join the team
Common Ground Trails designs and constructs incredible hiking and mountain biking trails, bike parks, pump tracks, and facilities across Australia, inspiring people to connect with the outdoors.
Our team consists of experienced, skilled, and talented landscape architects, urban designers, trail builders, and other professionals who work together to achieve exceptional results.
Additionally, we live the lifestyle we promote as avid mountain bikers and trail users, and we bring our passion to every project we undertake, whether it's a major destination development or a small-scale volunteer project. Our portfolio includes numerous successful public and private projects that have received acclaim.
Working at Common Ground Trails
At Common Ground Trails, we are proud of our hardworking but supportive and fun culture and working environment, where creativity and excellence thrive. You’ll find an environment that’s fast-paced, exciting, challenging, and immensely rewarding. We get to stand back at the end of a project and see what we've built. Our trails and tracks encourage people to get outdoors, be active, and connect with nature. This helps to create outdoor enthusiasts and environmental stewards, and we feel really good about this.
What We Offer
- An opportunity to join a progressive, fast-growing business in a developing and evolving industry where your contribution will have a meaningful and positive impact on the world;
- A hardworking, fun working culture and team, where we do a great job because we enjoy where we work and the legends we work with;
- Clients and projects that will energise you. We push the boundaries to design and construct innovative mountain bike trails, pump tracks, skills parks, and play spaces across Australia;
- Outstanding mentorship from recognised industry leaders and subject matter experts, as well as opportunities to develop in our growing company and your career; and
- A great salary/pay rate commensurate with experience and demonstrated abilities.
current dream jobs available
Can you build it on paper before we build it on the ground?
The Position:
We are currently looking for an experienced Estimator (or someone with strong commercial and cost-estimating capability from a related field) to join our team on a permanent, full-time basis, based in our Margaret River office.
Reporting to the Pre-Contracts Manager, this role plays a key part in preparing winning bids and securing future design and construction projects, minor works, and maintenance opportunities. You won’t just be pricing projects - you’ll be influencing design and strategy, broadening professional relationships, and meaningfully contributing to exciting new community projects.
Key Responsibilities:
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Interpreting technical drawings, reports, guidelines, and specifications;
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Preparing accurate quantity take-offs using Mudshark and Excel;
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Preparing detailed and competitive cost estimates and budgets in line with company targets;
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Assisting with tender submissions and building compelling bid strategy;
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Collaborating with design teams, clients, and construction teams to ensure scope alignment;
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Liaising with suppliers and subcontractors to source quality products and services at competitive rates;
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Collating and analysing data to identify and review productivity and material utilisation metrics;
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Scheduling and managing multiple cost estimates concurrently to meet strict deadlines and priorities;
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Upon winning a new contract, assisting in preparing a detailed handover to the Operations Team.
About You:
We know the perfect blend of skills for this role is rare, so we're looking at experience on a sliding scale. At its heart, this role needs someone with proven ability to accurately price and cost construction work, but we're just as interested in your passion for the outdoors. The stronger you are in one area, the more flexible we can be on the other.
What You'll Need (The Essentials):
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Demonstrated commercial cost-estimating capability - the proven ability to interpret scope, prepare quantity take-offs, and produce accurate, competitive estimates (this might come from a dedicated estimating role, or from a related field where costing and pricing was central);
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A solid understanding of construction techniques and market conditions;
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A commercial, numerate mindset, with an eye for efficiencies and value-management opportunities;
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High-level written and verbal communication, with the ability to work effectively with team members, clients, suppliers, and subcontractors;
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A genuine interest in the outdoors and the recreation space.
What Will Make You Stand Out:
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Experience in civil, landscape, or commercial construction estimating;
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Hands-on or professional experience in the trails or outdoor recreation industry - whether building, designing, managing, or maintaining walking trails, mountain bike trails, pump tracks, bike parks, or BMX facilities;
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A tertiary or technical qualification (though strong practical experience is equally valued);
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Proficiency with software such as Mudshark, Bluebeam, and Adobe InDesign.
