Station Manager

Location: New Norcia, WA, AU

Company: CSIRO

Acknowledgement of Country

CSIRO acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, sea and waters, of the area that we live and work on across Australia. We acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Role highlights

• Lead one of the world's most unique deep space communications facilities supporting international space missions.
• Manage the operations, workforce and performance of European Space Agency (ESA) New Norcia Deep Space Tracking Facility.
• Join Australia's national science agency and play a critical role enabling exploration across our Solar System.

About CSIRO

As Australia's national science agency, CSIRO is solving the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. Many of our iconic innovations were once considered impossible until someone, just like you, joined us and took on the challenge. CSIRO operates the New Norcia Deep Space Tracking Facility in Western Australia on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA). As one of only a handful of deep space communications facilities globally, New Norcia provides critical spacecraft tracking, communications and mission support services for some of humanity's most ambitious space exploration missions.

As the Station Manager, you will join CSIRO in a senior operational leadership role at the New Norcia Deep Space Tracking Facility, one of the European Space Agency’s global deep-space tracking stations. You will provide overall leadership across facility operations, technical services, maintenance, safety and workforce capability, ensuring mission-critical services remain safe, reliable and ready to support deep-space exploration. Reporting to the Director, Space Tracking & Communications, you will be working at the intersection of complex technical operations, international customer delivery and long-term capability planning. You will build trusted partnerships and help shape the facility’s continued performance and act as the principal operational liaison with ESA, and play a key role in shaping the future capability, resilience and performance of the station.

About You

You are an experienced operational leader who thrives in complex technical environments where reliability, safety and performance matter. You bring a strong track record leading multidisciplinary teams, managing critical infrastructure and building trusted relationships with customers, contractors and stakeholders. You combine strong judgement with a practical, solutions-focused approach and can confidently balance operational priorities with long-term strategic objectives. You will also act as Contract Manager, overseeing contractual obligations and service delivery for ESA. You are equally comfortable discussing operational performance, workforce leadership, technical challenges and customer outcomes, and you are motivated by the opportunity to contribute to internationally significant science and space missions.

Your high-level duties will include:

• Lead the operation of the New Norcia Deep Space Tracking Facility and associated personnel.
• Ensure safe, reliable and efficient delivery of deep space communications and mission support services.
• Lead customer engagement and operational service delivery with the European Space Agency.
• Oversee maintenance programs, asset performance and infrastructure readiness.
• Manage operational resources, budgets and contracted services.
• Foster a positive, collaborative and high-performing workplace culture.
• Lead operational risk management, governance and safety activities.
• Build productive relationships across CSIRO, ESA, contractors and external stakeholders.
• Drive continuous improvement, workforce capability development and long-term operational resilience.

Salary: AU$135k – $158k plus up to 15.4% superannuation and applicable site allowances

Relocation support: Available for the successful candidate where appropriate

Reference: 104494

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in engineering, science, telecommunications, technology, defence, operations management or a related discipline, or equivalent leadership experience in complex technical operations.
• Demonstrated experience managing a complex technical, engineering, industrial or operational facility, including responsibility for operational performance, maintenance, workforce supervision and service delivery.
• Demonstrated experience leading technical, engineering or maintenance functions, including operational planning, resource coordination and asset performance management.
• A strong commitment to health, safety and wellbeing, with demonstrated experience managing operational risk and promoting safe work practices in a technical or industrial environment.
• Proven ability to lead, develop and support multidisciplinary teams while fostering an inclusive, accountable and high-performing workplace culture.
• Demonstrated ability to build productive relationships with customers, contractors, suppliers and other stakeholders, including experience managing contractual obligations and service delivery requirements.
• Highly developed communication, judgement, decision-making and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and respond effectively to complex operational challenges.

Applications for this position are open to Australian/ New Zealand Citizens & Australian Permanent Residents only. The successful candidate must have the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance at Baseline level and will be required to undertake a National Police Clearance or equivalent.

Setting you up for success

We are committed to providing a recruitment process that is fair, equitable and accessible to everyone. We recognise that it may be helpful for us to adjust our process to make it equitable for your individual situation.

Life at CSIRO and flexible work arrangements

Solving Australia's greatest challenges takes a diversity of minds and lived experiences. We know diverse teams are more effective and deliver more innovative outcomes. As an equal employment opportunity organisation, we are committed to creating diverse and inclusive teams where people feel they belong.

CSIRO holds Platinum Status for the Australian Workplace Equality Index for LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and a Science in Australia Gender Equity Bronze Award.

Child safety

CSIRO is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people involved in our activities and programs.