Manager - Shutdowns & Outages

Whitehaven Coal is the dominant player in Australia’s coal mining industry! With a culture based on our STRIVE values, our reputation for excellence in project delivery and safe, efficient and environmentally responsible operations continues to grow.

Our STRIVE Values connect us and define how we behave. Whitehaven Coal award, recognise and celebrate individuals and teams going above and beyond the requirements of their role to deliver excellent outcomes while demonstrating our values of Safety, Teamwork, Respect, Integrity, Value and Excellence. 

About The Role:

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Manager – Shutdowns & Outages to lead the strategic planning, coordination, and execution of major maintenance and operational shutdowns across our coal mining operations. In this pivotal role, you will ensure shutdowns are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and with minimal impact on production, while driving continuous improvement and maintaining strong compliance with regulatory and company standards.

This position is primarily site-based and may require you to work across all Whitehaven operations. Although for the right candidate, we are open to considering your home location provided you can meet the role travel requirements.

Reporting to the General Manager – Asset Management & Technology, this role extends beyond maintenance and encompasses asset lifecycle planning, governance, productivity enhancements, and engineering solutions. The initial focus will be on Whitehaven’s dragline and shovel fleets in Queensland, with broader responsibilities for CHPP shutdowns to follow over time.

What You'll Do:

• Develop and implement long-term shutdown strategies and financial plans that align with business objectives, asset lifecycle needs, and operational priorities.
• Optimise shutdown planning and execution to minimise production impacts while improving equipment reliability, cost performance, and overall operational efficiency.
• Identify and deliver cost-out opportunities through smarter processes, technology adoption, and improved contractor performance.
• Strengthen financial governance by ensuring accurate forecasting, variance analysis, contract compliance, and integration of shutdown budgets into wider capital and operational plans.
• Use data, performance benchmarks, and historical insights to drive continuous improvement, reduce downtime, and embed best practices across all shutdown activities.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to leverage innovation, enhance planning processes, and deliver sustainable productivity gains across the business.

What You'll Bring:

• A relevant engineering degree or equivalent maintenance qualification, supported by extensive experience in shutdown planning and execution.
• Strong strategic and operational capability, aligning shutdown activities with long-term asset management and business objectives.
• Advanced financial and commercial acumen, including cost-out strategies, variance analysis, contract compliance, and CEP integration.
• Proficiency with shutdown management tools (Primavera, MS Project) and ERP systems for forecasting, budgeting, and resource planning.
• Demonstrated ability to drive operational excellence through continuous improvement, data-driven decision making, and innovative problem solving.
• Excellent stakeholder, contractor, and leadership engagement skills, with the ability to influence outcomes and deliver high-quality reporting.

Whitehaven Coal is committed to increasing the representation of women and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the workplace. We strive for an inclusive workplace that engages people from diverse backgrounds and welcomes diversity of gender, culture and experience. 

Whitehaven Coal is working with the RSL Employment Program to support veterans and partners of current or former Defence members in finding meaningful and sustainable employment. If you would like assistance with your application, you can reach out to the program via the following link: https://www.rslqld.org/find-help/employment 

To be considered for this position you must have the right to work in Australia.

Reward. Opportunity. Recognition. Great Place to Work.