♻️ Green Industries SA: Your Gateway to Circular‑Economy Careers in South Australia 🚀
South Australia leads the nation in recycling and landfill diversion—and Green Industries SA (GISA) is the small, high‑impact government agency driving that success. If you’re looking for a purpose‑driven public‑sector career where your ideas can help shape a cleaner, more prosperous future, this quick‑read guide is for you.
AT‑A‑GLANCE:
• Name of Department / Council: Green Industries SA
• Location: Adelaide HQ, with projects state‑wide
• CEO: Joshua Wheeler (Acting Chief Executive)
• Total Revenue: $54.57 million (2023‑24)
• Total Number of Employees: ≈ 35 FTE (estimate based on published salary expenditure)
DID YOU KNOW? 🤯
During the River Murray Flood Clean‑up, GISA collected ~29,000 tonnes of debris and still achieved a 56 % landfill‑diversion rate, proving that disaster recovery can be circular too!
THE QUALIFICATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS, TRADES, PROFESSIONS, WORK EXPERIENCES & SKILLS MOST SUITED TO GISA
Top 5 academic qualifications most suited:
• Environmental Science (BSc) – underpins policy and program design on waste and recycling.
• Business/Commerce (BCom, MBA) – supports grant administration, budgeting and supplier engagement.
• Civil / Environmental Engineering (BE) – valuable for infrastructure, disaster‑waste and circular‑economy projects.
• Public Policy / Public Administration (MPA) – helps translate research into effective state regulations.
• Data Analytics (Grad Cert / MSc) – drives evidence‑based decisions on diversion targets and funding.
Top 5 certifications most suited:
• Project Management Professional (PMP) – essential for multi‑million‑dollar clean‑up and grant programs.
• Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) – recognised credibility for technical assessments.
• ISO 14001 Lead Auditor – aligns with agency’s environmental‑management focus.
• Procurement & Contracting (SA Gov) – streamlines vendor and grant oversight.
• Work Health & Safety Cert IV – critical for on‑site clean‑up leadership roles.
Top 5 trades / professions most suited:
• Waste‑Operations Supervisor – frontline insight into material flows.
• Plant / Heavy‑Vehicle Operator – indispensable during disaster‑waste programs.
• Electrician with solar‑PV experience – supports circular‑economy pilot projects.
• Plastics‑Processing Technician – aids in recycling‑infrastructure assessments.
• Carpentry / Demolition Specialist – vital for safe removal of flood‑damaged structures.
Top 5 skills most suited:
• Stakeholder engagement – collaborate with councils, EPA and local business.
• Grant‑writing & evaluation – ensure funds deliver measurable outcomes.
• Data interpretation – turn diversion stats into policy advice.
• Change‑management – guide communities through single‑use‑plastic bans.
• Risk assessment – keep staff and contractors safe during clean‑up operations.
Top 5 work experiences most suited:
• Local‑government waste‑service delivery—translates directly to GISA programs.
• Recycling‑facility operations—hands‑on knowledge of recovery markets.
• Disaster‑response logistics—mirrors River Murray clean‑up duties.
• Sustainability consulting—aligns with circular‑economy strategy.
• Community‑education campaigns—supports “Which Bin” outreach.
THE KEY FACTS
• Name of Department: Green Industries SA
• Name of CEO: Joshua Wheeler (Acting)
• Location: State‑wide South Australia (HQ Adelaide)
• Year Founded: 2004 (via Green Industries SA Act)
• Main mission & purpose: Lead the transition to a circular economy—eliminating waste, boosting jobs and protecting the environment. A recent example is steering the state‑wide ban on single‑use plastics, making SA the first mover in Australia.
• Main duties: Develop policy, manage the Green Industry Fund, deliver grants, and act as the state’s lead agency for disaster waste. The River Murray program shows how these duties turn policy into tangible community recovery.
• Key projects / priorities / future plans:
– River Murray Flood Clean‑up (to 2025)
– SA Waste Strategy 2025‑30 refresh
– Expansion of Single‑Use Plastics ban
– Circular‑Economy Market Development grants
THE EMPLOYEES & REVENUE
• Total Number of Employees: ≈ 35 FTE
• Employees at each pay level (indicative): 2 × SAES‑1 executives; majority in ASO4‑ASO7 / PO2‑PO4 ranges.
• Salary Bands:
– ASO1 $50k → ASO8 $120k
– PO2 $82k → PO5 $128k
– SAES‑1 $154k – $220k
• Average salary: ~$105 k (based on 2023‑24 wage expenditure)
• Total Revenue: $54.57 million
• Average Revenue per Employee: ~$1.56 million
GETTING A JOB AT GISA 🔍
Which academic subjects are in demand?
Certificate / Diploma Level: Waste Operations, WHS, Procurement, GIS Mapping.
Bachelor / Master Level: Environmental Science, Engineering, Commerce, Data Analytics, Communications.
PhDs: Circular‑Economy Innovation, Materials Science, Behavioural Economics (for waste‑reduction campaigns).
High‑value trades & professions: Demolition, Heavy‑Plant Operations, Electrical (renewables), Logistics, Communications Design.
Work experiences sought: Council waste services, Grant management, Disaster‑response logistics, Sustainability consulting, Behaviour‑change marketing.
Skills that shine
Soft skills: Collaboration, Influencing, Resilience, Public speaking.
Technical skills: Life‑cycle analysis, GIS, Project‑management software (PMO), WHS auditing, Data visualisation.
General skills: Report writing, Budget management, Vendor negotiation.
Hobbies & interests that align: Community clean‑ups, Gardening & composting, Maker‑spaces, Data‑storytelling with open‑gov datasets.
Want more information on Green Industries SA? 📞
Address: Level 4, 81‑95 Waymouth St, Adelaide SA 5000
Phone: (08) 8204 2501
Email: greenindustries@sa.gov.au
Careers site: Search “Green Industries SA” on I Work For SA (jobs.iworkfor.sa.gov.au) for current vacancies.
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