Senior Project Officer

Melbourne Water Corporation; City of Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 103,854 - 126,933; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Inclusive workplace culture

Diversity and Inclusion initiatives

Job summary

Melbourne Water Corporation is looking for a Senior Project Officer in Melbourne to lead the Maintenance Agreements Backlog Program. This fixed-term role entails coordinating with councils on stormwater management projects and ensuring successful delivery through stakeholder engagement.

The ideal candidate will have experience in project management, negotiation, and procurement. A commitment to a flexible and inclusive workplace is emphasized, fostering a supportive environment.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience delivering multiple projects in various settings.
• Proven experience in developing and negotiating agreements and contracts.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, especially with local government.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning and delivery of Project Headway initiatives.
• Manage negotiations for Maintenance Agreements with Councils.
• Build relationships with internal stakeholders to achieve outcomes.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Negotiation

Procurement

Communication

Tools

Maximo

GIS (ESRI)

Job description

About The Role

Salary MWEA Level 7: $115,394 + Super

Reporting to the Manager Service Enablement Healthy Waterways, this fixed-term opportunity (to 24 December 2026) is ideal for a Senior Project Officer or professional who is experienced in projects related to public open space and land development to lead the delivery of the Maintenance Agreements Backlog Program under Project Headway.

Working closely with the Project Manager – Project Headway, you will coordinate and deliver a complex program of work focused on reviewing, developing, and negotiating Maintenance Agreements between Melbourne Water and Local Councils for Stormwater Quality Wetlands, Constructed Waterways, and Retarding Basins across Melbourne’s growth areas.

This role will suit someone who thrives in a collaborative environment and has a proven track record of stakeholder engagement, negotiation, and delivering outcomes in complex, multi‑stakeholder settings.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the planning, prioritisation, and delivery of Project Headway initiatives.
• Managing the review, development, and negotiation of Maintenance Agreements with Councils.
• Building strong relationships with internal stakeholders and Local Councils to achieve agreed outcomes.
• Influencing and negotiating with key stakeholders to resolve issues and progress delivery objectives.
• Managing procurement activities and consultant/service provider contracts.
• Preparing high‑quality reports, executive briefs, and project updates.
• Identifying risks, driving continuous improvement, and ensuring compliance with governance requirements.
• Promoting a strong safety culture and supporting safe work practices.

About You

You are a highly organised project professional with experience delivering complex programmes in environments such as water, land development, infrastructure, or local government.

You will bring:

• Demonstrated experience delivering multiple projects or workstreams, balancing competing priorities and deadlines.
• Proven experience developing, reviewing, and negotiating agreements, contracts, or similar documentation.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills, with the ability to influence and negotiate effectively with senior stakeholders, including Local Government representatives.
• Experience in procurement and contract management.
• Excellent communication, problem‑solving, and reporting skills with a strong focus on outcomes.
• Experience with asset or enterprise systems such as Maximo, GIS (ESRI), or similar platforms (desirable).
• Knowledge of Drainage Service Schemes, wetlands, waterways, retarding basins, or similar asset and service frameworks (desirable).

We walk the talk when it comes to flexible working – our culture of purpose, safety, results, and learning permeates everything we do. We are dedicated to doing what’s right and fostering a supportive and inclusive culture that encourages you to make the most of your talents.

Our long‑standing commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging means that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTIQ+ individuals, neurodivergent individuals, people living with disability, mature‑age and young jobseekers from all cultures can apply with confidence knowing they are safe, affirmed, and celebrated.