Hoist Operations Manager

The Hoist Operations Manager is responsible for the safe, efficient, and reliable management of all hoist operations across company projects and sites. The role provides operational leadership, technical oversight, workforce coordination, and compliance management to ensure hoisting activities are delivered safely, efficiently, on schedule, and in accordance with relevant legislation, standards, manufacturer requirements, and company procedures.

The Hoist Operations Manager will work closely with project teams, site management, supervisors, operators, maintenance personnel, clients, and subcontractors to coordinate hoist installations, operations, maintenance, inspections, relocations, and dismantling activities.

• Manage the day-to-day delivery of hoist operations across assigned projects and sites.

• Plan and coordinate hoist mobilisation, installation, commissioning, operation, alteration, maintenance, and dismantling activities.

• Ensure hoist resources are allocated effectively to meet project requirements and construction programs.

• Coordinate operators, technicians, supervisors, subcontractors, equipment, and transport requirements.

• Monitor hoist utilisation, availability, downtime, and operational performance.

• Identify operational constraints and implement practical solutions to minimise delays and disruption.

• Liaise with project managers and site teams regarding upcoming works, access requirements, lifting demands, and changes to project programs.

• Assist with planning and mobilisation for new projects.

• Provide leadership in workplace health and safety across all hoist operations.

• Ensure hoists are operated, maintained, inspected, and managed in accordance with applicable legislation, Australian Standards, manufacturer requirements, engineering specifications, and company procedures.

• Ensure appropriate risk assessments, SWMS, permits, inspections, and operational documentation are completed and maintained.

• Verify that operators and personnel hold the required licences, competencies, training, and site inductions.

• Conduct regular site inspections and operational audits.

• Investigate incidents, equipment damage, near misses, and operational failures and ensure corrective actions are implemented.

• Immediately address unsafe practices, equipment defects, or conditions that could place personnel or operations at risk.

• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure personnel understand their responsibilities.

• Coordinate preventative and corrective maintenance programs for the hoist fleet.

• Ensure statutory and manufacturer-required inspections and servicing are completed within required timeframes.

• Monitor equipment condition and identify maintenance, repair, replacement, or upgrade requirements.

• Coordinate breakdown response to minimise operational downtime.

• Maintain accurate equipment service, inspection, defect, and maintenance records.

• Work closely with technicians and suppliers to resolve technical and operational issues.

• Ensure equipment defects are appropriately reported, assessed, isolated where required, and rectified before returning equipment to service.

• Lead, supervise, and support hoist supervisors, operators, technicians, and other operational personnel.

• Coordinate workforce requirements, rosters, leave, and allocation of personnel across projects.

• Monitor employee performance, attendance, competency, and compliance with company requirements.

• Identify training and development requirements and support ongoing workforce competency.

• Conduct toolbox meetings, operational briefings, and safety discussions as required.

• Promote professional behaviour, accountability, teamwork, and a high standard of customer service.

• Assist with recruitment, onboarding, training, and performance management of operational personnel.

• Build strong working relationships with clients, builders, project managers, site managers, and subcontractors.

• Act as a key operational contact for hoist-related matters.

• Attend project, coordination, safety, and operational meetings as required.

• Respond promptly to client concerns and operational issues.

• Ensure agreed service levels and project requirements are achieved.

• Communicate potential delays, equipment issues, resource constraints, or safety concerns to relevant stakeholders.

• Monitor labour, maintenance, transport, equipment, and other operational costs.

• Support budgeting, forecasting, and cost-control activities.

• Monitor overtime, equipment downtime, utilisation, and productivity.

• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and reduce unnecessary costs.

• Assist with quotations, variations, additional works, and project planning where required.

• Provide management with regular operational and performance reporting.

Performance may be measured against:

• Safety performance and incident rates.

• Compliance with statutory, company, and manufacturer requirements.

• Hoist availability and equipment uptime.

• Preventative maintenance completion.

• Response times for breakdowns and operational issues.

• Labour productivity and workforce utilisation.

• Project delivery against agreed schedules.

• Operational cost performance.

• Client satisfaction.

• Quality and accuracy of operational documentation.

• Workforce competency, retention, and performance.

Essential:

• Demonstrated experience managing hoist, lifting, construction equipment, or similar operational activities.

• Strong knowledge of construction-site operations and safety requirements.

• Demonstrated experience supervising operational personnel and subcontractors.

• Strong understanding of risk management, SWMS, equipment inspections, and safe systems of work.

• Ability to coordinate multiple projects and competing operational priorities.

• Strong communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.

• Current driver's licence.

• Construction Industry White Card.

• Competency with standard business systems, reporting tools, and Microsoft Office applications.

Desirable:

• Significant experience with construction hoists, personnel/material hoists, or related vertical-access equipment.

• Relevant trade, mechanical, electrical, engineering, construction, or lifting-industry qualification.

• Relevant high-risk work licences or hoist-related competencies.

• Previous experience managing a multi-site operational workforce.

• Experience with equipment fleet management and maintenance systems.

• Formal leadership, WHS, or project-management qualifications.

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong operational leadership.

• A proactive and uncompromising approach to safety.

• Excellent planning and organisational skills.

• Sound technical and mechanical understanding.

• Strong decision-making and problem-solving capability.

• Ability to remain calm and effective during breakdowns and operational disruptions.

• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder-management skills.

• Commercial awareness and cost-management capability.

• High attention to detail and documentation.

• Ability to manage multiple sites and priorities simultaneously.

• A practical, hands-on approach to operational management.

The Hoist Operations Manager is expected to take appropriate action where an operation, piece of equipment, or work practice presents an unacceptable safety or operational risk. This includes stopping work or removing equipment from service where necessary until the issue has been appropriately assessed and resolved.

The position is accountable for ensuring hoist operations under their control are conducted safely, professionally, efficiently, and in accordance with company and project requirements.

The role involves regular attendance at construction sites and operational facilities and may require travel between multiple project locations. Some early starts, after-hours coordination, weekend work, or emergency response may be required depending on project and operational requirements.

The Hoist Operations Manager must comply with all site-specific PPE, induction, fit-for-work, and safety requirements.