Join Our Team: Project Manager
Help Finch Save the Classics
Full-time | Hindmarsh, South Australia
Occasional visits to our Adelaide Hills workshops
[ref: Proj202610]
Can you discuss a restoration with its owner, translate workshop findings into a practical plan, and keep several projects moving?
Finch Restorations is seeking a Project Manager to join our Project Management Office (PMO) and take responsibility for an allocated portfolio of vehicle restoration projects.
You do not need to be a qualified mechanic. You do need sound automotive understanding, strong organisational skills and the confidence to work with clients and experienced tradespeople.
About Finch Restorations
Founded in 1965, Finch Restorations has spent more than six decades restoring classic, vintage and prestige vehicles for clients across Australia and overseas.
Our work ranges from individual repairs and component refurbishment to comprehensive restorations and bespoke coachbuilding. Projects bring together mechanical, electrical, metal shaping, bodywork, paint, timber and trimming skills.
Based at our flagship site in Hindmarsh, a c1940 historic industrial building close to Adelaide's CBD, you will work alongside people who take pride in preserving vehicles and the craftsmanship behind them.
About the Role
You will guide your assigned projects from initial briefing and planning through to completion and delivery.
Working closely with workshop supervisors, tradespeople and purchasing staff, you will establish clear requirements, organise upcoming work and ensure clients understand progress, costs and the decisions required of them.
Restoration work involves discovery. Hidden corrosion, previous repairs and scarce parts can change the work required. Your role will be to help assess the options, explain their implications and keep the agreed plan current.
This is a practical, client-facing position combining workshop coordination, project administration and commercial responsibility.
Key Responsibilities
- Define and document project objectives, scopes and client requirements.
- Develop project plans and prepare clear work-orders with workshop supervisors.
- Plan upcoming work up to 12 weeks ahead, identifying dependencies and decisions needed.
- Coordinate with purchasing staff so parts and outsourced services are available when required.
- Monitor labour, expenditure and progress, identifying issues early.
- Keep clients informed and obtain approval for changes to scope and expenditure.
- Maintain accurate project records and scheduling information in our ERP system.
- Coordinate progress reporting and invoicing.
- Follow through on outstanding work, quality requirements and vehicle delivery.
What You Will Bring
- Experience managing projects or coordinating technical work.
- Sound understanding of vehicle systems, components and workshop processes, particularly for older vehicles.
- Confidence communicating with clients, technicians and suppliers.
- The ability to write clear scopes, work instructions and client updates.
- Strong planning, attention to detail and reliable follow-through.
- Commercial awareness and confidence discussing costs and priorities.
- Competence with Microsoft Office and the ability to learn our ERP system.
A mechanical or engineering qualification may be useful, but is not essential. We value relevant experience, sound judgement and the ability to turn plans into completed work.
Backgrounds We Would Welcome
You may already be a Project Manager or Project Coordinator in automotive, engineering, manufacturing or fabrication.
You may also be an experienced Service Advisor, Workshop Controller, Estimator or workshop leader ready to apply your technical and client management skills to longer, more varied projects.
An enthusiasm for classic vehicles will help you enjoy the role. The ability to organise work, communicate clearly and take ownership is essential.
What We Offer
- A varied role working on distinctive vehicles with individual histories.
- The support of an established Project Management Office and experienced workshop teams.
- An opportunity to combine automotive knowledge with planning and client relationships.
- A long-term position in a business established in 1965.
- Flexible work arrangements that support the requirements of the role.
- A Hindmarsh base, with occasional visits to our Adelaide Hills workshops.
How to Apply
Please email your CV and a brief covering letter explaining your relevant experience and interest in the role to
Please include Proj202610 in the subject line.
Position Description
Position Title
Project Manager
Location
Hindmarsh, South Australia, with occasional visits to our Adelaide Hills workshops.
Reports To
General Manager / Operations Manager / Projects Coordinator
Employment Type
Full-time
Position Purpose
To manage an allocated portfolio of vehicle restoration projects from initial briefing through to delivery and closure. The role translates client requirements into practical workshop plans, coordinates resources and procurement, maintains clear client communication, and monitors project progress and commercial outcomes.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Project Management (Nominally 90%)
- Establish and document client objectives, project requirements and agreed scopes of work.
- Develop and maintain project plans, budgets, schedules and deliverables.
- Prepare detailed work-orders in consultation with workshop supervisors and relevant tradespeople.
- Maintain a forward work plan covering at least 12 weeks, with sufficient prepared work to support workshop scheduling.
- Identify parts, materials and outsourced services early, coordinating procurement with purchasing staff.
- Coordinate dependencies between trades and resolve issues affecting progress.
- Assess the implications of workshop findings and proposed changes with the relevant technical staff.
- Explain options, costs and scheduling implications to clients, recording their decisions and approvals.
- Monitor labour, expenditure and project progress, escalating significant deviations promptly.
- Maintain accurate ERP records, schedules, action lists and progress reports.
- Coordinate project invoicing and monitor payment status with administration staff.
- Facilitate project meetings and follow through on agreed actions.
- Coordinate quality reviews, outstanding work, delivery documentation and project closure.
Business Development and Communication (Nominally 10%)
- Follow up allocated enquiries and assist with initial client briefings.
- Contribute to estimates, proposals and supporting project documentation.
- Help prospective clients understand restoration options and the work involved.
- Represent Finch Restorations professionally in dealings with clients, suppliers and visitors.
Health and Safety Requirements
- Follow site safety procedures and wear appropriate personal protective equipment.
- Report hazards, incidents, near misses and safety concerns promptly.
- Consider safe access, handling and work sequencing when coordinating workshop activities.
- Promote a safe and respectful environment for team members and visitors.
- Keep work areas clean and free from avoidable hazards.
Experience, Skills, Knowledge and Attributes
Professional Experience and Skills
- Relevant experience in project management, project coordination or technical workshop coordination.
- Sound understanding of vehicle systems, components and restoration or repair processes.
- Ability to translate technical requirements into clear scopes and work-orders.
- Practical planning skills, including work sequencing, resource coordination and procurement dependencies.
- Commercial awareness, including monitoring costs and managing scope changes.
- Strong client communication and the ability to explain technical issues in plain language.
- Competence with Microsoft Office and confidence learning and using ERP systems.
- Accurate record-keeping and clear written reporting.
Personal Qualities
- Organised, attentive to detail and reliable in following through.
- Comfortable taking responsibility and raising issues early.
- Respectful of trade expertise and collaborative in solving problems.
- Calm and professional when managing competing priorities or difficult conversations.
- Adaptable when new findings require changes to the plan.
- Interested in historic vehicles and willing to continue learning.
Performance Goals
- Maintain a forward work plan covering at least 12 weeks.
- Prepare draft work-orders at least four weeks ahead of scheduled work.
- Identify procurement requirements at least eight weeks ahead where practicable, allowing longer for scarce or specially manufactured items.
- Provide timely client updates and maintain records of decisions and approvals.
- Keep project records, schedules and financial information accurate and current.
- Identify and communicate risks to scope, cost, quality and delivery early.
- Coordinate completion of agreed work and resolution of outstanding items before delivery.
- Maintain professional, courteous relationships with clients, colleagues and suppliers.
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