diff --git a/compass/landice/tests/ensemble_generator/sgh_restart_ensemble/restart_member.py b/compass/landice/tests/ensemble_generator/sgh_restart_ensemble/restart_member.py
index e459d20691..83e3968589 100644
--- a/compass/landice/tests/ensemble_generator/sgh_restart_ensemble/restart_member.py
+++ b/compass/landice/tests/ensemble_generator/sgh_restart_ensemble/restart_member.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 import os
 
+from compass.model import run_model
 from compass.step import Step
 
 
@@ -40,8 +41,8 @@ class InPlaceRestartMember(Step):
 
     Rather than copying files to a new directory, this step operates directly
     in the original run directory. It sets ``config_do_restart = .true.`` in
-    ``namelist.landice`` so that the run continues from its last checkpoint
-    when ``job_script.sh`` is resubmitted by ``EnsembleManager``.
+    ``namelist.landice`` and then runs MALI to continue from the last
+    checkpoint.
 
     Attributes
     ----------
@@ -80,7 +81,8 @@ def __init__(self, test_case, run_num, spinup_work_dir):
     def setup(self):
         """
         Edit ``namelist.landice`` in-place in the original run directory,
-        setting ``config_do_restart = .true.``.
+        setting ``config_do_restart = .true.``, and register the MALI
+        executable as an input for this step.
 
         No files are copied and no new subdirectories are created.
         """
@@ -98,3 +100,13 @@ def setup(self):
 
         print(f'Setting config_do_restart = .true. in {namelist_path}')
         _set_restart_in_namelist(namelist_path)
+
+        # Register MALI executable so compass knows this step needs the model
+        self.add_model_as_input()
+
+    def run(self):
+        """
+        Run MALI in the original run directory to continue the simulation
+        from its last checkpoint.
+        """
+        run_model(self)
diff --git a/compass/landice/tests/ensemble_generator/sgh_restart_ensemble/test_case.py b/compass/landice/tests/ensemble_generator/sgh_restart_ensemble/test_case.py
index 16388c1dd0..47e15534d5 100644
--- a/compass/landice/tests/ensemble_generator/sgh_restart_ensemble/test_case.py
+++ b/compass/landice/tests/ensemble_generator/sgh_restart_ensemble/test_case.py
@@ -15,9 +15,6 @@
 import json
 import os
 
-from compass.landice.tests.ensemble_generator.ensemble_manager import (
-    EnsembleManager,
-)
 from compass.testcase import TestCase
 
 from .restart_member import InPlaceRestartMember
@@ -43,9 +40,6 @@ def __init__(self, test_group):
         name = 'sgh_restart_ensemble'
         super().__init__(test_group=test_group, name=name)
 
-        # Add the ensemble manager (handles job submission)
-        self.add_step(EnsembleManager(test_case=self))
-
     def configure(self):
         """
         Configure restart ensemble by identifying incomplete runs.
@@ -122,9 +116,6 @@ def configure(self):
 
         self.restart_run_numbers = restart_runs
 
-        # Only run ensemble_manager; it submits individual restart jobs
-        self.steps_to_run = ['ensemble_manager']
-
     def _should_restart_run(
             self,
             run_dir,