DWQ Desalination Planning - Senior Technical Advisor

Water Corporation; City Of Vincent; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work options

Well-being days

Long service leave pro rata

Superannuation: 12% employer + 2% with

salary sacrifice option

Additional leave up to 12 weeks

Cultural/ceremonial leave up to 5 days

Annual leave loading 17.5%

Job summary

Water Corporation is seeking a Senior Technical Advisor - DWQ Desalination Planning to provide strategic technical expertise across new source and desalination projects, focusing on water quality risk assessment, source protection and treatment requirements.

You will collaborate with planners, engineers, regulators and stakeholders to deliver robust solutions protecting public health and ensuring sustainable water supply.

Qualifications

• Degree in engineering, science, environmental science or related discipline.
• Significant experience in drinking water quality management and risk assessment.
• Strong experience in water treatment processes and/or catchment management.
• Experience in strategic planning, policy development and technical review.
• Detailed knowledge of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, source protection requirements and associated legislation.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist technical advice on DWQ risks, source protection, treatment requirements and risk mitigation strategies for major new source and desalination projects.
• Support planning and assessment of source and treatment options, ensuring alignment with DWQ principles and regulatory requirements.
• Lead water quality investigations, monitoring programs, risk assessments and technical reviews.
• Develop water quality management requirements and third-party DWQ management plans for proposed water sources and treatment systems.
• Ensure project scope, option evaluations, operating strategies, risk management approaches and business case activities address water quality risks and obligations.
• Support engagement with the Department of Health and contribute to strategic stakeholder discussions relating to DWQ outcomes.
• Lead the implementation of water quality risk management plans for preferred source and treatment options.
• Contribute to the development of business cases through identification of water quality risks, regulatory requirements, mitigation measures and associated cost impacts.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance water quality outcomes, operational performance and value for money.

Skills

Water quality risk assessment

Strategic planning

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

Engineering or science degree

Job description

About the role

As a Senior Technical Advisor - DWQ Desalination Planning, you will provide strategic technical expertise across new source and desalination projects, with a focus on water quality risk assessment, source protection, treatment requirements and DWQ governance. You will be a trusted technical advisor, supporting key project decisions from concept development through to implementation by ensuring water quality risks, treatment requirements and regulatory obligations are appropriately considered and managed.

Working within the Water Quality Business Unit's DWQ Strategy & Risk team, you will collaborate with planners, engineers, project teams, regulators and operational stakeholders to deliver, assess and recommend robust solutions that protect public health and support sustainable water supply outcomes.

Who we are

When you join Water Corporation, you play an important role for the people of WA. Our services are essential for life - everyday, millions of Western Australians rely on us to deliver and manage water across our state.

If you’re driven to make a meaningful contribution, you’ve come to the right place.

Real benefits that matter

• Real flexibility with options to work from home, flexible work hours
• Two well-being days each year to recharge, relax and enjoy life (separate to standard paid sick/personal leave)
• Access to long service leave pro rata after 3 years of service
• Take advantage of our co-contribution superannuation scheme. Receive a 12% employer contribution and enjoy an additional 2% employer co-contribution when you elect to salary sacrifice 2%
• Purchase additional leave of up to 12 weeks or work 4 years at a reduced salary and take the fifth year off as paid leave
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural and ceremonial leave of up to 5 days so you can maintain your cultural connection and wellbeing.
• Annual leave loading – an extra 17.5% pay when you use your annual leave

Discover more benefits we offer to support the unique and individual ways our employees live.

What you can expect with this role

• Provide specialist technical advice on DWQ risks, source protection, treatment requirements and risk mitigation strategies for major new source and desalination projects.
• Support the planning and assessment of source and treatment options, ensuring alignment with DWQ principles and regulatory requirements.
• Lead water quality investigations, monitoring programs, risk assessments and technical reviews.
• Develop water quality management requirements and third-party DWQ management plans for proposed water sources and treatment systems.
• Ensure project scope, option evaluations, operating strategies, risk management approaches and business case activities appropriately address water quality risks and obligations.
• Support engagement with the Department of Health and contribute to strategic stakeholder discussions relating to DWQ outcomes.
• Lead the implementation of water quality risk management plans for preferred source and treatment options.
• Contribute to the development of business cases through identification of water quality risks, regulatory requirements, mitigation measures and associated cost impacts.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance water quality outcomes, operational performance and value for money.

Your skills and experience

For this role, we are looking for great talent with:

• A degree qualification in engineering, science, environmental science or a related discipline.
• Significant experience in drinking water quality management and risk assessment.
• Strong experience in water treatment processes and/or catchment management.
• Experience in strategic planning, policy development and technical review.
• Detailed knowledge of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, source protection requirements and associated legislation.
• Strong understanding of surface water and groundwater treatment requirements and their application to water source risks.
• Excellent analytical, conceptual and problem-solving skills.
• Strong report writing, technical documentation and communication skills.
• Proven ability to build productive relationships across a diverse stakeholder network and work collaboratively to deliver outcomes.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality outcomes within agreed timeframes.

Applications close 19 November 2026

We reserve the right to withdraw this ad prior to the closing date

As part of the recruitment process you may be required to complete pre-employment screening which commonly include - but not limited to - a medical, qualification check, police clearance and Australian working rights check. If you would like the full list of pre-employment screening checks prior to applying, please contact [e-mail]

Our commitment to a diverse and inclusive workplace:

Diversity and inclusion are more than words. They guide us on building a thriving workforce that reflects the diversity of our customers and our community.

We encourage applications from every background, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, women, youth, LGBTQIA+ folks and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

We are committed to ensuring an accessible and inclusive work environment to enable people with disability to participate fully in all aspects of employment.

Applicants with disability who require adjustments during the recruitment process including an alternative format of the application form, can contact a Recruitment Officer at [e-mail] or 08 9420 2000.

To read our diversity and inclusion statement, please visit our website