Careers at Council

Engineering & Asset Management

An engineering and asset management career with Local Government is engaging and challenging.

Councils design, build and manage a vast number of assets across Australia. We’re continuously monitoring these assets to ensure they serve the community today, and are sustainable and adaptable for the future.

Types of roles:

Director Infrastructure Services

General Manager Operations

Team Leader Strategic Infrastructure Planning

Manager – Asset Strategy

Works Manager

Strategic Asset Management Officer/Coordinator

Asset Surveillance Officer

Project Manager Asset Information System

Asset Inspector/Works Inspector

Civil and Open Space Asset Strategist

Works Planner

Asset Maintenance Officer/Coordinator

What we do:

  • Design and develop civil engineering projects 
  • Evaluate and report on the environmental implications of projects
  • Determine construction methods, materials and quality standards
  • Draft and interpret specifications, drawings, plans, construction methods and procedures
  • Improve traffic flow and safety
  • Provide new sporting facilities
  • Design environmentally friendly recycling programsmanage rainwater runoff
  • Manage the Council’s heavy vehicles fleet and light fleet 
  • Stores managementdesign spatial data storage systems

Read here why Victor enjoys working in Asset Management at council.

Qualifications

Many of these roles require engineering qualifications. Whilst Civil and Design engineers are most commonly sought, councils often require the skills of a wide range of engineers including:

  • Civil Engineer
  • Design Engineer
  • Development Engineer
  • Electrical Engineer
  • Hydraulic Engineer
  • Mechanical Engineer
  • Structural Engineer
  • Traffic Engineer
  • Transport Asset Engineer
  • Waste Engineer
  • Environmental Engineer
  • Water Engineer
  • Drainage Engineer
  • Cadet Engineer

Educational requirements will vary according to the role but a degree qualification in the relevant field of Engineering is usually required. Vocational education and training (VET) qualifications relevant for more junior asset management roles include:

  • Diploma of Property Services (Asset and Facility Management)

Asset Construction and Maintenance

Our enormous number of roads, footpaths, bridges, cycle ways and buildings require construction and ongoing maintenance. While councils sometimes contract these services to private operators, they also employ specialist staff to carry out this work.

Types of roles (requiring trade qualifications):

Automotive Mechanic

Heavy Vehicle Mechanic

Engineering Fabrication

Mechanical Fitter

Carpenter

Concreter

Electrician

Painter/Decorator

Plumber/Drainer/Gas Fitter

Qualifications

Vocational education and training (VET) required will vary according to the role, but more typical trade qualifications sought by councils are:

  • Certificate III in Civil Construction (Plant Operations)
  • Certificate III in Civil Construction (Road Construction and Maintenance)
  • Certificate III in Carpentry
  • Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician
  • Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology
  • Certificate III in Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology
  • Certificate III in Mobile Plant Technology
  • Certificate III in Engineering – Fabrication
  • Certificate III in Engineering – Mechanical
  • Certificate III in Painting and Decorating

Types of non-trades roles:

Some of the roles listed below may require licenses or tickets for employment (e.g. Driver’s Licence, Work in Confined Spaces, Excavator Licence) but many don’t generally require a formal qualification.

Maintenance Worker

Plant Operator

Civil Works Labourer/Operator

Backhoe Operator/ Bob Cat Operator/ Excavator Operator

Truck Driver

Grader Driver

Qualifications

Educational requirements will vary according to the role but vocational education and training (VET) qualifications relevant for entry-level and operator level positions include:

  • Certificate II, III, IV in Local Government 
  • Certificate II in Civil Construction

The Universities Admission Centre

For more information about university courses visit The Universities Admission Centre.

My Skills

For more information about VET courses and training providers visit My Skills.

Engineering & Asset Management People Stories

Working in Councils

The scale and diversity of work on offer in Local Government is impressive as is the direct and positive impact this work has on the communities we serve.

Is council right for you?

Local Government’s 189,000 employees have many different skills and backgrounds, but together they share certain values and attributes that enable them to succeed at Council.