Electrical & Instrumentation Trades Supervisor

Viva Energys Geelong Refinery employs around 700 people and supplies over 50 percent of Victorias and 10 percent of Australias fuel.

The refinery can process up to 120000 barrels of oil per day manufacturing petrol diesel LPG jet fuel avgas bitumen specialty solvents for a wide range of industries. We are now seeking an experienced and hands-on Electrical & Instrumentation (E&I) Trades Supervisor to join the Engineering Services team at the Geelong Refinery in a newly created leadership role. This position has a strong electrical and high voltage focus leading a team of approximately 8-10 tradespeople.

This is a genuine supervisory position where your success will be measured through your leadership coaching safety focus technical expertise and ability to develop a high-performing team. While a foundational understanding of instrumentation is required we are particularly interested in candidates with a strong High Voltage (HV) electrical background who can provide guidance mentoring and technical oversight across refinery electrical systems.

About the Role

Reporting to the E&I Manager you will be accountable for the safe and effective supervision of Viva Energys E&I trades workforce ensuring work is planned executed and completed to the highest standards of safety reliability and operational excellence.

You will play a key role in developing team capability improving productivity supporting apprentices and ensuring the continued safe operation of refinery electrical and distribution systems within a complex hazardous area environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise a team of Electrical & Instrumentation tradespeople with a primary focus on high voltage activities and control systems.
• Ensure all activities are conducted in accordance with Viva Energys HSSE requirements and the Geelong Refinery Management System.
• Conduct regular field leadership activities including safety observations workplace inspections and safety conversations.
• Develop review and approve Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs) and safe work practices.
• Ensure the appropriate allocation of resources competencies and skills to safely execute maintenance activities.
• Drive the successful delivery of scheduled maintenance work and the close-out of work orders within systems such as JDE and Primavera P6.
• Manage workforce attendance daily timesheets and effective utilisation of trade resources.
• Provide frontline technical support for electrical and high voltage maintenance activities including refinery electrical distribution systems operating within hazardous area environments.
• Monitor overtime and maintenance expenditure to support cost control objectives.
• Support the implementation and application of EBA requirements and workforce management processes.
• Coach mentor and develop tradespeople through structured capability development and cross-skilling opportunities.
• Oversee the onsite development and progression of Electrical and Instrumentation apprentices.
• Promote continuous improvement lean work practices and productivity initiatives across the maintenance function.

Qualifications :

About You

You are an experienced electrical trades leader who enjoys developing people maintaining high safety standards and being visible in the field. You balance strong technical knowledge with practical leadership and are comfortable leading teams in complex industrial environments.

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Trade qualification in Electrical.
• Strong High Voltage (HV) electrical background and technical expertise.
• Minimum 5 years experience within industrial process energy or heavy manufacturing environments.
• Demonstrated experience supervising coaching or leading electrical trades teams.
• Sound understanding of electrical standards codes and safe work practices.
• Experience working in hazardous area environments.
• Strong commitment to safety leadership and workforce development.
• Experience using work management systems such as JDE SAP or equivalent CMMS platforms.
• Effective communication planning and stakeholder management skills.

Highly Regarded

• HV switching/operator experience.
• Hazardous Area certification and experience.
• Exposure to oil and gas refining petrochemical chemical processing power generation mining coal or electrical distribution industries.
• Understanding of instrumentation control systems and industrial automation technologies.
• Experience with Primavera P6 and JDE or similar planning systems.
• Training assessment or workplace coaching experience.

Why Join Viva Energy

• Newly created leadership role with genuine influence on team capability and performance.
• Four-day work week
• Opportunity to lead a skilled team at one of Australias most significant energy and manufacturing sites.
• Strong focus on safety professional development and operational excellence.
• Work within a complex and technically challenging refinery environment.

Please note: Additional hours and flexibility may be required during major refinery shutdowns and turnaround events.

Additional Information :

About Viva Energy 

Join a team that values diversity. Viva Energy is a great place to be yourself. We believe in our people trust in their positive intentions and empower everyone to amplify their voice across the business. We value inclusion because thats how we get the best outcomes. 

Awarded the WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality for the past five years highlights that we are driven by our people and continuing our focus on making Viva Energy reflect the ever-changing face of Australia.  

We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and encourage and support diversity in our traditional and non-traditional roles.

Please note: This role is being sourced through Viva Energy Australia therefore we will not be accepting applications via external recruitment agencies.

Note:  only applications from candidates who hold full working rights for employment in Australia will be considered.

Applications close Tuesday 4 August 2026

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time