Manager Water & Wastewater

Isaac Regional Council; Isaac Regional; On-site; AUD 170,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Council housing

Vehicle arrangements

Relocation assistance

Leadership development

Job summary

Isaac Regional Council in Queensland seeks a proven water and wastewater operations leader to shape delivery across treatment plants, networks and storage. You will develop supervisory capability, drive regulatory compliance and lead performance improvements in a geographically distributed region.

You will coach coordinators and supervisors, balance safety, customer service and financial outcomes, and work closely with the Director Infrastructure Services to implement strategic asset management

Qualifications

• Five+ years' local government management experience.
• Experience managing water and wastewater operations.
• Strong leadership and change management capability.
• Knowledge of water industry reporting and regulatory obligations.
• Experience leading service improvements and asset management.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• MS Office proficiency and valid driver license; White Card.

Responsibilities

• Lead water and wastewater teams, building capability and accountability.
• Oversee treatment, reticulation, pumping and bulk distribution services.
• Maintain drinking water quality, wastewater and recycled water reporting.
• Improve operations and asset performance and reliability.
• Monitor financial performance and identify efficiency opportunities.
• Oversee bulk water storage, dam safety, inspections and actions.
• Support emergency preparedness and regulator relations.
• Foster an integrated, safety-focused team culture.

Skills

Operations leadership

Water operations

Regulatory knowledge

Stakeholder engagement

Financial management

People leadership

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Isaac Regional Council | Isaac Region QLD | Operational Leadership | Circa $230k to $250 TRP

Public Sector People are proud to partner with Isaac Regional Council to recruit a Manager Water & Wastewater-a key leadership opportunity responsible for safe, reliable and compliant water, wastewater and recycled water services across the region.

Reporting to the Director Infrastructure Services, you will lead a broad operational portfolio encompassing treatment plants, networks, pump stations, bulk water storage and dam safety, laboratory services and SCADA. Your focus will be on supporting the people who deliver these essential services while strengthening operational performance and regulatory compliance.

Council is seeking an experienced water industry leader who can build confidence within the team, develop its supervisory capability and provide practical direction through change. Strong treatment knowledge is particularly valuable, alongside the ability to oversee network operations and balance safety, customer service and financial outcomes.

The Role

This is an opportunity to shape how essential services are delivered and build leadership capability throughout the team. Early priorities include strengthening team cohesion, coaching coordinators and supervisors, improving processes and addressing technical challenges, particularly within treatment operations.

Working closely with the Director and other infrastructure managers, you will drive service improvements, support strategic and operational asset management and contribute to Council's future commercialised water and waste business unit.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading, coaching and developing water and wastewater teams, building capability, accountability and succession
• Overseeing treatment, reticulation, pumping and bulk distribution services across a geographically distributed customer base
• Maintaining drinking water quality, wastewater and recycled water environmental compliance and associated reporting
• Improving operations and maintenance systems, asset performance and service reliability
• Managing operational resources, monitoring financial performance and identifying efficiency opportunities
• Overseeing bulk water storage and dam safety, asset inspections, audits and corrective actions
• Maintaining emergency preparedness, including responsibilities under the Theresa Creek Dam Emergency Action Plan
• Building trusted relationships with regulators, customers, unions, government agencies and elected representatives
• Supporting organisational change and developing a positive, integrated and safety-focused team culture

About You

You are an experienced water and wastewater operations leader who combines technical judgement with proven people management. You enjoy developing others, resolving operational challenges and building systems that enable teams to deliver consistently.

You will bring:

• At least five years' experience at local government management level or in a comparable role
• Experience managing operations and maintenance across water and wastewater treatment, pump stations and networks
• Strong people leadership, coaching and change management capability
• Sound knowledge of water industry reporting, regulatory obligations and Australian industry practice
• Experience leading operational and maintenance service improvements
• Strong financial, resource management and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the judgement to work effectively in a public sector environment
• Experience engaging customers, unions, regulators and other stakeholders
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, a Construction White Card and a valid driver licence

Tertiary qualifications in engineering, science, environmental management or a related discipline are desirable. Eligibility for CPEng or RPEQ, and postgraduate qualifications in business, asset, maintenance or operations management, are highly regarded but not mandatory.

Local government experience will be an advantage, but Council also welcomes experienced leaders from utilities and other water industry organisations who bring strong operational expertise, people leadership and an understanding of community service obligations.

Why Join Isaac Regional Council

Isaac is a region that feeds, powers and builds communities. This role offers the chance to make a direct contribution to the reliability of essential services while developing the people who support the region’s long-term future.

• Base salary of $170,000-190,000, with flexibility considered for an exceptional candidate
• Council housing and vehicle arrangements, or allowances in lieu, subject to agreed terms
• Relocation assistance to support your move to the region
• A broad leadership portfolio covering water, wastewater and recycled water services
• The opportunity to strengthen team capability, improve operations and influence future service delivery

Council's preference is for the successful candidate to be based within the Isaac region, providing visible leadership and becoming part of the communities they serve. The role includes responding to operational escalations and supporting emergency readiness when required.

Applications close: 6th November at 5pm

Applications will be reviewed and interviews may be conducted throughout the campaign. Council reserves the right to close the process early if a suitable candidate is appointed. Early applications are encouraged.