Yard Hand / Forklift Operator – Heavy Equipment

Trucks, excavators, prime movers — and a different lineup every week

One morning you're backing a tipper into a receiving bay. That afternoon you're walking a row of excavators with a tablet in hand, logging condition notes that buyers around the country will rely on. By Thursday, the yard you helped lay out is full of bidders inspecting the gear you prepared.

This is the Industrial Yardhand role at Manheim. It's hands-on, it's outdoors, and it puts you in the middle of some of the biggest machinery in the country — every make, every model, arriving at our Altona North auction site and moving back out again to new owners.

If you like heavy equipment and you'd rather be moving than sitting still, read on.

Where you'll fit in

You'll join our Industrial operations crew, reporting directly to the Assistant Operations Manager — someone who works alongside the team on site, not from a distance. You'll have a clear line of support and a direct say in how the yard runs.

Behind that immediate team sits Manheim's wider Australian business of 200+ people across operations, sales, inspections and customer service. Our Altona North site is one of the busiest industrial remarketing yards in Victoria, and everything that goes to auction passes through the hands of the yard team first. When we run a major sale, the whole site pulls together — and that's when the job is at its best.

What you'll be doing

• Receiving and dispatching assets securely and accurately, so nothing goes missing and every handover is clean
  
• Recording and processing assets systematically, keeping our data accurate from arrival to sale
  
• Operating and moving heavy equipment — trucks, earthmoving machinery and everything in between — safely around the site
  
• Categorising and identifying incoming assets and placing them correctly for inspection and auction
  
• Conducting physical checks and reporting honestly on asset condition
  
• Supporting the broader operations team with site coordination during large-scale auctions and high-volume periods
  
• Preparing and cleaning assets so they present at their best and are genuinely auction-ready
  
• General yard maintenance and other duties that keep the site running smoothly
  
  No two weeks look the same, because no two consignments look the same.
  
  

  What you'll need

  These are the essentials for the role:
  
• A current, valid Forklift licence
  
• Basic computer literacy and confidence using mobile or tablet apps for data entry
  
• A strong safety mindset, a positive attitude, and the ability to follow instructions in a fast-paced environment
  
• Willingness to undergo a pre-employment medical (including drug and alcohol testing) and a background check
  
  

  Nice to have — but not deal breakers

  If you don't tick these, please still apply. We'd rather train the right person than hold out for a perfect résumé.
  
• A Heavy Combination (HC) Driver's Licence
  
• Previous experience in a heavy industrial, transport or auction environment
  
  

  What we offer

• $65,000 – $75,000 plus superannuation
  
• On-the-job training from experienced operators, plus access to LinkedIn Learning, Pluralsight and our internal development programs
  
• Birthday leave, volunteering leave and service awards, and a reward and recognition platform
  
• Employee Assistance Program — free, confidential support for you and your immediate family, 24/7
  
• Membership of Employee Resource Groups and a genuine commitment to inclusion and diversity
  
• A stable, growing operation — Manheim is part of Cox Automotive, the world's largest automotive services organisation, with 30,000+ employees globally
  
  

  Ready to get started?

  We're reviewing applications as they arrive and moving quickly for the right person.
  
  Here's what happens next:
  
  1. Hit Apply and send through your résumé — a cover letter is welcome but not required. A few lines on what you've operated and where is plenty.
  
  2. A quick phone chat with our team, usually within a few days of applying.
  
  3. An on-site interview and yard walk-through at Altona North, so you can see the gear and the team for yourself.
  
  4. Pre-employment checks, then a start date that works for you.
  
  If you're keen on trucks and heavy machinery and want a role where you finish the day knowing exactly what you achieved — we'd like to hear from you.
  
  Apply now.
  
  
  
  
  Manheim is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, and we're happy to discuss adjustments to our recruitment process — just let us know what you need.