Area Manager Authorised Officers

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Metro Trains Melbourne is seeking an Area Manager in the Authorised Officer team to provide leadership across AO depots, boosting passenger experience and regulatory excellence while ensuring safety, governance and budget discipline. You will be the escalation point for operational, safety and employee welfare matters, lead culture change and manage regulatory and industrial relations issues in a large, regulated environment. The right candidate brings proven experience leading frontline teams, strong stakeholder engagement, analytical thinking and change leadership, plus relevant qualifications. To apply, submit a resume and cover letter showing alignment with Safely Always and highlighting incident investigations, safety systems and recruitment. Applications close 27 July 2026, with shortlisting possible beforehand, and adjustments encouraged for accessibility.

Melbourne is Australia’s fastest growing city, and public transport is vital to keeping it moving. Since 2009, Metro has proudly operated and maintained a world-class train service and delivered major transport projects that shape the future of our city. Guided by our value of Safely Always, we are one team dedicated to ensuring everyone gets home safely while helping to connect and create a better Melbourne.

About the team 

Our Operations & Passenger Delivery team is committed to keep Melbourne moving by delivering exceptional passenger experiences through on-time, reliable, safe and efficient services. We achieve this through face-to-face interactions by our frontline teams, supported by our safety operations, operational readiness, and network performance teams. 

About the role 

The Area Manager within the Authorised Officer (AO) team, is accountable for providing leadership and strategic direction across AO Depots elevating passenger experience, increasing operational and regulatory excellence and driving continuous improvement through stakeholder alignment, whilst ensuring legislative, regulatory and commercial deliverables.  

Role duties and responsibilities include:    

• Serve as the primary escalation point for operational, safety, regulatory, and employee welfare matters, including industrial and union-related issues.
• Provide strategic leadership to ensure team culture, operational delivery, and compliance requirements align with organisational goals and service commitments.
• Lead and support cultural and organisational initiatives, ensuring operations remain responsive to evolving customer needs, regulatory changes, and business priorities.
• Oversee safety management and risk mitigation, ensuring all activities meet high standards of governance, compliance, and accountability.
• Maintain a strong understanding of safety systems and regulatory frameworks relevant to the role, ensuring consistent application in day-to-day operations.
• Manage employee relations matters, including performance and grievances, in line with organisational policies, legislation, and workplace agreements.
• Ensure timely follow-up and documentation of incident investigations, including safety, conduct, and regulatory matters.
• Apply and interpret relevant workplace agreements to ensure fair and consistent practices across the workforce.
• Partner with recruitment teams to support effective hiring processes and attract high-quality, diverse candidates.
• Oversee facility and depot operations, ensuring compliance with safety, inspection, and audit standards while managing within budget.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with internal teams and external stakeholders to support effective communication and service delivery.

About You 

• Proven experience leading large, operational teams, with a strong focus on building positive team culture and improving performance outcomes.
• Background working in complex or highly regulated environments, with the ability to build trusted relationships across a wide range of stakeholders.
• Demonstrated success in managing and developing frontline teams, driving engagement, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to convey clear, professional messages across diverse audiences, including in safety-critical situations.
• Highly organised, with the ability to prioritise competing demands, manage time effectively, and make sound decisions in fast-paced or high-pressure environments.
• Comfortable working both independently and collaboratively, with the confidence to take initiative when required.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to think strategically and understand the broader business impact of decisions.
• Experience leading and implementing change initiatives, with a track record of improving performance, culture, and operational outcomes while maintaining safety and compliance standards.
• Relevant tertiary qualifications in business, management, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).

Next steps 

If this role resonates with your values, experience, and career aspirations, join us and get onboard to help move Melbourne! 

Don’t meet every single requirement? As an inclusive and diverse workplace, we encourage all applicants to apply. 

Metro is committed to making reasonable adjustments to provide a positive, barrier-free recruitment process for candidates with specific access needs. Candidates who require adjustments are encouraged to declare this in their application, so that the contact person for the position can discuss your needs. 

To apply, please submit your Resume and Cover Letter at the time of application that is relevant to the advertised position.

Applications close Monday 27th July 2026. Please note that shortlisting may commence prior to the ad closure date.

Metro’s commitment to an inclusive workforce

At Metro, we move Melbourne and we’re powered by our people. We’re committed to building a workforce that reflects our diverse communities and celebrates the unique perspectives each person brings. Inclusion, respect and opportunity shape how we work and we invite you to join us in creating a workplace where everyone can thrive.