Senior Network Operations Leader

Council Jobs; Gold Coast City; Hybrid; AUD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Fitness Passport access

Counselling support

Nutritionist session

Professional development courses

Job summary

The City of Gold Coast invites applications for a Senior Network Operations Leader to translate priorities into safe, coordinated operation of water and sewer networks. You will lead multiple disciplines, ensuring service continuity, risk management and workforce capability.

This hands-on leadership role focuses on people, resources and field delivery within the standards set by the Coordinator Network Operations.

Qualifications

• Certificate IV in Water Industry Operations / Leadership or relevant equivalent knowledge and experience
• C Class Drivers Licence (Unrestricted) (Mandatory)
• Knowledge of water, sewage, and recycled water infrastructure systems including an understanding of operations, maintenance, renewal and refurbishment processes
• Strong leadership experience in a large or multidisciplinary operational environment
• A demonstrated commitment to safety, both as a leader and personally
• Experience in project coordination, scheduling, budget management and continuous improvement
• Strong communication, consultation and stakeholder-management skills
• The ability to build and maintain constructive relationships with internal and external stakeholders

Responsibilities

• Lead operational teams to deliver safe, reliable and compliant network outcomes.
• Turn operational priorities into clear work plans, performance expectations and service-delivery standards.
• Coordinate people, plant, contractors and other resources to maintain service continuity and respond to changing priorities.
• Build workforce capability through coaching, competency development, succession planning and clear performance expectations.
• Lead incident reviews and ensure corrective actions are owned, implemented and followed through.
• Drive practical improvements in safety, productivity, cost control and operational work practices.
• Work with Asset Management, Engineering, Planning and Delivery to inform maintenance, renewal, resilience and capital-project priorities.
• Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, drinking-water, regulatory and Security of Critical Infrastructure Act obligations.

Skills

Leadership

Safety management

Project coordination

Stakeholder management

Communication

Education

Certificate IV in Water Industry Operations / Leadership

Job description

Utilities Network Operations operates the City of Gold Coast’s water, sewage and recycled water networks. The team protects public health, the environment and the continuity of essential services through safe, reliable and coordinated network operations.

About the role

The Senior Network Operations Leader is responsible for converting operational priorities into safe, coordinated and effective operation of the City’s networks. Reporting to the Coordinator Network Operations, you will lead multiple operational disciplines, with responsibility for service continuity, workforce capability, operational performance and day-to-day risk management.

You will help the organisation know the network by maintaining a clear view of current conditions and operational risk, operate the network through disciplined planning and execution, and stay ahead by addressing emerging issues, recurring failures and capability gaps before they affect services.

This is a hands-on senior operational leadership role. Its focus is leading people, resources and field delivery within the priorities, standards and direction established by the Coordinator Network Operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead operational teams to deliver safe, reliable and compliant network outcomes.
• Turn operational priorities into clear work plans, performance expectations and service-delivery standards.
• Coordinate people, plant, contractors and other resources to maintain service continuity and respond to changing priorities.
• Build workforce capability through coaching, competency development, succession planning and clear performance expectations.
• Lead incident reviews and ensure corrective actions are owned, implemented and followed through.
• Drive practical improvements in safety, productivity, cost control and operational work practices.
• Work with Asset Management, Engineering, Planning and Delivery to inform maintenance, renewal, resilience and capital-project priorities.
• Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, drinking-water, regulatory and Security of Critical Infrastructure Act obligations.

Please refer to the Position Brief for further information about the role and its responsibilities.

The position is classified as a security-sensitive critical infrastructure position and the successful candidate will be required to undertake an SOCI ACT Background Check.

We’re looking for people who have:

• Certificate IV in Water Industry Operations / Leadership and Management and / or relevant equivalent knowledge and experience
• C Class Drivers Licence (Unrestricted) (Mandatory)
• Knowledge of water, sewage, and recycled water infrastructure systems including an understanding of operations, maintenance, renewal and refurbishment processes
• Strong leadership experience in a large or multidisciplinary operational environment
• A demonstrated commitment to safety, both as a leader and personally
• Experience in project coordination, scheduling, budget management and continuous improvement
• Strong communication, consultation and stakeholder-management skills
• The ability to build and maintain constructive relationships with internal and external stakeholders

Be part of shaping the Gold Coast’s future

The Gold Coast is inspired by lifestyle and driven by opportunity. We are the second largest Council in Australia.

We care about being the most flexible government organisation in Australia. We have a range of benefits to help you create the right balance:

• Flexible work arrangements to suit your lifestyle, including hybrid/work from home options, flexible working hours and locations
• Personal and professional development courses
• Access to 350+ fitness facilities through Fitness Passport
• 4 free confidential counselling sessions a year for you or an immediate family member
• 1 free nutritionist and financial advice session per year

We pride ourselves on our shared mission of being a high-performing, customer-focused organisation which delivers value-for-money services to the community.

Closing Date Sunday, 01 November 2026 at 11:59pm AEDT

Our selection process may include a one-way video interview via Criteria, a face-to-face or virtual interview via Microsoft Teams, reference checks via Xref and additional checks including police checks, employment history checks, qualification checks, pre-employment medical reviews and drug and alcohol testing.

We’re committed to creating a diverse workplace and inclusive culture. We take pride in people who align with our high-performance principles. We believe that the diverse makeup of our workforce reflects the community we serve. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences and identities, and encourage candidates to discuss any support or adjustments they may need throughout the recruitment process.