Quality Systems Officer (SAW5)

SA Water; South Australia; On-site; AUD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A public utility provider in South Australia is seeking a Quality Systems Officer to enhance quality and environmental management systems. This role involves auditing, document management, and stakeholder engagement to ensure compliance and continuous improvement. The ideal candidate will have operational acumen and experience in public utilities. Flexibility for travel is required, and applications are encouraged from diverse candidates.

Qualifications

• Experience in conducting audits and managing document, records, and metadata.
• Ability to frequently travel to regional locations (SA state-wide).

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain and enhance operational drinking water quality and environmental management systems.
• Support continuous improvement via participation in management system audits.
• Ensure compliance to corporate policies and procedures.

Skills

Strong operational acumen

Quality and environmental management

Stakeholder engagement

Document management best practices

Communication skills

Education

Experience in water quality and public utilities

Lead Auditor certification or training

Tools

Sharepoint

Power BI

Job description

About the Company

SA Water is a successful, modern water utility wholly owned by the Government of South Australia. We employ more than 1,700 people across a broad range of disciplines who operate more than $14 billion worth of infrastructure to deliver essential water and sewerage services to more than 1.8 million South Australians.

We operate in a geographically and climatically diverse service area, with sites and locations from Ceduna through to Port Augusta, the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, across to the Riverland, down to Mount Gambier, and most places in between.

Our strength and expertise have been shaped by our history. For more than 165 years, South Australians have depended on us to innovate and deliver efficient and sustainable water services. With nationally and internationally recognised industry expertise, we’re focused on understanding and meeting our customers’ expectations.

As well as safely delivering smart and reliable services for our customers of today, we innovate to shape the water solutions of the future that will support thriving economies and healthy communities.

We are driven by our values; we value our people, we do work that matters, we keep it real, we know that our work has impact and we are future focussed. Staying true to our values ensures that we consistently deliver positive outcomes for all South Australians.

About the job

The role of the Quality Systems Officer is to develop, maintain and enhance operational aspects of the Quality and Environmental Management Systems that form the foundation for water treatment, field services and wastewater treatment operations within SA Water’s Operations group. The success of the Quality Systems team relies on providing our front-line teams with reliable information to support effective decision making and meet our obligations and customer requirements. Continuous improvement in quality and compliance of operational service delivery is driven by risk assessments, audits, and reviews of business processes. Stakeholder engagement is a key aspect of this role and due to the geographical nature of the business being across the state there will be a requirement of travel 2 days a fortnight however this is flexible.

About the Person

An ideal candidate will be highly motivated, taking on a hands-on approach in engage with the operational workforce and build strong internal and external relationships. To be successful in this role, you should possess strong operational acumen, with a robust understanding of quality and environmental management within a production environment, including experience in conducting audits and managing document, records and metadata.

About Operations and Maintenance

The Operations & Maintenance team oversees the management of our water, wastewater and River Murray activities and conducts operational control activities for a secure water supply. The team is responsible for both planned and unplanned maintenance activities, integrating corrective, preventive, predictive, and precision maintenance strategies. They aim to meet availability, performance, cost, and risk targets by leveraging technical asset maintenance and reliability expertise. Operations & Maintenance strives to deliver smart and reliable services to customers while enhancing overall operational efficiency.

In addition, your responsibilities will include:

Fostering trust with our people, customers and community by providing expert advice and service that ensure we effectively communicate and engage audiences with our business strategy and its delivery across South Australia, every day.

You will:

• Actively participate in a safety-focused work environment.
• Develop, maintain and enhance operational drinking water quality and environmental management systems and procedures, in compliance to the Safe Drinking Water Act and ISO 14001: 2015 requirements.
• Coordination of documentation reviews to support the effective management of operational risks and ensure compliance to corporate policies and procedures.
• Liaising and collaborating with internal stakeholders in developing SOPs as well as identifying continuous improvement opportunities.
• Support continuous improvement via participation in management system audits.
• Provide QMS and EMS training support to Operational teams.
• Monitor the effectiveness of the QMS/EMS within assigned areas using data-driven performance measures.

Your success in this role will come from:

• Sound knowledge of quality and environmental management principles and standards, including ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. Experience in its application in water quality and public utilities environment is an advantage.
• Strong knowledge and application of document management best practices, including a high level of computer literacy and experience in the use of metadata and data management platforms (e.g. Sharepoint, Power BI).
• Well-developed written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to effectively work with, and influence a wide range of stakeholder groups, including office and field-based personnel.
• Experience in the delivery and management of audits to support continuous improvement. Lead Auditor certification or training is an advantage.
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team.
• Ability to frequently travel to regional locations (SA state-wide).

Further information can be found in the attached PD – Quality Systems Officer (Ops Perf).docx

To apply, click 'Apply'. Please submit and complete the application form, upload a cover letter and current resume. For enquiries, please contact Rebecca Darling - [e-mail] or Natalia Teixeira - [e-mail] from the Talent Acquisition team.

Applications close 4pm, Thursday 09 October 2025.

A great customer experience is best achieved by having a diverse and inclusive team that reflects the community we serve. Applications are encouraged from everyone, including people living with disability, job seekers of all ages, members of the LGBTIQA+ community, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and people from culturally diverse backgrounds.

Our Industry is like no other. Dive into the wonderful world of water and explore the boundless opportunities. Learn more about the water industry at careersinwater.com.au.

Please note: We request that recruitment agencies do not submit candidates for this position, as they will not be accepted.