Manager Policy – Pool Ref 1026A

Department of Water and Environmental Regulation; City Of Joondalup; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) is seeking to establish a pool of talented and motivated professionals for the position of Manager Policy (Level 7).

This is an exciting opportunity to lead a team of policy professionals, influence strategic decision-making, and contribute to initiatives that support the sustainable management of Western Australia's environment and natural resources.

Qualifications

• Lead, coach and develop teams to achieve strategic objectives.
• Build an inclusive culture where people feel valued and empowered.
• Provide clear direction while navigating change and priorities.
• Influence senior stakeholders with sound judgement and credible advice.
• Drive outcomes through planning, prioritisation and decision-making.
• Encourage innovation and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, implementation and evaluation of strategic policy and regulatory initiatives.
• Provide high-quality policy analysis, advice and recommendations on complex issues.
• Manage complex policy programs and priorities with strong governance.
• Build relationships across government, industry and community.
• Represent DWER in consultations, working groups and interagency forums.
• Lead stakeholder engagement to support coordinated policy outcomes.
• Develop and lead a high-performing team through coaching and capability development.
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement in policy development and service delivery.

Skills

Policy leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Team coaching

Policy analysis

Strategic thinking

Job description

Are you an experienced people leader with a passion for developing policy that delivers meaningful outcomes for Western Australia?

The Opportunity:

The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) is seeking to establish a pool of talented and motivated professionals for the position of Manager Policy (Level 7).

This is an exciting opportunity to lead a team of policy professionals, influence strategic decision-making, and contribute to initiatives that support the sustainable management of Western Australia's environment and natural resources.

About the Role

As Manager Policy, you will lead the development, implementation and review of complex policy, strategic and legislative initiatives that support government priorities and organisational objectives. You will provide high-quality strategic advice, manage competing priorities, and foster productive relationships with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders.

Working collaboratively across government, industry and the community, you will contribute to the delivery of complex projects and policy outcomes that have a lasting impact on Western Australia.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead the development, implementation and evaluation of strategic policy, legislative and regulatory initiatives.
• Provide high-quality policy analysis, advice and recommendations on complex and emerging issues.
• Manage complex policy programs, projects and work priorities, ensuring effective governance and delivery.
• Build and maintain productive relationships across government, industry and community sectors.
• Represent DWER in consultations, working groups, committees and interagency forums.
• Lead stakeholder engagement activities to support coordinated policy outcomes.
• Develop and lead a high-performing team through coaching, mentoring and capability development.
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement in policy development and service delivery.

About You

This role will suit an established leader who enjoys developing people, building capability and creating a positive team culture. You understand that strong outcomes are achieved through strong leadership, and you lead by example, fostering collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement.

You have a demonstrated ability to:

• Lead, coach and develop professional teams to achieve strategic objectives.
• Build an inclusive workplace culture where people feel supported, valued and empowered to contribute.
• Provide clear direction while navigating change, competing priorities and emerging challenges.
• Influence and engage senior stakeholders, building confidence through sound judgement and credible advice.
• Drive organisational outcomes through effective planning, prioritisation and decision-making.
• Encourage innovation, continuous improvement and a solutions-focused mindset.

At DWER, every employee is a leader. The WA Public Sector Commission's Leadership Expectations framework outlines the behaviours expected of leaders across the Western Australian public sector and supports individual, team and organisational success.

As a Leading Others leader, you will create an environment where people can thrive, build capability within your team, foster productive relationships, and lead the delivery of strategic outcomes. Applicants should be able to demonstrate experience leading people, navigating complexity, and achieving results through collaboration and influence.

At the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, we are committed to fostering a modern workplace that supports flexibility, collaboration, and wellbeing.

Our flexible work arrangements include options for alternative work locations and adaptable schedules, designed to accommodate a variety of professional and personal needs.

We recognise that effective work can happen in different settings, and our approach reflects this, enabling staff to contribute meaningfully while maintaining balance and resilience.

We are committed to creating an equitable, diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels supported and valued. We recognise the unique skills, perspectives and experiences that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, people from culturally diverse backgrounds, women and young people bring to our workforce, and we encourage applications from these groups.

We welcome applications from people with disabilities and are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process. If you require any adjustments to participate in the recruitment process, please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Join us and be part of a department that values innovation, inclusivity, and the evolving nature of work.

CLOSING DATE: 4.00pm on Friday 20 November 2026 (Australian Western Standard Time)