🚦 South Australian Department for Infrastructure & Transport (DIT) — Your Next Public‑Sector Career Move? 🛣️
Professional insights for job‑seekers who’d rather skim an annual report than study it.
AT‑A‑GLANCE
Name of Department / Council: South Australian Department for Infrastructure & Transport (DIT)
Location: State‑wide across South Australia (head office: 83 Pirie St, Adelaide)
CEO: Jon Whelan, Chief Executive
Total Revenue: $2.719 billion (Total income FY 2023‑24)
Total Number of Employees: Not published in the FY 2023‑24 Annual Report. Public workforce data indicates ≈3 400 FTE as at 30 June 2024 (estimate included for reader context).
DID YOU KNOW? 💡
DIT moves 1.6 million vehicles across the River Murray each year—for free—via 12 ferries operating 24/7. That’s a floating highway keeping regional SA connected and commerce flowing!
THE QUALIFICATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS, TRADES, PROFESSIONS, WORK EXPERIENCES & SKILLS MOST SUITED TO DIT
🎓 Top 5 academic qualifications
Bachelor of Civil Engineering – designs and maintains SA’s $47 billion transport network.
Bachelor of Commerce / Accounting – underpins project budgets and $2.7 billion in annual revenue.
Master of Project Management – steers multi‑billion‑dollar builds like the North–South Corridor.
Diploma of Work Health & Safety – supports DIT’s zero‑fatality workplace focus.
Certificate III in Business – matches the Traineeship program for entry‑level admin and logistics roles.
📜 Top 5 certifications
Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) – fast‑tracks design sign‑off on bridges, rail and roads.
PRINCE2® / AgilePM® – aligns with DIT’s structured project‑delivery frameworks.
Construction White Card – mandatory for on‑site roles during infrastructure upgrades.
Professional Traffic Engineer (IPWEA) – vital for road‑safety program design.
Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) – ensures compliance in $47 billion of state assets.
🔧 Top 5 trades / professions
Plant & machinery operator – keeps capital works moving.
Electrician (rail signalling) – critical to Port Dock Rail Line upgrades.
Heavy‑vehicle mechanic – supports zero‑emission bus fleet rollout.
Carpenter / joiner – maintains heritage‑listed transport facilities.
Marine coxswain – operates River Murray ferries 24/7.
🛠️ Top 5 skills
Asset management – optimise life‑cycle value of roads, rail, jetties.
Stakeholder engagement – balance community, industry and ministerial needs.
Data analytics & GIS – plan evidence‑based network improvements.
Contract administration – oversee $447 m public‑transport service contracts .
Risk & safety management – crucial for worksites and 45 notifiable WHS incidents last year .
💼 Top 5 work experiences
Delivering major civil works (> $50 m).
Managing public‑transport operations or timetabling.
Leading multi‑disciplinary engineering teams.
Negotiating government procurement or PPP contracts.
Implementing digital‑ticketing or smart‑mobility tech.
THE KEY FACTS
Name of Department: South Australian Department for Infrastructure & Transport
CEO: Jon Whelan
Location: State‑wide South Australia
Year Founded: 2020 (re‑formed via machinery‑of‑government changes)
Mission & Purpose: “We connect South Australians to keep our State moving—now and for the future.” Example: the new Tea Tree Plaza Park ’n’ Ride adds 1 350 commuter spaces, reducing CBD congestion and emissions .
Main Duties: Strategy, build and regulation of SA’s transport and social‑infrastructure assets. Example: coordinating North–South Corridor—the state’s largest road project—slashing freight times and fuelling jobs.
Key Projects, Strategic Priorities, Future Plans:
Completion of North–South Corridor: River Torrens → Darlington mega‑tunnel.
Zero‑tailpipe‑emission bus fleet business case finalised.
Port Dock Rail Line revival—returning passenger rail to Port Adelaide.
Mobile‑phone detection camera rollout at five metro sites to cut distracted‑driving crashes .
THE EMPLOYEES & REVENUE
Total Number of Employees: c. 3 400 FTE (workforce dataset; not itemised in report).
Executives by classification: EXEC0F (1), SAES1 (38), SAES2 (13) .
Salary Bands (executives): $160 k – $526 k +, with 96 staff above the $166 k base rate .
Average Salary in Department: Executive mean ≈ $230 k (from remuneration table).
Total Revenue: $2.719 billion
Average Revenue per Employee: ~ $800 k (using revenue ÷ 3 400 FTE).
GETTING A JOB AT DIT 🏃♀️💼
Academic subjects in demand
Certificate / Diploma level: Civil Construction, WHS, Business Administration.
Bachelor / Master level: Civil, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering; Data Science; Accounting; Urban & Regional Planning.
PhDs: Transport Economics, Pavement Materials, Autonomous Vehicle Systems (feed future mobility research).
Trades & Professions sought
Traffic controller, rail‑signal technician, bridge inspector, quantity surveyor, cyber‑security analyst (protecting transport OT), and project schedulers.
Valuable work experiences
Public‑works procurement, large‑scale asset‑maintenance programs, community consultation on infrastructure, fleet‑transition to zero‑emission technology, and agile IT deployments in government.
Skills to spotlight
Soft skills: Stakeholder negotiation, adaptive leadership, clear technical writing.
Technical skills: BIM & digital twins, road‑safety auditing, SAP finance modules, contract‑law literacy, SCADA/OT security.
General skills: Continuous improvement (Lean), data‑driven decision‑making, sustainable‑procurement practice.
Hobbies & Interests that align
Cycling advocacy, model railways (signals logic!), coding transport‑routing apps, community volunteering on road‑safety committees, and drone photography of construction progress.
Want more information on this organisation? ☎️
Department for Infrastructure & Transport – Recruitment
Address: 83 Pirie Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Phone: +61 8 7109 7000
Email: careers@sa.gov.au (general SA Public‑Sector careers inbox)
Careers Portal: iworkfor.sa.gov.au – filter for “Department for Infrastructure & Transport” to view live vacancies.
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