activities, including electrical isolations, confined space, excavation, hot works and work at height


• Demonstrated knowledge of permit governance frameworks, WHS legislation and risk management principles


• Experience reviewing and validating technical documentation, risk assessments and safety controls


• Ability to manage complex interfaces and concurrent works in a multi-disciplinary project environment


• Strong stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to influence safe behaviours across diverse site teams


• High level of attention to detail, with strong systems, reporting and documentation capability

As part of the team, you help us deliver on our promise to transform lives.

Your success is reflected in ours, so we're committed to being an employer of choice. We pride ourselves on having a diverse and inclusive workplace, as different perspectives and ideas will deliver our long-term success.

We want you to be with us for the long-term, so providing you with rich career experiences and ongoing development is our priority.

What's in it for you when you join John Holland?

We're about connecting your sense of purpose to ours. We understand that your career is one of the biggest ways to have an impact on the world. We also believe in supporting you as a whole person, not just an employee.

We reward and support our people in so many ways. This starts with being flexible about how different people like to work. From industry-leading leave policies to wellbeing and relationship support, your needs sit at the heart of our employee benefits.

We Offer: