Port Manager – Port Kembla & Eden

Get to Know Us

Svitzer has been part of the maritime industry since 1833. Today, our operations across Australia and Papua New Guinea are powered by people who bring together expertise, experience and teamwork to keep our customers and ports moving safely and efficiently.

Our shore-based teams play a critical role in making this happen. We work collaboratively, take pride in what we do, and support each other to deliver strong outcomes for our people, our customers and our business.

If you’re an operational leader looking for an opportunity to make a difference, develop your leadership capability and play a key role in shaping the future of our operations, we’d like to hear from you.

Why You’ll Want to Join Us

We’re looking for an experienced and motivated Port Manager to lead our Port Kembla & Eden operations.

This is more than a day-to-day operational role. It’s an opportunity to lead people, influence performance, build capability and contribute to the broader direction of the business.

Reporting to the General Manager, you’ll have the opportunity to take ownership of a diverse operational portfolio, working closely with our frontline teams and key stakeholders to deliver safe, reliable and commercially successful operations.

You’ll be a visible and engaged leader, developing our people, strengthening team performance and identifying opportunities to improve the way we work. You’ll also gain exposure to broader commercial and strategic initiatives, including new projects, tenders and business development opportunities.

For the right person, this role provides a strong platform to broaden your leadership experience, build your commercial capability and progress your career within a global maritime organisation.

How You’ll Make a Difference

Reporting to the General Manager, your key responsibilities will include:

• Lead and support day-to-day crew operations, fostering high performance, team engagement, and professional development.

•  Manage workforce planning, crew rostering, and industrial relations in line with Enterprise Agreements and operational requirements.

• Oversee vessel and port operations, coordinating maintenance activities, contractors, and ensuring operational readiness of the fleet.

• Monitor operational performance, budgets, and financial reporting while identifying opportunities for business growth and operational improvement.

• Support tenders, new projects, and commercial opportunities, contributing to strategic planning and regional business development.

• Champion safety standards by maintaining safe operations, managing incidents and return-to-work programs, and ensuring compliance with procedures and regulations.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with customers, port authorities, regulators, and internal stakeholders to support operational and business outcomes.

What You’ll Bring

To thrive in this role, you’ll bring:

• Proven leadership in operational environments, driving change, continuous improvement, and team engagement.

• Experience managing employee and industrial relations, including disputes, union negotiations, and Enterprise Agreements.

• Strong commercial and operational skills, including customer engagement, contract management, and business growth.

• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to build strong working relationships.

• Proactive, adaptable, and organised team player with strong time management and a safety-first mindset.

• Marine industry experience or qualifications, with knowledge of compliance, classification societies, and vessel operations highly regarded.

Building a Diverse Workplace

In Svitzer we value the diversity of our talent and will always strive to recruit the best person for the job – we value diversity in all its forms, including but not limited to gender, age, nationality, race, sexual orientation, disability, or religious beliefs. We are proud of our diversity and see it as a genuine source of strength for building high performing teams.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that members from some under-represented groups are less likely to apply for jobs if they don’t meet every single qualification. At Svitzer we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles, and we are excited about hearing from you!

How to Apply

To apply for this role, please click on the 'Apply Now' button and create a Candidate Home to manage your applications.