Kangaroo Island Ferry Service (KIFS)

An initial 2-year fixed-term contract

About the Role

This is an exciting, newly created role, reporting to the General Manager for SeaLink South Australia, ensuring accurate contractual and reporting requirements relating to the operation and introduction of the KI Ferry Service (KIFS) to the Department of Infrastructure and Transport (DIT).

The KIFS Contract and Compliance Manager is a critical role in ensuring our ferry efficiency obligations are met and includes the need to develop client relationships (both internally and externally), statutory authorities, and key stakeholders. This role will ensure compliance with relevant legislation, standards, and guidelines related to the strict requirements for the ferry operation.

Overseeing the Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) as set by DIT, we require a person with a meticulous understanding of commercial contracting, a systematic approach to reporting and meeting deadlines, and the ability to identify and continuously improve our efficiencies.

This role is based in Adelaide, with a requirement for regular travel to Cape Jervis and Penneshaw.

About You

A confident and experienced Contracts Manager, preferably with Government contracts (desirable), ideally with knowledge of marine compliance (desirable but not essential), with demonstrated advanced analytical and proven reporting capabilities. If you have experience as a Senior Contracts Manager, in a finance or administration field, responsible for measurable results, this role may suit you.

You will need to build strong relationships to influence outcomes across a variety of business areas. Working independently, you will need excellent conflict resolution and negotiation skills. The ability to research data, evaluate information and support the reporting mechanisms for DIT will be critical to your success. If you are self-motivated, results-driven, organised, and with a continuous improvement-focused attitude, we welcome your application.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Compliance Management to support the commercial contract for KIFS
• Contractual monitoring to meet deadlines
• Reporting, audit and risk, and updating operational plans
• Legal compliance
• Strategic alignment and data analysis
• Stakeholder relationship management
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to influence internal and external stakeholders positively
• Show initiative, systematic reasoning, results-focused, and self-driven

Other Requirements:

• A current National Police Clearance - Essential
• Commercial or business acumen with experience

An initial 2-year fixed-term contract, which may be extended.

Applications will close by 5.00 PM on Friday, 19 September 2025 or earlier if a suitable applicant is sourced. 

About Us

With around 12,000 employees, the Kelsian Group is one of Australia’s most experienced and diverse multi-modal transport businesses operating around 5000 buses, 120 ferries and 24 light rail vehicles, carrying over 207 million customers per year.

Our purpose is to be a world leader in delivering essential journeys through safe and intelligent transport solutions and creating brilliant customer experiences.

We aim to provide meaningful and sustainable employment opportunities that are free from barriers, support and celebrate the diverse talents of our team members, improve awareness of the value of diversity and inclusion across our organisation, and enable our leaders to champion diversity and inclusion. We welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, LGBTQIA+, people with disability and people from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Virtual fly through of new Kangaroo Island ferries Ruwi and Wanggami