Not sure if you tick every box? If you've got serious estimating chops but are new to trails - or you're deep in the trails world with real commercial and costing experience - we'd genuinely love to hear from you. Tell us where you sit on the scale.
Apply by emailing dreamjob@trails.com.au and attaching your cover letter and resume, addressing the criteria mentioned above.
If you have any questions, contact Katie at dreamjob@trails.com.au or on 0499 464 564
Are you a boss on and off the track?
The Position:
We’re looking for experienced Construction Supervisors and Leading Hands to help bring our mountain bike trail and pump track projects to life across Australia. If you love the outdoors and riding, and you’re ready to turn that passion into a rewarding career in trail building, this is your chance!
Site Supervisor:
The Construction Supervisor will report to the Operations Manager and be responsible for overseeing daily operations on their construction sites. This includes scheduling work, directing and supervising employees, ensuring compliance with occupational health and safety standards and requirements, and achieving construction objectives. The Construction Supervisor will be key contacts for the client and must maintain a professional and effective relationship with them.
Leading Hand:
The Leading Hand supports the Site Supervisor in the on-site delivery of projects. It assists in providing leadership and day-to-day direction to the site-based team to ensure works are delivered safely, efficiently, and to a high standard, in line with the project scope, design intent, and client expectations. The Leading Hand may also be responsible for directly supervising a small group of employees. The Leading Hand also undertakes the safe and effective operation of machinery and manual labour duties as required.
These positions involve extensive travel and require flexibility to be based in different locations for periods of approximately 2-3 months at a time. You will get to see, work, and ride your bike in some of the best locations across Australia – and potentially the world!
Our perfect candidate will have the following:
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Site Supervisor: Certificate IV in Civil Construction (Supervision) and a minimum of 5 years’ experience in supervising civil construction sites. Experience in directing and supervising employees to deliver complex projects with a large number of stakeholders in challenging environments;
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Leading Hand: A minimum of 2 years of experience in trail building, civil construction, or landscaping including a minimum of 2 years of experience as an Operator;
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Nationally recognised qualifications in Excavator and Skid Steer, supported by relevant experience;
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Previous experience in a relevant trade is preferred but not essential;
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A passion for mountain biking, BMX, and bikes.
Apply by emailing dreamjob@trails.com.au and attaching your cover letter and resume, addressing the criteria mentioned above.
If you have any questions, contact Katie at dreamjob@trails.com.au or on 0499 464 564
Can you throw down in the excavator and on the trails?
Employment Type: Permanent and Casual positions available
The Position:
In this position you’ll operate machinery as part of a team to build high-quality mountain bike pump tracks and trails. You will also undertake labouring duties.
Requirements:
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A minimum of 1 year of experience as an excavator operator on high-quality pump tracks or trails;
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Top notch excavator skills; you’re safe, you’re quick, you can follow plans, and you are great in a team;
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Experienced mountain bike trail and/or pump track user and you know how important levels, shapes, and lines are when it comes to building and riding trails and pump tracks, creating flow trail, or bombing a jump line;
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Experience operating a skid steer and other civil construction machinery would be an advantage;
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A trade background is preferred but is not mandatory;
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You get extra bonus points if you have experience with asphalt works;
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Must be physically fit, strong, and happy to travel and work outdoors.
Apply by completing this form.
If you have any questions, contact Katie at dreamjob@trails.com.au or on 0499 464 564
Can you slap shapes as well as you slap turns?
Employment Type: Casual but with full-time hours available
The Position:
This is a skilled labouring position. You will be working with your hands as part of a team to build high-quality mountain bike trails.
The progression of this position is to Operator. Therefore, this position may operate machinery from time to time to train, develop, and gain sufficient competency for the Operator position.
Requirements:
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Experience in trail building;
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Experienced mountain bike trail and/or pump track user and you know how important levels, shapes, and lines are when it comes to building and riding trails and pump tracks, creating flow trail, or bombing a jump line;
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A trade background is preferred but is not mandatory;
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Must be physically fit, strong, and happy to travel and work outdoors.
