Program Director - Water Infrastructure

Laing O'Rourke; Western Australia; On-site; AUD 300,000 - 460,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Learning & development

Mental health & wellbeing program

Paid parental leave

Purchased leave option

Parental leave coaching

Job summary

Laing O’Rourke is seeking a Program Director to lead a major water infrastructure program from Perth, providing executive leadership across the full asset lifecycle and driving safe, sustainable outcomes in cost, schedule, quality, risk and asset performance.

Your strong WA market knowledge and stakeholder networks will be key to aligning government, regulators and project teams to deliver value for communities and clients.

Qualifications

• Minimum 20 years' experience leading major infrastructure programs in the water, utilities, transport, energy or resources sectors.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor multidisciplinary teams across engineering, project management, commercial, construction and operational functions.
• Drive strategic decision-making and resolve complex issues impacting program performance.
• Direct the delivery of a portfolio of major capital projects from planning and development through design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and handover.
• Manage program dependencies, interfaces, and critical delivery risks.
• Establish and maintain effective governance frameworks, reporting structures, and assurance processes.
• Ensure compliance with legislative, environmental, regulatory, and organisational requirements.
• Oversee program budgets, forecasting, and financial performance.
• Lead commercial and procurement strategies to support successful delivery outcomes.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with executive stakeholders, government agencies, regulators, local authorities, and operational business units.
• Ensure assets are designed, constructed, and commissioned to meet operational requirements.
• Oversee operational readiness, transition, and handover.

Job description

Laing O’Rourke is a $6 billion global engineering and manufacturing-led construction leader, delivering state-of-the-art infrastructure and buildings projects. In Australia, we’ve proudly operated under the Laing O’Rourke banner for over 20 years, building on more than 70 years of local expertise.
Driven by our purpose - pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, in service of humanity - we create safer hospitals, cleaner water, secure defence facilities, and better-connected cities. We also build meaningful careers and inclusive workplaces where people thrive. Backed by global strength and deep local roots, our unique operating model combines cutting-edge technology with modern methods of construction to deliver certainty for clients and transform how infrastructure is engineered and built.

We also own two vertically integrated businesses: Select Plant Australia, the nation’s fourth-largest plant hire company, and Laing O’Rourke Rail Operations, supporting major projects and nationwide rail maintenance.

That’s the Power of Experience.

About the Role

We are currently seeking a Program Director to lead a major water infrastructure program as part of our high preforming bids and proposals team based out of Perth.

The purpose of this role is to lead the strategic delivery of a major water infrastructure program where you will provide executive leadership across the full asset lifecycle, driving safe, sustainable and value-focused outcomes across cost, schedule, quality, risk and asset performance.

Your strong industry relationships and knowledge of Western Australia’s infrastructure market will be key to aligning stakeholders and delivering lasting business, customer and community outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor multidisciplinary teams across engineering, project management, commercial, construction and operational functions.
• Drive strategic decision-making and resolve complex issues impacting program performance.
• Direct the delivery of a portfolio of major capital projects from planning and development through design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and handover.
• Manage program dependencies, interfaces, and critical delivery risks.
• Establish and maintain effective governance frameworks, reporting structures, and assurance processes.
• Ensure compliance with legislative, environmental, regulatory, and organisational requirements.
• Oversee program budgets, forecasting, and financial performance.
• Lead commercial and procurement strategies to support successful delivery outcomes.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with executive stakeholders, government agencies, regulators, local authorities, and operational business units.
• Ensure assets are designed, constructed, and commissioned to meet operational requirements.
• Oversee operational readiness, transition, and handover.
  

About You

• Minimum 20 years' experience leading major infrastructure programs in the water, utilities, transport, energy or resources sectors.
• Demonstrated success delivering large-scale capital programs valued in excess of $1 billion.
• Experience delivering major water infrastructure programs, including treatment, conveyance, storage and network assets, is strongly preferred. Outstanding candidates from other infrastructure sectors with transferable program leadership capability will also be considered.
• Proven capability leading complex, multidisciplinary teams across multiple concurrent projects.
• Experience operating at executive and board reporting levels.
• Strong background in program governance, commercial management, risk management, and stakeholder engagement.
• A blend of client-side and contractor delivery experience is desirable, providing an ability to balance owner, operator, delivery and commercial perspectives.
• Demonstrated success managing complex regulatory, community, and operational interfaces.
• Experience across the full infrastructure lifecycle from strategy and planning through commissioning and handover.
  

We work hard to create an environment that brings out the best in our people. We believe in building careers through providing a safe, connected and innovative culture that supports ongoing growth and development. We offer industry-leading benefits such as specialised learning and development programs, a mental health and wellbeing program, industry leading paid parental leave policy, an additional purchased leave option and coaching programs for staff on parental leave.

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to building a workforce that reflects the diverse society in which we live and work. Laing O’Rourke is r ecognised as a WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality in 2020, 2022, 2024 and 2026. We know that the right culture and purposeful innovation are key to delivering impact.

Laing O'Rourke actively supports a diverse workforce and strongly encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and people from culturally diverse backgrounds. Download our Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan at https://www.laingorourke.com/company/diversity-and-inclusion

Applications from recruitment agencies will not be considered.