Director - Water Source Planner

AECOM; City of Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Extra annual leave

Volunteer leave

Public holiday flex

Job summary

AECOM in Melbourne seeks a Director - Water Source Planner to deliver strategic advice on catchment planning, water security and system resilience. You will drive options, master plans and investment roadmaps with autonomous client engagement and global collaboration.

You will apply hydraulic modelling to evaluate reservoirs and transfer systems, anticipate climate variability, and develop client-ready deliverables for senior stakeholders. Hybrid work is supported in this role.

Qualifications

• Degree (or equivalent) in Engineering, Environmental Science, Water Resources or Hydrology.
• Experience in catchment planning and water source strategy.
• Proven hydraulic modelling capability applied to catchments and reservoirs.
• Strong planning skills: forecasting, screening, multi-criteria assessment, staging.
• Understand how reservoirs operate within integrated water supply systems.
• Experience assessing climate change and drought scenarios for resilient paths.
• Consultancy background with autonomous work and client interfaces.
• Proficiency with industry-standard modelling tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead catchment planning and water source strategy assignments informing long-term investment and resilience.
• Apply hydraulic modelling to assess supply options, reservoir operations and system performance under varied scenarios.
• Work with our global technical community to develop client-ready insights and master planning deliverables.
• Focus on strategic advice and master planning; major project delivery experience not required.
• Develop water source and catchment strategies with options, staging, and risk-based frameworks.
• Undertake catchment and hydraulic modelling to evaluate system behaviour and constraints.
• Analyse demand, climate variability, drought, and water quality to advise on resilience and targets.
• Prepare clear, defensible master plans and investment roadmaps for decision-makers.
• Engage with stakeholders to align technical recommendations with policy and environment outcomes.
• Collaborate with global specialists to bring best-practice methods to local challenges.

Skills

Catchment planning

Water source strategy

Hydraulic modelling

Climate scenarios

Client interface

Deliverables

Education

Engineering or related field

Tools

Hydraulic modelling tools

Job description

Company Description

Balancing the world’s need for safe, reliable water with protecting this critical natural resource for the future requires a deep understanding of interconnected systems.

We work with clients across the entire project life cycle - from initial planning studies through final construction and operations and maintenance services - on both traditional and alternative project-delivery options (design-build, public-private partnerships and financing).

With a robust design and construction division, AECOM offers a unique perspective on designing projects that are fully constructible.

Everyone belongs at AECOM

We’re committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging - because great ideas come from diverse perspectives. AECOM is proud to be a Fortune 500 Most Admired Company, a WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality, # Work180 Equitable Workplace Awards 2025 Winner and an AWEI Bronze Tier LGBTQ+ Inclusive Employer.

Job Description

Due to significant contract awards within our ANZ Water business, we are expanding our Water Infrastructure Team in Melbourne, VIC and are hiring a Director - Water Source Planner to deliver strategic, high-impact advice on catchment planning, water security and system resilience. This specialist role suits an autonomous consultant who thrives on complex problem-solving and collaborating with peers across our global network.

As Water Source Planner, you will:

• Lead catchment planning and water source strategy assignments that inform long-term investment and resilience decisions for clients.
• Apply hydraulic modelling and planning expertise to assess supply options, reservoir operations and system performance under varied scenarios (e.g., climate change and drought).
• Work independently with support from our global technical community to develop robust, client-ready insights and master planning deliverables.
• Focus on strategic advice and master planning, major project delivery experience is not required.
• Develop water source and catchment strategies, including options assessment, staging, and risk-based decision frameworks.
• Undertake catchment and hydraulic modelling to evaluate system behaviour, constraints and opportunities across reservoirs, headworks and transfer systems.
• Analyse scenarios (demand growth, climate variability, drought, water quality) and advise on resilience uplift, reliability, and level-of-service targets.
• Prepare clear, defensible master plans, concept strategies, and investment roadmaps for client decision-makers.
• Engage with stakeholders to align technical recommendations with policy, regulatory, environmental and community outcomes.
• Collaborate with global specialists to bring best-practice methods, benchmarks and tools to local challenges.

Qualifications

Here’s what we’re looking for:

• A degree (or equivalent) in Engineering, Environmental Science, Water Resources, Hydrology, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience in catchment planning, water source strategy and/or water security assessments.
• Proven hydraulic modelling capability applied to catchments, reservoirs and distribution interfaces.
• Strong planning skill set: demand forecasting, options screening, multi-criteria assessment, and program staging.
• Understanding of how reservoirs and headworks operate within integrated water supply systems.
• Experience assessing climate change and drought scenarios to inform resilient, adaptive pathways.
• Consultancy background with the ability to work autonomously, interface with clients, and produce high-quality strategic deliverables.
• Proficiency with industry-standard tools for catchment and hydraulic modelling; we remain flexible on specific platforms and value transferable skills.
• Chartered or working toward chartership with a relevant professional institution is advantageous.
• A proven ability to deliver clear, evidence-based reports, strategies and presentations for senior stakeholders.
• Hands‑on experience contributing to water and wastewater planning, source strategy, or master planning projects.

Additional Information

Why you’ll love working with us

• Flexible work arrangements, including alternative start/finish times, part‑time, job‑sharing and hybrid work options
• Purchase up to 6 weeks additional annual leave per year
• Volunteer and representation leave
• Flex public holidays - swap Easter or other holidays for ones that suit you better

We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those with disabilities, additional health or mental health needs, and/or neurodiverse conditions. If you require any adjustments during the hiring process, please let us know.

Learn more about life at AECOM: LinkedIn, Facebook , Instagram, X, YouTube - explore our AECOM voices, employee stories, latest projects, and much more!

We are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in‑person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

AECOM acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we, our clients and our communities live and work around Australia. We pay our respects to their cultures and to their Elders - past, present, and emerging. We are committed to connecting to Country in our work through meaningful engagement with First Nations peoples and businesses. Find out more about our Australian Reconciliation Action Plan here: https://aecom.com/au/our-vision-for-reconciliation/.

About AECOM

AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle - from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public-and-private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.

Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity

You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

You will help us foster a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion – a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

AECOM provides a wide array of compensation and benefits programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We also provide a robust global well‑being program. We’re the world’s trusted global infrastructure firm, and we’re in this together – your growth and success are ours too.

Join us, and you’ll get all the benefits of being a part of a global, publicly traded firm - access to industry‑leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours.

ReqID: J10151087

Business Line: Water

Business Group: DCS

Strategic Business Unit: ANZ

Career Area: Engineering

Work Location Model: Hybrid