Part-time Jobs Can Be A Ball
The Age
Saturday November 22, 2003
Philippoussis, Hewitt, Molik and their colleagues still have the job ahead of them, but for Tennis Australia's HR department, much of the 2004 Australian Open work is already done.
Tennis Australia human resources head Kerrie Clarke is in the final stages of organising 950 casual staff for the grand-slam tournament, staged from January 19 to February 1.
They'll join TA's 100-plus fulltime workers and will link with more than 2600 casuals employed by other groups.
Positions include ballkids, court servicers, statisticians, courtesy-car drivers, media and corporate staff, roaming information aids and Presidential Lounge staff.
Umpires and linespeople have been recruited from umpiring organisations throughout Australia, and catering staff are provided by Delaware North Australia.
Program sellers are employed by Nicholson Media, ushers and other attendants are recruited by Melbourne and Olympic Park Trusts, and about 250 security workers are employed by Australian Security Services.
Tennis Australia's recruitment started almost as soon as the 2003 Open finished, with ballkids being recruited in April and May. Training has been ongoing and the process has included reference and police checks for some positions. Drivers have been appraised for skills and knowledge of Melbourne, and uniform fitting and collection is almost complete.
Blowing our trumpet
Ah, the power of The Ladder. The ACTU wanted to fill 20 positions in its superannuation cadetship scheme and now has the luxury of being able to pick from more than 500 applicants, following a story in The Ladder on October 28
David Whiteley, general manager of ACTU Member Connect, says the candidates are from all walks of life and are of high quality. Next step is a series of group interviews across the country, and the selection process will be completed before Christmas.
It pays to stay home
Thinking of moving overseas to better your pay? Think again - you might be better off staying home.
An international study shows Australian workers will be better off than colleagues in Singapore, Canada, the United States, Britain and New Zealand in the coming year.
If you want to go where pay rises are likely, you might consider Bulgaria, Lithuania or Indonesia, where employees are likely to receive pay rises of between 5.1and 6.5 per cent above inflation.
Pay rises in South Korea and Taiwan will also exceed those in Australia, according to Mercer Human Resource Consulting, which conducted the study.
Digging in
Rio Tinto's Charlie Lenegan, the president director of Indonesian- based Kelian Equatorial Mining, will step into the role of managing director for Rio Tinto's Australian operations when Brian Horwood retires in March next year. Mr Lenegan joined the group in 1981 and has held various positions at Argyle Diamonds, Kaltim Prima Coal, Dampier Salt and Pacific Coal.
Mr Horwood has been with the company since 1969 and took on the MD job two years ago. He will continue as chairman of two of Rio Tinto's subsidiaries, Coal & Allied and Energy Resources of Australia.
In other mining news, Sons of Gwalia founder and executive chairman Peter Lalor has announced his potential retirement, pending the appointment of new directors.
Former managing director Mark Cutifani resigned in December, delaying Mr Lalor's earlier retirement plans.
``The search for a managing director and new independent directors is reasonably well advanced and we are hopeful that announcements can be made in relation to these positions prior to the end of the calendar year," Mr Lalor said in his AGM address last week.
``Following these appointments, I will step down as the executive chairman of the company." Mr Lalor's and company co-founder Chris Lalor, an executive director, may also step aside.
In the Red Cross
Most of us are familiar with the national and international profile of the Red Cross's blood service, support for refugees and tracing services, but their local activities are not so well known.
In the ACT, the Red Cross co-ordinates hundreds of volunteers, providing meals on wheels, the Telecross phone service and a home visitors' scheme. The board of directors is looking for a replacement executive director to manage the day-to-day operation in Canberra.
Deputy chairman Doug Barton says the new director will need to juggle keeping in touch with and co-ordinating more than 1000 volunteers and negotiating with the Government to provide funding for Red Cross services.
Mr Barton says the job also has a substantial project management component as the Red Cross acts to centralise resources.
The executive director, with a $100,000 salary package, will report to the board and national CEO and secretary-general Martine Letts.
