Safety, Standards & Practices Manager

South East Water Corporation; Frankston; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work options

Health checks and flu shots

Onsite cafe

Job summary

South East Water is seeking an experienced Safety, Standards & Practices Manager to strengthen our safety culture and lead the development of safety and operational standards, procedures, training programs and continuous improvement initiatives across our Service Delivery group.

You will develop governance frameworks, manage documentation and lead a team across standards, training and project management, while partnering with stakeholders to drive data-driven performance and compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Environmental Science, Quality Management or related discipline.
• Strong knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, ISO 9001 or equivalent.
• Experience leading process reviews, root cause investigations and improvement initiatives.
• Demonstrated success developing and implementing standards, procedures and governance frameworks.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, coaching, facilitation and change management skills.
• Excellent analytical capability with data interpretation and actionable recommendations.
• Proven experience developing executive reports, performance measures and dashboards.
• Certifications such as CQA, Lean Six Sigma Green/Black Belt, or ISO Lead Auditor are highly regarded.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, governance and continuous improvement of Service Delivery standards and documentation frameworks.
• Establish and maintain a centralised documentation library.
• Collaborate with subject matter experts to capture operational knowledge.
• Manage document control and information systems with governance and version control.
• Coach and develop a team across standards, practices, training and project management.
• Lead root cause investigations and improvement initiatives after incidents or risks.
• Develop operational dashboards and visual management tools for data-driven decisions.
• Deliver training programs on compliance, safety, and operational capability.
• Establish audit programs to monitor compliance and drive corrective actions.

Skills

Safety governance

Quality management

Documentation management

Operational excellence

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Environmental Science/Quality Management

Tools

Document control systems

Data dashboards

Job description

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We’re here to help people live well and create a better and more sustainable future. We support healthy and liveable communities by delivering water, sewerage and recycled water services to 1.77 million people who rely on us every day and every night. At South East Water, we innovate with purpose and act with care to deliver healthy water for life. Fresh thinking and collaboration are at the heart of our organisation. We are constantly learning, embracing the challenges of today and excited by the opportunities that tomorrow will bring.

The role

We're seeking an experienced Safety, Standards & Practices Manager to build on our safety culture and lead the development of safety and operational standards, procedures, training programs and continuous improvement initiatives across our Service Delivery group.

In this role, you will:

• Lead the development, governance and continuous improvement of Service Delivery standards, processes, procedures and documentation frameworks.
• Establish and maintain a centralised documentation library.
• Partner with subject matter experts to capture critical operational knowledge and embed sustainable knowledge management practices.
• Manage document control and information systems, ensuring effective version control, usability and governance.
• Lead, coach and develop a team spanning standards, practices, training and project management functions.
• Facilitate root cause investigations and improvement initiatives following incidents, process failures or emerging risks.
• Develop and maintain operational performance dashboards and visual management tools that support data-driven decision making.
• Partner with Service Delivery and People, Safety & Governance teams to develop and deliver comprehensive training programs covering compliance, safety, operational capability and professional development.
• Establish audit and assurance programs to monitor compliance, identify opportunities for improvement and drive corrective actions.

Who are you?

You have a strong understanding of safety, compliance and risk management principles through your experience in standards governance, quality management, documentation management or operational excellence, along with:

• A Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Environmental Science, Quality Management or a related discipline.
• Strong knowledge of continuous improvement methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, ISO 9001 or equivalent frameworks.
• Experience leading process reviews, root cause investigations and business improvement initiatives.
• Demonstrated success developing and implementing standards, procedures and governance frameworks.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, coaching, facilitation and change management skills.
• Excellent analytical capability, including the ability to interpret data and provide meaningful recommendations.
• Proven experience developing executive reports, performance measures and operational dashboards.
• Relevant certifications such as Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt, or ISO Lead Auditor highly regarded.

What's in it for you?

Working at South East Water means you can enjoy a wealth of benefits, starting with the chance to be part of an organisation deeply committed to environmental initiatives and sustainability; one who has been recognised as one of the top 101 Workplaces for Women in Australia by Work180 for the past two consecutive years anda 2026 Finalist in the Work180 Equitable Workplace Awards ‘Flexible Working’ category.

South East Water cultivates a dynamic culture that emphasises collaboration and strong work ethics, supported by career-focused learning and development opportunities. As a SEW employee, you can enjoy the following offerings from our benefits package:

• Access to My Fitness Passport, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), annual flu shots, and health checks.
• Work-life balance with flexible working arrangements, including hybrid work options and leave purchasing.
• Additional leave offerings, such as cultural and ceremonial leave and study leave.
• Head office with modern facilities and panoramic beachfront views, a separate parents' room, a prayer and meditation room and an onsite cafe.
• Limited free onsite and offsite car parking available, as well as pay-as-you-go parking options nearby.
• Opportunity to be part of great initiatives involving the local community.

We're for everyone

Our people are as diverse as the communities we serve. It makes us better learners, thinkers and collaborators, helping create better outcomes for our customers.

We are deeply committed to Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging, and we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTIQ+ individuals, people with disability and jobseekers of all ages and cultures. We aim to provide an inclusive, accessible workplace where everyone is welcome, safe, and celebrated. If you need any help with the application process or would like to discuss your reasonable adjustments during interviews, please reach out to our Talent team at [e-mail].

To be considered for this opportunity, you must hold unrestricted working rights for the period of employment at the time of application. Successful candidates will also be required to undergo a number of pre-employment checks, including a police records check.

South East Water operates a 24/7 service environment. Whilst this role does not involve after-hours rostered duty, all employees may be required to provide out of hours support from time to time as required.