Manager IT Strategy and Planning

Melbourne Water; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 190,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Melbourne Water is seeking an experienced technology strategy and planning leader to shape the future of technology across the organisation. You will lead development, governance and execution of enterprise IT/OT strategy, roadmaps and planning framework.

You will translate priorities into executable plans, influence senior stakeholders and establish governance for benefits realisation. As a trusted adviser, you will ensure alignment with regulatory obligations and financial sustainability while

Qualifications

• Extensive experience developing and governing enterprise IT, digital or IT/OT strategies and strategic roadmaps.
• Strong strategic planning, business engagement and consulting capability.
• Ability to align enterprise architecture, technology investment and delivery priorities with organisational strategy.
• Experience developing business cases, investment proposals, decision papers and executive-level recommendations.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, with experience supporting portfolio prioritisation and benefits realisation.
• Sound understanding of technology governance, cyber security, privacy, data protection, risk and regulatory obligations.
• Proven success building trusted partnerships between senior business and technology stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, negotiation and influencing skills.
• The ability to simplify complex issues, navigate ambiguity and create clarity across competing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, governance and execution of Melbourne Water's enterprise IT/OT Strategy, supporting technology roadmaps and implementation plans.
• Establish an integrated planning approach connecting business and technology strategy, enterprise architecture, investment planning, risk management and workforce capability.
• Translate strategic intent into practical plans, decision papers, options analysis, investment recommendations and executive-level materials.
• Partner with executive, business and technology leaders to identify opportunities that improve operational, customer, community, environmental and financial outcomes.
• Facilitate transparent, evidence-based prioritisation across competing technology and business demands.
• Shape investment priorities by connecting strategic objectives, regulatory requirements, risk reduction, affordability and benefits realisation.
• Support business cases, investment proposals and portfolio prioritisation for technology-enabled change.
• Establish performance measures to demonstrate whether technology strategies and investments are delivering their intended outcomes.
• Identify and elevate strategic technology risks, capability gaps, dependencies and unresolved decision points.
• Ensure technology planning considers cyber security, privacy, data protection, critical infrastructure, procurement, records management and public-sector obligations.

Skills

Enterprise IT strategy

Strategic planning

Business engagement

Executive-level recommendations

Financial acumen

Cyber security awareness

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Job description

In Melbourne, water is essential to our way of life. As caretakers of Melbourne's water cycle and catchments, we care for water, life, and land across the city. From protecting storages and preparing for floods, to restoring waterways and supporting thriving communities, our work shapes how Melbourne lives.

At the same time, we plan for the future, preparing for climate challenges in a growing city and ensuring it remains resilient for generations to come.

If you want your work to make a real difference, are willing to dive into complex challenges, and believe in doing what is right, you will find your place here.

Who we are

In Melbourne, water is essential to our way of life. As caretakers of Melbourne's water cycle and catchments, we care for water, life, and land across the city. From protecting storages and preparing for floods, to restoring waterways and supporting thriving communities, our work shapes how Melbourne lives.

At the same time, we plan for the future, preparing for climate challenges in a growing city and ensuring it remains resilient for generations to come.

If you want your work to make a real difference, are willing to dive into complex challenges, and believe in doing what is right, you will find your place here.

About the Role

This is an influential leadership opportunity to shape the future of technology across Melbourne Water.

As the Manager IT Strategy & Planning, you will lead the development, governance and execution of Melbourne Water's enterprise IT/OT Strategy, strategic technology roadmaps and integrated planning framework. You will ensure technology direction, investment priorities, enterprise architecture and delivery planning are aligned with organisational objectives, regulatory obligations, financial sustainability and long-term customer and community outcomes.

Operating as a trusted enterprise adviser, you will translate organisational priorities, emerging technology trends, cyber security obligations, data opportunities and operational technology considerations into clear strategic choices, investment priorities and executable plans. You will bring clarity to complex and competing demands, influence senior stakeholders and establish a coherent, governed and future-focused approach to technology planning and benefits realisation.

• Lead the development, refresh and governance of Melbourne Water's enterprise IT/OT Strategy, supporting technology roadmaps and implementation plans.
• Establish an integrated planning approach connecting business and technology strategy, enterprise architecture, investment planning, risk management and workforce capability.
• Translate strategic intent into practical plans, decision papers, options analysis, investment recommendations and executive-level materials.
• Partner with executive, business and technology leaders to identify opportunities that improve operational, customer, community, environmental and financial outcomes.
• Facilitate transparent, evidence-based prioritisation across competing technology and business demands.
• Shape investment priorities by connecting strategic objectives, regulatory requirements, risk reduction, affordability and benefits realisation.
• Support business cases, investment proposals and portfolio prioritisation for technology-enabled change.
• Establish performance measures to demonstrate whether technology strategies and investments are delivering their intended outcomes.
• Identify and elevate strategic technology risks, capability gaps, dependencies and unresolved decision points.
• Ensure technology planning considers cyber security, privacy, data protection, critical infrastructure, procurement, records management and public-sector obligations.

For more information, please refer to the attached Role Mandate

About you:

You are an experienced technology strategy and planning leader who can connect organisational priorities with practical, achievable technology outcomes. You will bring:

• Extensive experience developing and governing enterprise IT, digital or IT/OT strategies and strategic technology roadmaps.
• Strong strategic planning, business engagement and consulting capability.
• Demonstrated ability to align enterprise architecture, technology investment and delivery priorities with organisational strategy.
• Experience developing business cases, investment proposals, decision papers and executive-level recommendations.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, with experience supporting portfolio prioritisation and benefits realisation.
• A sound understanding of technology governance, cyber security, privacy, data protection, risk and regulatory obligations.
• Proven success building trusted partnerships between senior business and technology stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, negotiation and influencing skills.
• The ability to simplify complex issues, navigate ambiguity and create clarity across competing priorities.
• Experience within a complex, regulated, utility, infrastructure or public-sector environment will be highly regarded.

Why join us:

At Melbourne Water, we care deeply about water and the life it sustains.

Our team is inspired by passion and purpose, with an unwavering commitment to safety. We are on a mission to protect every Melburnian's way of life, one drop at a time.

We do not just talk about flexible working - we live it. Our culture of purpose, safety, results, and learning flows through everything we do. We're dedicated to doing what's right, and this commitment extends to the meaningful work we do in a supportive and inclusive culture that encourages you to make the most of your talents.

Our long-standing commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging means that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTIQ+ individuals, Neurodivergent Individuals, people living with disability, mature age and young jobseekers from all cultures can apply with confidence knowing they are safe, affirmed, and celebrated.

If you're curious, action-orientated, outcomes-focused, and enthusiastic about public resources, community, and the environment, we'd love to receive your application and learn if you could be a great fit.