Operations/Office Manager

Operations / Office Manager - Thursday Island

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Torres Pilots Pty Ltd is a trusted name in Australian maritime safety, providing AMSA-licensed marine pilots for vessels transiting the compulsory pilotage areas of the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait. With a fleet of 6 pilot vessels, 37 marine pilots, and 40 staff, we are the market leader in providing reliable 24/7 pilotage support across one of the most environmentally sensitive and complex navigational regions in the world.

With operational bases in Mackay, Cairns, Thursday Island, and Poruma Island, our pilots play a critical role in protecting this sensitive marine environment—ensuring safe, timely, and compliant transits for commercial vessels navigating these waterways.

We combine deep regional knowledge as a local specialist provider. Our pilots board via helicopter in Mackay and via launch in Cairns and the Torres Strait, delivering consistent, high-quality pilotage services across remote and challenging conditions.

Torres Pilots is proud to be locally embedded, servicing the world's largest shipping operators, and offering reliability, professionalism, and operational excellence in one of the most professionally demanding maritime regions.

We are currently seeking an Operations / Office Manager to work alongside our current Thursday Island-based Launch Manager.

This is a full-time position requiring the successful applicant to reside on Thursday Island. FIFO applicants need not apply.

The Position

The successful applicant will be responsible for:

• Crew scheduling, ensuring safe, reliable, on-time, and cost-effective pilot transfers
• Monitoring and scheduling vessels and communicating with vessel masters
• Communicating with our Brisbane operations team, launch crew, and marine pilots
• Coordinating with our Cairns-based Fleet Manager regarding vessel maintenance
• Ensuring compliance with Torres Pilots' Quality and Safety Management Systems
• Monitoring SMS documentation for compliance, including fatigue management, launch logs, maintenance, and safety drills
• Managing assets such as properties, launches, and staff
• Providing RDO, annual leave, and personal leave relief for the Thursday Island Manager and Operations Officers
• Participating in some after-hours/night operations

Benefits

• Subsidised private and fully furnished accommodation on Thursday Island (rent $265/week + electricity/internet $30/week)
• 6 weeks annual leave
• 4 return airfares to Cairns annually

About You

You will be safety-focused, detail-oriented, able to work under pressure as part of a team, prioritize tasks, manage workloads and staff autonomously in a remote location.

Qualifications and Experience

• High organizational skills
• Strong time and personnel management skills
• Ability to work a 7 on, 3 off, 8 on, 3 off roster, including weekends and public holidays
• Proficiency in Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Minimum 2 years in a similar role preferred

Highly Desirable

• Maritime operations background
• Experience with crew rostering
• Master Class 5 (unrestricted) and MED 3 or higher

If successful, you will need to obtain a Short Range Operator Certificate of Proficiency (SROCP) for VHF radio communication.

Applications should include a cover letter with relevant work history and qualifications, along with referees if available. Copies will be required at the interview. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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Your application will include questions about your right to work in Australia, your expected annual salary, and your experience as a Skipper.

Please include any relevant details if you report this job ad as fraudulent, misleading, or discriminatory.

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