DEPOT MANAGER - TRANSPORT OPERATIONS

Req ID: 683392

Personnel Area: Public Transport Services 

Branch: Transport Operations 

Duration: Contract – up to 4 years (4 positions)

Location: Brisbane - Carina, Garden City, Virigina and Willawong Depots - All office-based

Closing date: Friday, 11 September 2026.

Our Business 

Public Transport Services plays a vital role in keeping Brisbane moving. From planning for future growth to delivering reliable services today, the division supports a connected, accessible and liveable city. 

Our Branch 

Transport Operations is responsible for delivering bus network services from eight bus depots and performing bus network coordination and control through the Network Coordination Centre.

We are seeking four exceptional executive leaders to join its Public Transport Service Group as a Depot Manager, a critical leadership role responsible for the strategic and operational management of a major depot operation delivering safe, reliable, and customer-focused bus and Metro services.

This is a rare opportunity to lead a large, complex, 24/7 operation that directly impacts the daily lives of thousands of Brisbane residents. As a member of Council's executive leadership cohort, you will champion service excellence, operational performance, workforce capability, safety leadership, and continuous improvement while contributing to the delivery of a future-ready and sustainable public transport network.

The role

Reporting to General Manager, Transport Operations, the Depot Manager is accountable for the overall performance of a depot operation, balancing local operational priorities with broader city-wide transport objectives.

You will lead large multidisciplinary teams, oversee significant operational resources and budgets, influence network-wide performance outcomes, and ensure the safe, efficient, and reliable delivery of scheduled services.

As part of a 24/7 public transport environment, the successful candidate will also participate in incident response and may be required to provide on-call leadership support during critical service disruptions, emergencies, and disaster events.

In this role, you will: 

• Lead safe, reliable and efficient transport operations, ensuring the effective delivery of bus and Metro services while maintaining compliance with operational, legislative, environmental, and governance requirements.
• Build and empower a high-performing workforce, overseeing workforce planning, rostering, resource allocation, capability development, employee engagement, and a strong culture of safety, accountability, and customer service excellence.
• Drive operational performance and continuous improvement, optimising fleet utilisation, managing service disruptions and recovery, analysing performance data, managing budgets, and implementing initiatives that enhance efficiency, customer outcomes, and financial sustainability.
• Provide strategic leadership and stakeholder engagement, partnering with internal teams, unions, government agencies, industry partners, and the community to manage risk, influence strategic outcomes, and support network-wide operational objectives across Brisbane's transport network.

To be successful, you will have: 

• Extensive senior operational leadership experience within public transport or other complex, safety-critical environments, with the ability to align local operations to broader organisational and network objectives.
• Proven people leadership capability, including workforce planning, industrial relations, union engagement, and building high-performing, values-led teams.
• Strong expertise in safety, risk and compliance, including WHS, operational risk management, regulatory obligations, incident response, and governance in high-accountability environments.
• A track record of driving performance and transformation, leveraging data-driven decision-making, continuous improvement, operational efficiencies, and sound financial management.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across internal teams, government, industry, unions, and community stakeholders to deliver customer-focused outcomes.

Desirable:

Tertiary qualification in a relevant field such as Transport Management, Logistics, Business Administration, Operations Management, or Public Administration (or equivalent experience).

Certifications or diplomas in Work Health and Safety (WHS) or Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) to support compliance with safety-critical requirements.

Pre-employment requirements

Criminal history and business history checks will be undertaken on preferred applicants.

Benefits of working for Council include:  

• flexible working hours, and flexible arrangements  
• free gym and wellness centre  
• award winning superannuation fund  
• generous leave provisions  
• competitive salary.   

Benefits of working for Council: CLICK HERE 

How to apply:  Click on the 'I’m interested' button to complete your online application. Please upload your tailored resume and covering letter (of no more than one page) demonstrating your suitability to the position. 

For more information: Please call Lillian Moriarty on 07 3178 7205.  

People from diverse backgrounds, including those living with a disability and/or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who may have questions about the recruitment process or working at Council, are encouraged to reach out to the contact above, who can connect you with a member of Council’s Diversity and Inclusion team. 

Application Closing Date: Friday, 11 September 2026 at 11:55pm AEST. 

Brisbane City Council is a multi-award winning accessible and inclusive workplace where our people represent the diverse communities we serve, are supported, and can feel safe. Council has been awarded Employer of the Year at the National Disability Awards and has been recognised multiple times with ‘Gold Employer’ status from the Australian Workplace Equality Index for LGBTI inclusion. 

Council and its employees must follow the Public Sector Ethics Act 1994 (Qld) and the Code of Conduct. This means employees are expected to act with honesty, fairness, and always prioritise the public interest over personal or private gain. The Code of Conduct requires employees to openly disclose any other work they do outside of Council — including paid or unpaid employment, operating their own business or volunteering in certain circumstances — and to manage any conflicts of interest or other risks (such as fatigue) in a way that puts the public interest first. Maintaining employment outside Council does not preclude you from being considered for roles within Council.