TMP/Hudson Global Resources is recruiting for the Red Cross job - phone 6229 1555.
Three's a charm
If the Australian Institute of Management is attempting to set a precedent with its new national executive director role, we hope it sticks. Working three days a week for a cool $150,000, the new director will head up an organisation with 35,000 members and 250 staff.
National president Gary Neat says AIM is the main professional training and education body for leaders and managers in Australia, with more than 200,000 people training with the organisation each year. There are offices in every state, each with an executive director.
The national director will report to the board of directors, with a base in either Sydney or Melbourne.
Spencer Stuart is recruiting for AIM, phone 9247 4031.
All at sea
A small piece of every Australian's national pride is reserved for the Great Barrier Reef, so it's not surprising to learn that the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) has an annual budget of some $28 million to support and protect the reef and other treasured marine resources.
Part of that $28 million - $252,000 - has been earmarked for a new CEO to replace Professor Stephen Hall, who has accepted the position of director-general with the acclaimed World Fish Centre in Malaysia.
The institute, with a staff of 150, is located at Cape Ferguson, 50 kilometres from Townsville. There are also new bases in Darwin and Fremantle.
The CEO is expected to lead the research facility in its focus on research and development in tropical marine science and technology, directing the institute towards new scientific discovery and using research results to meet the needs of government, industry and the public.
Email applications should be sent to aims@first-place.com.au
Poultry sums
Competition in the fast food industry in Australia is hot, and with new entrants appearing every day, traditional brands are constantly looking for ways to stay ahead of the market.
KFC is no exception. Operated under franchise by Sydney company QSR Limited, KFC is seeking a general manager with an operations focus to help maintain the company's position as a leader in the field.
QSR board chairman Peter Copulos, an industry veteran of more than 35 years, says the successful applicant will be hands-on and focused on core operational aspects of running the group's 56 restaurants across Sydney and country NSW.
Mr Copulos says the general manager will play a key leadership role. QSR is paying up to $200,000 plus bonuses and equity for the Bondi-based job. Email generalmanager@qsrlimited.com.au by December 1.
Bubbling over
Top job
They used to be called jobs in the champagne business - now the jobs are in ``seriously bubbly sparkling wine". The Ladder's Top Job is as marketing manager for the Foster's-owned Yellowglen division. Yellowglen was founded by Ballarat businessman Ian Home in 1971, later taking on French winemaker Dominique Landragin.
Applicants need to demonstrate success in developing leading brands. No hint of salary - the company's human resources department says that would alert employees to how much the incumbent is paid.
And it might confuse the marketplace, since the recruitment campaign is also designed to trawl for three additional marketing roles.
MY FIRST DAY
Sales manager
Nigel Clark (pictured right) has joined Drake as national sales manager. He recalls his first day.
Did anything go wrong? No - mostly meeting people and phone calls. Everything was pretty structured for me and I was well looked after.
Did you remember all the names? I lived in Sweden for a while and they have a saying for new managers: ``Everyone knows the monkey but the monkey knows nobody." This monkey is trying hard to improve.
Were you nervous? More excited than nervous. I've always believed a great personal goal is something that excites you a lot and scares you a little. This job has the right amount of both.
Was it a big day? We only work half days at Drake - the first 12 hours or the second 12 hours. It was a normal day.
Will this increase or decrease? I value time with my family and try to keep a balance. Short term I've put my photo on the fridge - just as a reminder.
So how was lunch? We're at the Paris end of Collins Street so there is plenty of good restaurants and cafes around.
Was the post an offer you couldn't refuse? I had consulted to the CEO on performance improvement previously so I guess I was something of a known quantity. It was too good to pass up.
How long do you think you'll last? He or she who makes the gold, makes the rules. So as long as I keep producing the gold I hope they'll keep me.
Forward contributions to The Ladder to Paul Edwards: pedwards@nex.net.au
Work words
Anyone can do any amount of work, provided it isn't the work he is supposed to be doing at the moment. -- Robert Benchley
© 2003 The Age