Apply by completing this form.
If you have any questions, contact Katie at dreamjob@trails.com.au or on 0499 464 564
Can you slap shapes as well as you slap turns?
Employment Type: Casual but with full-time hours available
The Position:
This is a skilled labouring position. You will be working with your hands as part of a team to build high-quality mountain bike pump tracks.
The progression of this position is to Operator. Therefore, this position may operate machinery from time to time to train, develop, and gain sufficient competency for the Operator position.
Requirements:
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Experience in pump track building;
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Experienced mountain bike trail and/or pump track user and you know how important levels, shapes, and lines are when it comes to building and riding trails and pump tracks, creating flow trail, or bombing a jump line;
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A trade background is preferred but is not mandatory;
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You get extra bonus points if you have experience with asphalt works;
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Must be physically fit, strong, and happy to travel and work outdoors.
Apply by completing this form.
If you have any questions, contact Katie at dreamjob@trails.com.au or on 0499 464 564
WORK EXPERIENCE AT COMMON GROUND TRAILS
Common Ground Trails is committed to developing the trail building industry and the next generation of trail builders. One way we aim to do this is by providing work experience placements to people who are interested in perusing a career in trail building in the future. Trail building is a very unique career, so a work experience placement can help people understand what it involves and explore whether it really is something they truly want to do in a professional and long-term capacity.
How to Apply
If you are interested in a work experience placement, please:
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Complete our Work Experience Application Form
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Submit a cover letter and your resume to dreamjob@trails.com.au
Your application will help us to understand your interest, experience, availability, and suitability.
Please note: We receive a large number of applications and may only be able to respond to shortlisted candidates.
Mandatory Requirements
To be successful in your application for work experience at Common Ground Trails, you must:
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Be able to travel safely and reliably to and from the work site each day;
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Have a White Card (general construction induction card), or be willing to obtain one before starting;
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Be part of a student or vocational placement arranged and approved by an educational or training institution;
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Be available to work Monday to Friday (we do not offer placements on weekends);
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Have some relevant experience;
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Be physically fit to perform hands-on work safely;
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Be comfortable working outdoors in varying weather conditions.
Tips for Your Application
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Highlight any relevant experience in your cover letter and resume. Experience can include school projects, volunteer work, or activities in your community or around your home;
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Include photos of any trail building work you have done if available (social media links are welcome);
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Show passion and enthusiasm for trail building, construction, and riding.
Frequently Asked Questions
A: Work experience placements are open to students or trainees through educational or vocational programs.
A: We work throughout Australia - predominantly in Western Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales. You can specify preferred locations in your application.
A: Work experience is available during standard business days and hours, Monday to Friday, 7:00am to 4:00pm. We do not offer weekend or after hours placements.
We are flexible with whether work experience is on a full-time or part-time basis. Some placements may be full-time for a couple of weeks, while others may be one or a few days a week over a longer period. The schedule is often determined by your educational or vocational program and your availability.
A: Yes. While formal employment or experience is not mandatory, we do require some prior relevant experience. Relevant experience can come from a variety of sources, including:
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School subjects: Skills learned in construction-related subjects
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Volunteer trail building: As there are many mountain bike clubs and community groups that need people to help with volunteer trail building and maintenance, Common Ground Trails will rarely provide a work experience placement to someone who is not currently, or who has not previously, completed any volunteer trail building with a club or community group. If you have not completed any volunteer trail building, please consider doing this before applying. Reach out to your local club or community group to see how you can help. You can find your local club here
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Community or home experience: Activities like DIY projects, renovations, gardening, or helping around the house
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Tool use: Experience using hand, power, or gardening tools and equipment
Make sure to highlight any relevant experience in your application - even if not from formal employment.
A: You will be actively involved in a trail or pump track project. This includes hands-on building and other related tasks. You will learn essential safety practices, gain practical skills, and develop a real understanding of how the trail building industry operates. You’ll also get to work alongside our incredible, experienced, and talented crew - learning from them, picking up tips and tricks, and making friends for life.
