Manager – Industry & Commercial Development

The Manager – Industry & Commercial Development is a senior industry-facing and commercially accountable role responsible for strengthening GEA's relationships across the regional industrial economy and converting those relationships into practical coordination, member value and sustainable revenue.

Working closely with the CEO, the Manager will spend significant time engaging directly with GEA members, major industrial operators, project proponents, government and other regional stakeholders.

This is a highly visible and practical role. You will be active in the field — regularly visiting businesses, engaging with industry and projects, participating in GEA activities and maintaining a grounded understanding of what is occurring across the Central Queensland industrial economy.

Key responsibilities

• Maintain a strong and visible presence across GEA's membership and the broader regional industrial economy.

• Build trusted working relationships with SMEs, major industrial operators, project proponents, contractors, government and other relevant stakeholders.

• Undertake regular member, industry and project visits and participate in relevant industry activities.

• Develop a practical understanding of member capability, capacity, workload, workforce pressures and market conditions.

• Identify recurring issues, constraints and opportunities affecting members, suppliers, projects and major industry.

• Lead or support practical coordination where GEA can add value, including across projects, procurement interfaces, shutdowns, workforce, infrastructure and supply-chain readiness.

• Identify and progress commercial opportunities with major industry, project proponents, government, Council and strategic partners.

• Develop commercial propositions that respond to genuine industry and stakeholder needs.

• Build and convert a qualified commercial pipeline aligned with GEA's purpose and capabilities.

• Contribute to the development and testing of new GEA offerings and partnerships.

• Deliver against agreed annual revenue and commercial pipeline targets.

• Contribute practically across the organisation, including supporting the successful delivery of major GEA industry events and activities.

About you

You will bring:

• Significant experience in industry, major projects, industrial supply chains, business development or a related commercial environment.

• Demonstrated commercial capability, including converting relationships or stakeholder needs into revenue or business opportunities.

• Strong relationship-building capability across SMEs, major organisations and government.

• A practical understanding of industrial operations, projects, contractors or supply chains.

• Experience developing commercial propositions, services, programs or new offerings.

• Strong coordination, facilitation and follow-through capability.

• The ability to interpret fragmented information and identify material patterns, risks and opportunities.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Sound commercial judgement.

• The ability to operate with a high degree of initiative and independence within a small team.

• A willingness to spend substantial time engaging directly with businesses, industry and stakeholders across the region.

Experience across resources, energy, manufacturing, engineering, construction or infrastructure will be highly regarded, as will an existing understanding of the Central Queensland industrial economy.

You do not need to come from an industry association background. We are interested in people who understand how industry, projects and businesses operate and can build trusted relationships across them.

About GEA

Gladstone Engineering Alliance is a long-established industry organisation connecting businesses, major industry, projects and government across Central Queensland.

GEA has built its position through strong local relationships, industry credibility and a deep connection with the businesses that support the region's industrial economy.

We are now strengthening our capability to play a greater role in industry coordination, regional supply-chain participation and practical responses to the opportunities and pressures emerging across Central Queensland's industrial economy.

This role provides an opportunity to work directly across that system — building relationships, identifying opportunities and helping turn industry needs into practical outcomes.