🚀 Why Queensland’s Department of Transport & Main Roads (TMR) Could Be Your Fast-Lane to a Government Career

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AT-A-GLANCE

• Name of Department / Council: Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR)

• Location: State-wide across Queensland — headquarters at 1 William St, Brisbane

• CEO: Sally Stannard, Director-General

• Total Revenue: $8.96 billion in 2023-24 (total income)

• Total Number of Employees: 9 619 FTE (full-time-equivalent)

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DID YOU KNOW? 🤔

TMR is custodian of about 33 420 km of state-controlled roads and 3 205 bridges — enough tarmac to lap Australia’s coastline almost twice!

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THE QUALIFICATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS, TRADES, PROFESSIONS, WORK EXPERIENCES & SKILLS MOST SUITED TO TMR

Top 5 academic qualifications most suited

• Civil / Transport Engineering degree — design safer highways, bridges & rail corridors.

• Information Technology / Computer Science — drive Smart Ticketing, cyber-security & data analytics.

• Business / Commerce — manage TMR’s multibillion-dollar infrastructure pipeline.

• Environmental Science — ensure projects meet climate-resilience standards.

• Logistics & Supply-Chain Management — streamline freight movement on road, rail & sea.

Top 5 certifications most suited

• Project Management Professional (PMP) — keep billion-dollar programs on time & budget.

• Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) — sign-off on complex structural designs.

• CPA / CA (Chartered Accountant) — safeguard public funds with rigorous oversight.

• CISSP (cyber-security) — protect digital licences & transport data from hacks.

• Marine Qualifications (e.g., Coxswain, Master Class 5) — enhance safety on busy waterways.

Top 5 trades / professions most suited

• Plant & Diesel Mechanics — maintain heavy road-building machinery.

• Electricians — install smart-motorway sensors & EV chargers.

• Bridge Carpenters & Steel Fixers — build and repair 3 000+ bridges.

• Surveying Technicians — map corridors for next-gen rail.

• Traffic Controllers — keep worksites and motorists safe.

Top 5 skills most suited

• Data analytics & GIS mapping — turn traffic data into smarter decisions.

• Stakeholder engagement — balance community, industry & government needs.

• Risk & safety management — support the Vision Zero (no serious road trauma).

• Digital literacy & automation — improve licensing, payments & customer apps.

• Rapid problem-solving — restore networks quickly after cyclones & floods.

Top 5 work experiences most suited

• Major infrastructure delivery — highways, rail, ports or airports.

• Public transport operations — scheduling, ticketing or customer service.

• Emergency / disaster recovery — rebuilding assets after extreme weather.

• Government financial management — navigating appropriations & audits.

• Customer-centric service design — improving journeys for 450 000+ travellers each day.

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THE KEY FACTS

• Name of Department: Department of Transport and Main Roads

• CEO: Sally Stannard (Director-General)

• Location: Queensland-wide (regional depots + Brisbane HQ)

• Year Founded: 2009 (merger of Transport & Main Roads portfolios)

• Main Mission & Purpose: Deliver an integrated, safe, efficient transport network so every Queenslander enjoys good jobs, better services and a great lifestyle. Example: Smart Ticketing now lets commuters tap-on with their phone across trains, trams and ferries.

• Main Duties: Plan, build, maintain and regulate roads, rail, marine and digital systems; license drivers & vessels; enforce safety; future-proof mobility. Real-world impact: The $37.4 billion Queensland Transport & Roads Investment Program (QTRIP) is supporting ~28 000 jobs statewide.

• Key Projects, Strategic Priorities & Future Plans: Coomera Connector (M1 relief), Cross River Rail readiness, Queensland Train Manufacturing Program, Beerburrum-to-Nambour rail upgrade, Zero-Emission Bus rollout, Smart Ticketing expansion and level-crossing removals ahead of Brisbane 2032.

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THE EMPLOYEES & REVENUE

• Total Employees (FTE): 9 619

• Headcount: 11 860 (includes full-time, part-time & casual staff)

• Employees by pay level (headcount):
  • AO2: 959
  • AO3: 1 924
  • AO4: 1 361
  • AO5: 1 380
  • AO6: 1 266
  • AO7: 1 282
  • AO8: 957
  • Senior Officers (SO): 340
  • Senior Executive Service (SES): 143

• Indicative Salary Bands:
  • Entry (AO2-AO3): ~$63 k – $85 k
  • Professional (AO4-AO6): ~$85 k – $125 k
  • Senior / Technical (AO7-AO8): ~$125 k – $150 k+
  • Executive (SO / SES): $160 k – $250 k+
  (Ranges reflect Queensland Public Service rates.)

• Average Salary (estimated): ≈ $87 000 (author calculation from wages & salaries divided by FTE using annual report data)

• Total Revenue: $8.96 billion

• Average Revenue per Employee: ≈ $931 000 (author calculation using total income / FTE)

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GETTING A JOB AT TMR 🚦

Which Academic Subjects shine?

• Certificate / Diploma Level:
  • Cert III Civil Construction — kick-start a roadworks career.
  • Cert IV Project Management Practice — support site supervisors.
  • Diploma in Maritime Operations — qualify for port & vessel compliance roles.

• Bachelor / Master Level:
  • Civil & Structural Engineering
  • Computer Science / Cyber Security
  • Urban & Transport Planning
  • Accounting / Finance
  • Environmental Management

• PhDs:
  • Transport Economics — optimise multi-modal investment.
  • AI & Autonomous Systems — develop future mobility tech.

Trades & Professions in demand

Heavy Vehicle Mechanics • Plant Operators • Electricians • Marine Pilots • Surveyors • Traffic Modellers • Bridge Engineers • Finance Analysts • Data Scientists • Policy Officers

Valued Work Experiences

Major project delivery • Government procurement • Customer-service centres • Emergency response • Maritime compliance • Rail operations

Sought-after Skills

• Soft skills: communication, teamwork, adaptability, safety mindset, community consultation.

• Technical skills: CAD/BIM, Python/R analytics, GIS (ArcGIS/QGIS), SAP, Austroads road-design standards, cyber-security protocols.

• General skills: report writing, budget management, licence testing, contract administration.

Hobbies & Interests that align

Love cycling, boating, road-tripping, building apps or championing green tech? You’ll feel right at home at TMR!

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Want more information on this organisation? 📞

Contact TMR:

• Phone: 13 23 80 (within Australia)

• Email: careers@tmr.qld.gov.au

• Postal: 1 William Street, Brisbane QLD 4000

• Current vacancies: https://smartjobs.qld.gov.au (search “Transport and Main Roads”)

• Department website: https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au

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DISCLAIMER

The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is based on publicly available information, including annual reports. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability with respect to the information on this article. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this article.