Maintenance Employee Plant Operator
- Join the Works team at Northern Grampians Shire Council as a Maintenance Employee/Plant Operator.
- Operate machinery and perform maintenance on roads, footpaths, and drainage systems.
- Work outdoors and contribute to community safety and infrastructure.
We are seeking an Maintenance Employee/Plant Operator at our St Arnaud Depot.
Are you a practical, hands-on person who enjoys working outdoors, operating machinery and seeing the results of a job well done?
Northern Grampians Shire Council is looking for a Maintenance Employee / Plant Operator to join our Works team in St Arnaud.
This is a varied and rewarding role where you’ll help keep our roads, streets, footpaths, drainage systems and other community assets safe, functional and well maintained.
You’ll be part of a team that makes a real difference every day — whether that’s repairing a road shoulder, clearing an obstruction, maintaining drainage, replacing signage or operating plant and equipment to keep Council’s infrastructure in good condition.
Vacancy Details: Position: Maintenance Employee/Plant Operator Job Type: Full Time Tenure: Permanent Location: Stawell/St Arnaud Package: $70893.28 - $75247.16 per annum (including maintenance and industry allowances)
- Plus 12% Superannuation
- Fortnightly RDOs
- Uniform & Boot Allowance
Download Position Description: Maintenance Employee Plant Operator Position Description Applications Close: Sunday 20th September 2026
About the role
Working as part of Council’s Works team, you will:
- Undertake routine and scheduled maintenance of Council’s roads, streets, footpaths, drains and other infrastructure.
- Operate and take responsibility for a range of plant and equipment.
- Carry out daily checks of plant and equipment, including oil, fuel, coolant, tyres and belts, and report faults to the mechanic.
- Identify and respond promptly to maintenance issues and hazards affecting roads, drainage and other Council assets.
- Undertake maintenance of road seals, pavements, shoulders, table drains, culverts, bridges and roadside infrastructure.
- Install, repair and replace signs and other road furniture.
- Remove fallen branches, trees, vegetation and other obstructions from roads and drainage systems where it is safe and within your skills and training.
- Complete daily activity records, including work undertaken and defects or faults identified.
- Estimate quantities and requisition materials required to complete works.
- Work safely and in accordance with Council standards, procedures and adopted work practices.
- Undertake other duties as directed by the Team Leader Works that are within your skills, competence and training.
About you
We’re looking for someone who:
- Enjoys working outdoors and as part of a practical team.
- Has experience in road maintenance, civil works, construction, grounds maintenance or a similar environment.
- Has experience operating plant and equipment, or is willing and capable of developing these skills.
- Takes pride in completing work to a high standard.
- Is safety-conscious and understands the importance of working safely around roads, machinery and the public.
- Can identify problems and take appropriate action to resolve them or promptly report them.
- Is reliable, willing to learn and happy to get involved in a range of tasks.
- Can work independently when required while following directions from the Team Leader Works.
Why join Northern Grampians Shire Council?
This is an opportunity to build a rewarding career in local government while doing work that you can see and be proud of.
Every day, your work will contribute to keeping St Arnaud and the surrounding community safe, accessible and well maintained.
You’ll join a practical, supportive team where your skills and contribution are valued and where there is plenty of variety in the work you do.
If you enjoy working outdoors, operating plant and getting stuck into practical work that makes a difference, we’d love to hear from you.
About Northern Grampians Shire Council
Northern Grampians Shire Council has a diverse employment base, across 14 worksites in the Grampians Region of Victoria. We offer flexible work arrangements, providing access to relevant training and professional development opportunities with a variety of employee benefits. We promote innovation, responsiveness, respectfulness and continuous improvement as our core values. Being a smaller organisation, we can provide you with opportunities to act in leadership roles, transition between teams and participate in a range of collaborative projects with other team members or the wider community. We provide a supportive and flexible environment that values the balance between work and our employees' personal lives.
Why join us?
In addition to the picturesque landscapes at our backdoor, there are many other benefits to working for our innovative and vibrant Northern Grampians Shire Council. These include:
- Fortnightly RDO: Enjoy a well-deserved break and rejuvenate.
- Great Team Environment: A safe, respectful and supportive environment to enable you to thrive. You will work with like-minded, passionate individuals who love what they do.
- Professional Growth: We nurture talent and provide opportunities to flourish.
- Flexible Work Arrangements: To support your work life balance.
- Salary Packaging Options: Including remote area housing allowances and novated lease vehicles
- Access to Paid Leave: including purchased leave, paid parental leave, gender affirmation leave and to respond to family violence matters
- Employee Assistance Program: Your well-being matters - we've got you covered.
- Biodiversity: Explore our Council region's varied flora and fauna
Promote Inclusion
Northern Grampians Shire Council is committed to promote inclusion of all children and families; we aim to establish a culture that supports:
- cultural safety for Aboriginal children by working in partnership with Aboriginal peoples and Aboriginal community controlled organisations
- cultural safety for children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds
- establishing a safe environment for children with a disability
Qualifications and experience
- Satisfactory completion of Certificate III in Civil Construction or other relevant qualifications, or relevant experience/on-the-job training commensurate with the requirements of the role.
- Hold a medium rigid drivers’ licence, as a minimum.
- Hold a Construction Induction White Card, or equivalent.
- Experience and proficiency in the safe and competent operation in a range of light, medium and heavy-sized plant, with relevant licences and certifications.
Selection criteria
- Demonstrated ability to safely operate, maintain and complete running repairs on a range of plant and equipment, with required certification where applicable.
- Understanding of methods and techniques required in road maintenance, traffic management and workplace safety.
- Ability to understand and apply quality control processes to maintain standards in a construction/manufacturing environment.
- Ability to accurately complete basic administration tasks, check lists and reports, and to navigate software applications competently.
How to apply
- Click the Apply Button
- Download and read the position description.
- Attach a resume and cover letter briefly addressing the key selection criteria.
- Submit your application by following the process on this page.
If you'd like to know more contact Colin Campbell, Team Leader Works - St Arnaud at colin.campbell@ngshire.vic.gov.au or call 03 5358 8700.
Applications close 5pm Sunday 20th September 2026
Northern Grampians Shire Council is dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer committed to providing a safe workplace that embraces and values child safety.
We vet all employer accounts and do our best to keep job ads safe, but scams can still occur. Be cautious when sharing personal information — never provide financial details or make payments during the application process. For extra security, use the Apply button on our site when proceeding.