Industry Programs Manager

Heart Talent; Willoughby City Council; Hybrid; AUD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Chatswood office

Hybrid working 3 days in office/2 days

Salary packaging benefits

Novated leasing for vehicles

Respected brand in a critical sector

Diverse programs and stakeholders

Job summary

Heart Talent, in partnership with the Australian Water Association, is seeking a proactive program professional to own and shape national industry programs. The role is based in Chatswood, NSW, with hybrid working (3 days in office/2 days WFH), offering diverse programs and opportunities to drive impact across water sector stakeholders.

You will lead end-to-end program delivery, engage with partners, and develop sustainable models that deliver value for AWA, its members and the broader sector.

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience in program or project delivery.
• Experience across water, resources, environment or related sectors.
• Strong planning, coordination and organisational skills.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and facilitation abilities.
• Commercial awareness to identify opportunities and sustainable models.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of industry programs and initiatives.
• Manage governance, resourcing, risk and on-time, on-budget delivery.
• Build and maintain relationships with members, partners and government.
• Identify and develop new program and partnership opportunities aligned with purpose.
• Develop sustainable programs with funding, resourcing and commercial considerations.
• Manage program budgets, applications and reporting.
• Establish outcomes, monitor progress and evaluate impact.

Skills

Program management

Stakeholder engagement

Project delivery

Governance

Budget management

Education

Science/Engineering degree

Tools

MS Project

MS Office

Job description

Are you a proactive, curious program manager looking for an opportunity to own and shape industry programs in a thriving, critical sector?

Do you feel energised by change, growth and working with diverse stakeholders across sectors?

Looking for a job with plenty of variety and genuine scope in a supportive, flexible environment?

Ready to take ownership of established national programs, help to create new initiatives and work across the organisation and sector to connect ideas, people and outcomes and make things happen?

If you’re a natural communicator and collaborator who brings people together and builds strong partnerships while being hands‑on and outcomes focused, this could be the role you’re looking for.

Heart Talent is delighted to partner with the Australian Water Association (AWA) — the peak body for Australia's water sector — as it enters an exciting new chapter.

With a new five-year strategy setting clear direction for the water community and a vision for a sustainable water future, there's real momentum behind growing AWA's reach and impact, making this an exciting time to join the organisation.

Are you a proactive, curious program manager looking for an opportunity to own and shape industry programs in a thriving, critical sector?

Do you feel energised by change, growth and working with diverse stakeholders across sectors?

Looking for a job with plenty of variety and genuine scope in a supportive, flexible environment?

Ready to take ownership of established national programs, help to create new initiatives and work across the organisation and sector to connect ideas, people and outcomes and make things happen?

If you’re a natural communicator and collaborator who brings people together and builds strong partnerships while being hands‑on and outcomes focused, this could be the role you’re looking for.

Heart Talent is delighted to partner with the Australian Water Association (AWA) — the peak body for Australia's water sector — as it enters an exciting new chapter.

With a new five-year strategy setting clear direction for the water community and a vision for a sustainable water future, there's real momentum behind growing AWA's reach and impact, making this an exciting time to join the organisation.

What's on offer

• permanent, full time role

• Chatswood office

• hybrid working — 3 days in office/2 days WFH

• salary packaging benefits to boost take home pay

• novated leasing for vehicles

• respected brand in a critical sector

• diverse programs, initiatives and stakeholders

About the opportunity

Building on an exciting growth trajectory and guided by a renewed purpose to inspire, connect and transform, AWA is evolving from a connector of water professionals into a catalyst for system-wide change.

Reporting to the Head of Partnerships and Programs, you will take ownership of a portfolio of programs and initiatives that connect people, organisations and ideas across the water sector and beyond.

This is a hands‑on role combining program and project management, stakeholder engagement, partnership development and commercial thinking.

You’ll manage established national programs while identifying opportunities to develop new programs, partnerships and sustainable models that deliver value for AWA, its members and the broader water sector.

You’ll also lead new programs from idea and design through to delivery, evaluation and continuous improvement.

You’ll connect program insights and outcomes across AWA to extend their reach and impact.

This role offers genuine scope to question, improve and build — identifying opportunities, developing sustainable programs and helping shape how AWA collaborates with the water sector and adjacent industries into the future.

Key responsibilities include:

• lead end-to-end delivery of industry programs and initiatives

• manage planning, governance, resourcing, risk and on-time, on-budget delivery

• build and maintain relationships with members, industry partners, technical experts, government and other stakeholders

• identify and develop new program and partnership opportunities aligned with AWA’s purpose and priority impact areas

• develop sustainable programs, considering business case, funding, resourcing and commercial opportunities

• manage program budgets, funding opportunities, applications and reporting

• establish clear outcomes, monitor progress and evaluate impact and benefits

• continuously improve established programs to increase value, reach and impact

• connect program outcomes and insights across policy and advocacy, marketing and communications, events and other AWA initiatives

• manage external contractors and consultants as required.

About you

You’re a proactive, self-driven program professional who combines strong project delivery capability with excellent stakeholder engagement.

You have experience working across water, resources, environment, sustainability or an adjacent sector.

You’re comfortable working across different subject areas and stakeholder groups and able to see the bigger picture while remaining hands‑on with the detail.

We’d love you to bring:

• 5+ years’ experience in program or project delivery

• qualifications in science, engineering, natural resource management or a related field

• strong project management, planning, coordination and organisational skills

• demonstrated capability in monitoring, evaluation and benefits realisation

• exceptional stakeholder engagement, communication and facilitation skills

• excellent written and verbal communication skills

• commercial awareness and the ability to identify opportunities and develop sustainable program models

• creative thinking and an appetite to develop, build and improve programs

• curiosity and the ability to quickly get across different subject matter

• ability to work across multiple programs and subject areas, balancing competing priorities

• comfortable working with ambiguity and in an evolving environment

• ability to balance strategic thinking with hands‑on delivery

• a proactive, self-starting approach and ability to work with autonomy

• a collaborative, hands‑on approach and willingness to work end-to-end.