The role of project manager is one of most exciting and diverse opportunities available within the National Naval Shipbuilding Enterprise.
The skills and experience of a project manager can transfer across a wide range of disciplines providing great opportunities for exposure to different facets within the naval shipbuilding industry.
Project managers require the skills to plan, execute and finish projects and manage teams to achieve successful outcomes. They can lead teams tasked with creating innovative solutions across diverse areas including IT, artificial intelligence, weapons operation and electrical and mechanical engineering.
Chief executive of the Naval Shipbuilding College Ian Irving said employers within the cutting-edge naval shipbuilding industry are currently searching for experienced project managers.
“The College continues to work collaboratively and successfully with industry to identify workforce requirements and achievable supply solutions,’’ he said.
“We are also working with our network of training and education providers to deliver accessible shipbuilding-specific curriculums to students looking to forge a shipbuilding career as well as current workers looking to upskill and remain within the Enterprise.
“Candidates who have joined the College’s free Workforce Register receive weekly notifications of the job opportunities available within the industry across Australia.
“Our Talent Acquisition team works with candidates to help them to become ‘job ready’ for employment in the industry by helping create tailored educational and career pathways as well as providing ongoing support.’’
People can join the Workforce Register through College website at navalshipbuildingcollege.com.au.
CASE STUDY - Babcock Australasia, Project Manager
Glenn Rypp, a project manager for Babcock Australasia, took the first step on his educational pathway into the naval shipbuilding industry by choosing STEM-rich subjects to study in Year 12.
“I have always been fascinated and had a natural curiosity to figure out how things work, I was always pulling things apart to look inside and then figuring out how to put it all back together,’’ he said.
“So it was a natural progression for me to choose STEM subjects in high school.’’
After school Glenn was torn between taking an electrical apprenticeship or accepting to study at university for a degree in Mechanical and Mechatronic engineering.
“I chose to pursue a university degree because it gave me the flexibility I needed to train and compete at an international level for sprint and marathon kayaking while still studying in a field I am extremely passionate about with an end goal of working in Defence,’’ he said.
The life-study balance paid off with Glenn competing at events such as the Youth Olympic Games, Junior World Champions, Under 23 World Championships and Senior World Championships while also securing a Defence and STEM Scholarship to conduct his 12-week work placement at Babcock. After placement, Babcock offered Glenn part-time work while he finished his degree and on the day of submitting his honours thesis, Babcock offered him a job as a permanent full-time graduate engineer.
As part of Babcock’s employment philosophy, graduate engineers are given the opportunity of short secondments throughout the company to gain further business understanding and cross-business capability. Glenn’s aptitude for project management was quickly recognised and he was soon managing a team working to deliver a major assembly for the Weapons Discharge System on the Collins Class Submarine.
“Babcock are great at investing in their people are provide employees with the opportunity to further develop their career through education, I’m currently studying my Masters in Applied Project Management,’’ he said.
“It’s been incredible to think how quickly I’ve transitioned from an engineering graduate to become a project manager and engineer.
“However, I still love my time in the workshop and I get a real kick out of being able to performance test elements of our Weapons Discharge System for the Collins Class Submarine at our Osborne facility.
“I see myself in this same great industry 10 years from now because I get to work with great people, who I can continue to learn from while solving many complex problems.
“I would encourage anyone who wants an exciting, challenging job working with and developing the latest technologies to explore a career in naval shipbuilding industry.
“In this industry you can never say you know it all.’’