Shift Boss - Tunnelling

Date: 6 Feb 2026

Location: Sydney, NSW, AU, 2000

Company: John Holland

About the Project

John Holland, CPB Contractors and Ghella  has commenced design and construction work for the Sydney Metro West – Eastern Tunnelling Package.

With a contract worth $1.63 billion, the Eastern Tunnelling Package includes construction of 3.5-kilometre tunnels under Sydney Harbour between The Bays and the Sydney CBD, and the excavation of Pyrmont and Hunter Street stations. Starting at The Bays, tunnel boring machines will cross the harbour near the Anzac Bridge, before heading to the new Pyrmont station and then under Darling Harbour before reaching Hunter Street in the heart of the CBD.

This is the final piece in the puzzle to deliver the city-shaping Sydney Metro West project. Once completed, Sydney Metro West will double rail capacity between greater Parramatta and the Sydney CBD, with travel times of around 20 minutes between the two centres.

Your Role

As a Shift Boss at our Hunter St site, your responsibilities will include:

  • Lead and supervise concrete lining works within a tunnelling environment, ensuring efficient and high-quality execution of tasks.
  • Oversee daily operations related to concrete lining, including preparation, placement, and finishing, while adhering to project specifications and timelines.
  • Coordinate with engineers, supervisors, and other crews to ensure seamless integration of concrete lining works with overall tunnelling activities.
  • Manage the installation and quality assurance of reinforcement fixing and formwork to support concrete lining processes.
  • Ensure compliance with safety standards, environmental requirements, and company policies during all phases of concrete lining works.

What We're Looking For

To be successful in this role, you’ll bring:

  • Proven experience as a Tunnelling Shift Boss or in a similar leadership role in tunnelling projects.
  • Strong knowledge in Reinforcement Fixing, Formwork and Concrete works
  • A proactive approach to health, safety, and environmental management.
  • Excellent leadership and communication skills, with the ability to manage and motivate diverse teams.
  • Relevant trade qualifications (preferred but not essential).
  • Flexibility to work shift patterns in a 24/7 operational environment.
  • Ideally, previous experience working for a Tier 1 or 2 Contractor

Why You Should Work for Us

  • Competitive remuneration with salary continuance, and salary sacrifice packaging options available.
  • Career progression underpinned by our exciting pipeline of work means you’ll have the opportunity to work on iconic projects that are shaping cities and communities.
  • Learning and development opportunities where you’ll have access to emerging talent programs, building your career through clear career pathways, and technical and leadership training and development opportunities.
  • Inclusion and diversity are part of how we work and do what we do at John Holland. Our active commitment to being an employer of choice is evident in the delivery of our Gender Equality Strategic Plan supported by our Pride, Celebrate Women, RAP and Grow networks.
  • Flexible working that works for you as we know flexibility means different things to different people. Whether it’s flexi-hours, flexi-parenting, flexi-leave, flexi-shifts, flexi-work, we’re committed to helping our people work flexibly.