Senior Technical Officer - Distribution Water Quality

Jobs in Council; Ballarat; Hybrid; AUD 95,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work option

Work from home flexibility

Professional development

Health & wellbeing programs

Job summary

Central Highlands Water is inviting applications for a Senior Technical Officer – Distribution Water Quality in Ballarat. You will develop and monitor strategies to meet water quality requirements across our drinking water distribution network, including disinfectant residuals and real-time monitoring.

You will lead training for maintenance teams, coordinate incident responses, and work with maintenance to integrate water quality outcomes into programs, with a flexible hybrid work arrangement.

Qualifications

• Water quality management within a water distribution system.
• Strong leadership and organisational skills.
• Attention to detail and clear communication.

Responsibilities

• Disinfectant residual management within the distribution network.
• Monitor and assess distribution system inspections and water quality outcomes.
• Lead response to distribution system water quality incidents.
• Coordinate training and mentor maintenance teams in water quality controls.
• Develop and implement a real-time water quality monitoring strategy.
• Collaborate with maintenance to integrate water quality in programs.

Skills

Water quality management

Team leadership

Communication skills

Regulatory knowledge

Education

Relevant qualifications

Job description

Senior Technical Officer - Distribution Water Quality

Central Highlands Water is a major regional employer, and we want you to join us!

At CHW we provide drinking water, sewerage, trade waste and recycled water services to residents and businesses in the Central Highlands region of Victoria. We are a public sector employer with a proud history spanning more than 150 years of supporting regional prosperity through service excellence.

Central Highlands Water is a growing business which strives to create a thriving and sustainable region by providing the highest quality water related service to our diverse customer base. This opportunity is a vital role to shape the future of how our services support our community.

To learn more about CHW and how our everyday people contribute to the Central Highlands region of Victoria, visit our website, or check out our LinkedIn or Instagram pages!

The opportunity

Requirements

The primary objective of the Senior Technical Officer – Distribution Water Quality role is to develop and monitor the delivery of strategies and programs to ensure CHW and regulatory water quality requirements are delivered upon across the drinking water distribution network. Key duties include:

• Disinfectant residual management within the network distribution system, including storage and distribution tanks and management of water age.
• Monitor the delivery of distribution system pipe and tanks/basins inspection and cleaning programs, assess the effectiveness of the programs and ensure water quality related outcomes are actioned.
• Take a lead role in responding to distribution system water quality incidents e.g. microbial, taste and odour, security breaches, discolouration, backflow events and other possible contamination incidents.
• Coordinate the development and delivery of training/education programs and mentor maintenance delivery teams in the application of water quality controls to distribution maintenance activities.
• Develop and implement a risk-based distribution system wide real time water quality monitoring strategy.
• Work collaboratively with the proactive and reactive maintenance functions to incorporate water quality outcomes within maintenance programs.

About You

Safety is our No. 1 priority, and we expect you will actively contribute to and foster a 'safety first' culture that supports our aspiration of zero harm. This means you care deeply about the physical and psychological safety of people so that our team return home in great shape at the end of the day.

We’d love to hear from you if you have:

• Relevant qualifications, experience, specialist knowledge and skills.
• Knowledge and demonstrated experience in water quality management within a water supply system.
• Demonstrated highly developed organisational and communication skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Proven experience in leading teams and the ability to deliver on water quality outcomes
• Proven knowledge of safety, water quality and environmental regulations.

What's in it for you?

Working for one of the region's largest employers you will be part of an organisation that is high achieving, cohesive and always striving for better customer outcomes. We’re full of "everyday people" that are great to work with and reflect our community!

We’re offering a supportive environment and offer a huge range of employee options and benefits. There’s the option of work hybrid, including a mix of being in our office in Ballarat, as well as the flexibility to work from home. Other benefits include accrued time off, generous leave options, professional development, industry collaboration, health and wellbeing programs and a supportive management team.

At CHW You Will

• Have access to training and development opportunities that will further develop your knowledge and skills.
• Be part of an organisation that strongly promotes work life balance, flexibility, safety and wellbeing.
• Work in an organisation that makes a difference to our community.
• Be part of an organisation that cares about you, your safety and wellbeing.

Applications close 5:00pm Friday 23 October 2026.

• Please note, as part of our selection process, we conduct pre-appointment checks including those related to references, identity, fitness to work, qualifications, work history, work visa, misconduct and police record history.
• This role may be subject to a probation period.

We welcome applications from people with disability and aim to provide an inclusive and accessible workplace. If you need any help with the application process or would like to discuss your reasonable adjustments during interviews, please contact Brenda Wong.

If you need a copy of this advertisement in an accessible format, please email ***email_hidden***.

At CHW we are dedicated to supporting our team's physical and mental wellbeing. We offer flexible and hybrid working opportunities. We assist our team to develop, as people and as leaders. We value diversity and inclusion - our workforce is a place where the melding of a range of views and perspectives is celebrated

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PD - Senior Technical Officer – Distribution Water Quality - October 2026