Senior Application Services Specialist

SA Water; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading water utility in South Australia seeks a Senior Application Services Specialist to manage and optimise customer and billing applications. The role emphasizes continuous improvement and operational excellence, requiring strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills. You'll collaborate closely with technology teams and stakeholders to ensure service performance and stability. Applicants should have a relevant qualification and a background in managing application services within an ITIL framework. Join an innovative team dedicated to transforming digital landscapes.

Qualifications

• Experience in managing application services within an ITIL environment.
• Ability to lead technology initiatives and translate business needs into technology outcomes.
• Strong background in supporting business-critical applications.
• Excellent communication, analytical and problem-solving skills with stakeholders across Technology, Operations and the business.
• Ability to translate business needs into clear, practical technology outcomes.
• Role may evolve into people leadership over time.

Responsibilities

• Own and optimise customer and billing application services.
• Act as a senior subject matter expert for customer and billing platforms.
• Coordinate testing activities across business-as-usual and project work.
• Produce operational and ad-hoc reporting for business insight.
• Coordinate and/or undertake testing activities across BAU and project work.
• Partner with vendors and support teams to manage incidents, changes, enhancements and manage service & vendor performance.
• Provide advice and guidance to projects and programs, including supporting teams to understand billing systems and processes.
• Produce operational and ad‑hoc reporting to support business insight and decision‑making.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving skills

Communication skills

Leadership

Education

Qualification in computer science, engineering or management

Tools

ITIL framework

Job description

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

This Senior Application Services Specialist role is responsible for the hands‑on service ownership of SA Water’s customer and billing platforms, with a strong focus on optimisation, continuous improvement and operational excellence. Operating across business‑as‑usual, initiatives and major transformation, the role ensures services are stable, fit for purpose and positioned to support future system replacement.

Working in a complex, environment, the Senior Application Services Specialist partners closely with Technology teams, vendors and business stakeholders. The role provides trusted, strategic advice, supports informed decision‑making, and acts as a key link between business needs and technology outcomes.

About the Person

You are an experienced application or service specialist who takes ownership and leads through influence. Comfortable working in ambiguity, you drive initiatives forward and are known for translating business needs into clear, practical technology outcomes. You bring broad technical knowledge and deep experience supporting business‑critical applications, ideally within an ITIL‑aligned service delivery environment. Strong communication, analytical and problem‑solving skills enable you to build trust and credibility with stakeholders across Technology, Operations and the business. While the role does not initially have direct reports, it may evolve into a people leadership role over time.

About Technology

The Technology group is constantly pushing the boundaries of innovation and technology and is driven by its collaborative inclusive culture. This team of diverse professionals is dedicated to transforming digital landscapes, ensuring seamless operations, delivering cutting‑edge solutions and utilising data for optimised decision making. With a focus on the future and a commitment to excellence now, the group thrives on solving complex challenges, driving efficiency, and enhancing user experiences.

In addition, your responsibilities will include:

• Own and optimise customer and billing application services across their full lifecycle.
• Act as a senior subject matter expert and trusted advisor for customer and billing platforms.
• Lead optimisation and continuous improvement initiatives across application services and Technology Operations.
• Review and help define requirements, designs and vendor specifications, approving work to progress to build.
• Coordinate and/or undertake testing activities across BAU and project work.
• Partner with vendors and support teams to manage incidents, changes, enhancements and manage service & vendor performance.
• Provide advice and guidance to projects and programs, including supporting teams to understand billing systems and processes.
• Produce operational and ad‑hoc reporting to support business insight and decision‑making.

Your success in this role will come from:

• Qualification in the field of computer science, engineering or management or equivalent experience.
• Excellent knowledge and experience of managing and providing applications management support and development using industry standard processed, i.e. ITIL within a corporate environment.
• Expert analytical, conceptual thinking and problem‑solving skills within a technology department.
• Ability to communicate effectively to establish constructive and positive working/customer relationships and “Can do”.
• Experience in influencing and leading technology teams. Ability to lead and manage people.
• Strong knowledge of applications management, contract management, sourcing models and managing service providers is desirable.

To apply, click ‘Apply’. Please submit and complete the application form, upload a cover letter and current resume. For enquiries or a copy of the Position Description, please contact Despina Livadiotis from the Talent Acquisition team [e-mail].

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.