Senior HDD Driller / Manager

South Brisbane QLD
Full Time
$150,000–$170,000 base salary + profit sharing

We are seeking an experienced Senior Horizontal Directional Driller / Manager to take a leading role within an established HDD and civil construction business servicing Brisbane, the Gold Coast and surrounding areas.

This is a senior, hands-on position for someone who knows HDD from the ground up.

We are not looking for a desk-based manager.

The successful person will be expected to operate the HDD rig, work alongside and lead the drilling crew, and take responsibility for the successful delivery of HDD projects.

At the same time, we are looking for someone capable of stepping beyond the role of an operator and becoming increasingly involved in the management, performance and growth of the HDD side of the business.

For the right person, this position offers profit sharing and a genuine pathway towards a future business partnership or buy-in opportunity.

This may particularly suit an experienced HDD professional who has considered running their own drilling business but hasn't had the plant, financial backing or business infrastructure to take that step independently.

You will take a hands-on role in the day-to-day delivery of HDD projects while also helping manage and develop the drilling operation.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Operating HDD rigs and leading drilling crews on site

• Planning HDD works from site set-up through to completion

• Coordinating mobilisation, plant, equipment, tooling and personnel

• Reading and interpreting construction drawings, BYDA information, service locations and bore profiles

• Planning and completing pilot bores, reaming and product installation

• Providing technical direction to Trackers, Drillers and Offsiders

• Troubleshooting difficult bores, ground conditions, tooling and operational issues

• Identifying potential underground service and drilling risks before works commence

• Coordinating employees, subcontractors, plant and material deliveries

• Monitoring project productivity and maintaining efficient drilling operations

• Liaising professionally with clients, supervisors and project managers

• Maintaining high standards of WHS, environmental compliance, quality and workmanship

• Assisting with the development and training of HDD crew members

• Contributing to the planning and continued growth of the HDD operation

We are looking for someone with strong practical HDD experience and natural leadership ability.

You may currently be a Senior Driller, Lead Driller, HDD Supervisor or experienced contractor looking for an opportunity to take the next step.

You do not necessarily need to have previously held a management title.

What matters is that you understand HDD, can operate the equipment, can lead people and have the drive to take greater responsibility for an operation.

Ideally, you will have:

• Minimum 5 years' substantial HDD experience

• Strong hands-on HDD rig operating experience

• Experience leading crews and delivering HDD projects

• Strong understanding of bore planning, tooling, drilling fluids and ground conditions

• Locator/Tracker knowledge and experience

• Strong mechanical aptitude and problem-solving ability

• Ability to read and interpret plans, BYDA information and bore profiles

• Good understanding of underground services and civil construction

• Strong understanding of WHS and site compliance requirements

• Good communication skills and confidence dealing directly with clients

• Strong work ethic and professional attitude

• An understanding of productivity, costs and project performance

• Construction White/Blue Card

• A genuine desire to help build and grow an HDD business

HR/HC licence, excavator tickets, First Aid/CPR and relevant trenchless or civil construction qualifications will be highly regarded.

This position is intended to be more than simply another HDD job.

We are looking for someone who wants to have a genuine vested interest in the operation they help build.

The successful person will receive a strong base salary with profit sharing on top, providing the opportunity to directly benefit from the performance and growth of the HDD operation.

For the right person, there is also the potential to develop this into a future business partnership or buy-in opportunity.

We already have the business infrastructure, plant, industry experience and financial backing in place.

What we are looking for is an experienced HDD professional with the knowledge, leadership and ambition to help take the drilling operation to the next level.

• $150,000–$170,000 base salary depending on experience

• Profit sharing on top of base salary

• Full-time, long-term position

• Established HDD and civil construction business

• Quality plant and equipment

• Strong business and financial support

• Genuine responsibility and input into the HDD operation

• Opportunity to build, develop and lead the drilling team

• Opportunity to directly benefit from the growth of the HDD business

• Potential future business partnership / buy-in opportunity

If you're an experienced HDD professional who wants to stay hands-on, lead from the front and help build something you can have a genuine stake in, we'd like to hear from you.

All applications and discussions will be treated in strict confidence.