Associate Director, Water

AtkinsRealis Australia Pty Ltd; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work solutions

Remote work outside AU

Bonus program

Wellbeing program

Skills development & growth

Job summary

AtkinsRéalis Australia Pty Ltd is seeking an Associate Director - Water to lead and grow the Water and Wastewater Advisory capability across Australia. The role involves strategic leadership of a multidisciplinary team, driving client engagement, and leading bids while delivering high‑quality regulatory, technical and advisory services.

You will contribute to stakeholder engagement, workforce planning and development, and deliver against financial targets within a flexible hybrid work model

Qualifications

• Leadership and communication to guide multi‑disciplinary teams.
• Proven track record developing self and others for results.
• Strong network within the Australian water sector.
• Ability to establish trusted client relationships and meet expectations.
• Proactive, client‑focused delivery approach.
• Ability to assess complex projects for risks and opportunities using governance processes.
• Develop, manage and execute strategic/tactical plans.
• Experience supporting creation and delivery of budgets and forecasts with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Shape team structure, capability and capacity to meet market demand.
• Engage with clients across the water sector to strengthen relationships and pipeline.
• Lead bid development to deliver competitive, commercially sound proposals.
• Provide regulatory, technical and advisory services to Australian and international clients.
• Resource and deliver projects in line with standards and governance.
• Support financial targets, productivity and a high‑performance culture.
• Mentor and motivate a diverse Water team and enable mobility pathways.
• Foster a collaborative win‑work culture and drive opportunity management through CRM.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Strategic thinking

Network in water sector

Client relationship

Travel flexibility

Regulatory knowledge

Team development

CRM

Tools

CRM

Job description

Job Description Overview

As part of our Consulting & Strategic Advisory practice, our Water team works at the intersection of people, regulation and the water environment, helping regulated water utilities deliver better outcomes for customers and the environment. We bring together a diverse, high‑performing team with deep technical expertise, strong regulatory insight and a collaborative, digitally enabled approach, delivering high‑quality advisory services and independent technical assurance that drive real change for communities. Reporting to the Water Market Lead, the Associate Director - Water will be responsible for contributing to the growth our Water and Wastewater Advisory capability across Australia, with links to our global practice. The role provides strategic and technical leadership across a multidisciplinary team delivering a variety of advisory and engineering services to water utilities and regulators. Building upon the foundational advisory services of regulatory economics, technical assurance, bioresources/biosolids and asset management, along with leveraging Engineering and Design (E&D) and Project and Program Management (PPM) teams, this role will contribute to the growth of AtkinsRéalis’ portfolio in the Australian water sector. Working closely with the Water Market Lead you will assist in building a high‑performing, sustainable team, aligned to market demand, while establishing a nationally recognised centre of excellence known for technical quality, innovation and collaboration. The location of role is flexible across the East Coast of Australia, with hybrid‑working supported and with potential offices including Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane

Your role

Assist in shaping team structure, capability and capacity to respond to emerging Australian water market, regulatory and policy priorities. Support client engagement across the water sector, helping to strengthen relationships and contribute to business planning that builds a sustainable pipeline of work. Play a key role in work‑winning activities, supporting the coordination and development of compelling, competitive and commercially sound bids and proposals. Provide high‑quality regulatory, technical and advisory services to Australian and international clients, working collaboratively with the Water Market Lead and wider business. Support effective project resourcing and delivery in line with service delivery standards, governance requirements and client expectations. Support delivery against financial targets, productivity objectives and the development of a strong performance culture. Support our Water Market Lead in developing, mentoring and motivating a high‑performing, diverse and inclusive Water team, contributing to clear development and mobility pathways. Champion a collaborative win‑work culture, supporting opportunity management through CRM and shared accountability for growth

About you

• Leadership and communication skills with the ability to lead, inspire, collaborate, and engage effectively across medium‑sized teams.
• Track record of developing self and others to deliver demonstrable results.
• A known leader within the Australian water sector, with a strong network.
• Able to establish trusted relationships with clients and get satisfaction from meeting/exceeding client expectations.
• Possess a proactive and client‑focused attitude towards delivery.
• Ability to critically assess projects of all complexities to identify risks and opportunities and use project management and governance processes to balance business and client needs
• Develop, Manage and Execute strategic/tactical plans.
• Experience of supporting the creation and successful delivery of financial and operational performance budgets and forecasts, taking inputs from various stakeholders.
• Possess knowledge, experience and expertise of core Consulting Advisory functions including industry leading approaches to operations and maintenance, tools, planning and integration.
• Appropriately flexible for travel as required around relevant office locations.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career.

This includes:

• Flexible and hybrid work solutions
• Remote work opportunities outside of country
• Performance driven discretionary bonus program
• Employee Wellbeing Program: 24/7 access to specialists in finance, legal matters, family care, personal health, fitness, and nutrition
• Seize every opportunity to sharpen your skills, expand your expertise, and be recognised for the impact you make.

About AtkinsRéalis

We're AtkinsRéalis, a world‑class engineering services and nuclear organisation. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people. Find out more.

#LI-AUS

Worker Type Employee Job Type Regular

At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world‑class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences. Created by the integration of long‑standing organizations dating back to 1911, AtkinsRéalis is a world‑class engineering services and nuclear company dedicated to engineering a better future for our planet and its people. We create sustainable solutions that connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. We deploy global capabilities locally to our clients and deliver unique end‑to‑end services across the whole life cycle of an asset including consulting, advisory & environmental services, intelligent networks & cybersecurity, design & engineering, procurement, project & construction management, operations & maintenance, decommissioning and capital. The breadth and depth of our capabilities are delivered to clients in strategic sectors such as Engineering Services, Nuclear and Capital. News and information are available at Atkinsrealis or follow us on LinkedIn.