Dozens of jobs on offer at Osborne naval shipyard in hiring binge

In good news for SA, the shipyards at Osborne are on a hiring spree as preparations begin to build new Attack Class submarines.

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Dozens of Adelaide shipbuilding jobs are up for grabs as one of the nation’s biggest defence contractors goes on a hiring spree.

Naval Group Australia has listed more 25 job opportunities in the past month as it prepares to build the nation’s new Attack Class submarines at the Osborne shipyard.

Several other roles, from engineers to construction workers, are being sought as “expressions of interest”, as the company looks to begin work on shipyard upgrades before it starts building the $50 billion submarines.

The Naval Shipbuilding College forecasts another 529 jobs will be needed across SA’s shipbuilding sector in the next 18 months.

That includes 120 designers, 14 electrical engineers, 38 operations support staff, 75 heavy fabrication tradies and almost 100 apprentices.

It’s a welcome boost amid the coronavirus crisis, which has cost tens of thousands of South Australians their jobs.

Two halves of an Offshore Patrol Vessel are brought together and welded, in the largest block move in the history of the Osborne Naval Shipyard. Picture: ADF

Naval Group Australia’s human resources general manager Rachel Botting said the company was looking for up to 70 extra staff in the next four months.

That includes industry specialists, quality, security, administration, shipyard and ICT professionals.

Several engineering roles require workers to move to France for up to three years before returning to SA.

Other jobs being advertised include a project manager, a security officer, contract managers, an insurance manager, a six-month graphic design role, and the head of Naval Group’s media and communications team. Defence SA chief executive Richard Price said the shipbuilding workforce would grow to more than 5000 by 2026.

“Recruitment for positions related to the Hunter class frigate and Attack class submarine is already happening,” Mr Price said.

“There are also other career opportunities that are not so well known, particularly around cyber security and software systems.”

Naval Shipbuilding College talent acquisition manager Shelley Morgan urged jobseekers to join its workforce register for weekly job alerts and career and training advice.

The NSC will on Wednesday launch a new web series to attract students and workers from other industries.