Senior Project Manager, Project Development

Greater Western Water Limited; City of Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 166,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Greater Western Water is seeking a Senior Project Manager in Project Development to lead early-stage business case development for high-value infrastructure projects in the Integrated Asset Planning team. You will guide Part 1 business cases, manage cross‑functional handovers to Delivery and influence capital delivery across the utility.

Based in Footscray with a hybrid work arrangement, you will coach team leaders and engineers, build capability in business case development, and ensure

Qualifications

• Experience in infrastructure project development and planning.
• Experience with capital delivery and operations (desirable).
• Experience developing water, sewer or recycled water network projects preferred.
• Strong business case development and writing skills.
• Proven project management skills from planning to handover.
• Leadership, mentoring and change management abilities.
• Degree in Engineering, Economics, Business or relevant field.
• Water or utility experience desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead the timely development of Part 1 Business Cases and handover of projects to Delivery.
• Engage stakeholders to ensure project meets service needs and risks are managed.
• Mentor Project Managers and Engineers within the team.
• Coach in business case development and project initiation processes.
• Collaborate to prioritise project development pipeline considering resources.
• Improve development processes with feedback from PMO and Infrastructure Program Delivery.
• Lead complex cross-team investigations as required.

Skills

Infrastructure planning

Capital delivery

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Risk management

Project management

Strategic thinking

People leadership

Education

Degree in Engineering

Job description

Job Details

• Permanent Full Time
• From $166k package
• Footscray location, hybrid

About Greater Western Water

We’re water... and more. GWW is a Victorian government owned water corporation that provides an essential service to some of the fastest-growing communities in Australia, stretching from Melbourne’s CBD to Lancefield in the north and Bacchus Marsh in the west.

Opportunity

The Senior Project Manager, Project Development is a senior leader within the Project Development team in Integrated Asset Planning, reporting to the Team Leader and responsible for guiding the early development of high-value, complex infrastructure projects through to the Business Case Part 1 gate. The role leads the preparation of robust business cases and comprehensive handover documentation, drives implementation of GWW’s capital delivery lifecycle (Portfolio and Project Management Framework), contributes to enterprise capital prioritisation aligned to strategic risks and business priorities, and builds capability across the function in business case development and effective project handover. The team delivers major projects across all asset types, including water and sewer mains, tanks, pump stations, odour control and recycled water assets, solar and energy initiatives, and treatment plant upgrades, with this role playing a key part in shaping delivery in collaboration with Greater Western Water’s new NextGen planning, engineering and delivery partners.

Responsibilities

• Lead the timely development of Part 1 Business Cases and handover of projects to Delivery, ensuring deliverables meet Department of Treasury & Finance and/or Commonwealth funding requirements, with clear functional requirements and defined next-phase activities.
• Engage and collaborate with key internal stakeholders to ensure project is meeting required service need, identify and assess project risks that inform scope development, and build strong alignment and support for the agreed project pathway and outcomes.
• Mentor and support Project Managers and Engineers within the Project Development team, actively contributing to a high-performing, collaborative and positive team culture.
• Build capability within Integrated Asset Planning (IAP) by coaching Team Leaders, SMEs and business case development champions to independently lead business case development, while strengthening understanding of project initiation and handover processes across the function.
• Collaborate with initiator and delivery teams to identify and prioritise the project development pipeline considering business need, resourcing and deliverability.
• Incorporate feedback from Integrated Asset Planning, the Project Management Office and Infrastructure Program Delivery to improve project development processes and ensure project priorities at master planning and initiation phases guide development timelines.
• Lead complex cross-team investigations and studies where required.

Skills & Experience

• Demonstrated experience in infrastructure project development and planning. Proven capability in capital delivery and/or operations (desirable)
• Experience developing network projects for water, sewer or recycled water infrastructure preferred (e.g. mains, pipelines, pump stations, tanks).
• Strong expertise in business case development and writing to support informed investment and project decisions.
• Proven project management skills, including leading complex projects from planning through to handover.
• Effective people leadership and change management abilities, with experience mentoring teams and driving capability development.
• Strategic thinking and decision-making skills, with the ability to operate confidently in environments of significant uncertainty.
• Degree in Engineering, Economics, Business or relevant industry experience
• Water or utility experience (desirable)

Equality and Diversity

We’re supportive, inclusive, and friendly, and value everyone for who they are and what they can bring. We’re seeking applicants across all cultural backgrounds, genders, and abilities, and will make reasonable adjustments as required, so please talk to us about what you need.

Pre-employment Checks

The successful candidate will be required to complete pre-employment checks, including reference checks, medical assessments, a national police check, and verification of working rights in Australia.

Applications close

Sunday 18 October