Sewer Maintenance Manager

South East Water; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work options

Career development

Health checks

Leave flexibility

Job summary

South East Water in Melbourne is seeking a Sewer Maintenance Manager to lead the safe and efficient operation and maintenance of the sewerage network and trade waste compliance functions. You will drive contractor performance, regulatory compliance and continuous improvement while managing a diverse team of technical, operational and customer service professionals.

The role requires a tertiary qualification in Civil or Environmental Engineering, strong leadership, stakeholder engagement and a

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in Civil or Environmental Engineering.
• Experience in sewerage network operations and asset management.
• Proven leadership of multidisciplinary teams.
• Knowledge of sewerage asset lifecycle management.
• Experience managing contractors and service delivery partners to achieve safety and performance.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Analytical, problem-solving and project management capabilities.
• Commitment to safety leadership and risk management.
• Customer-first mindset balancing operations, compliance and customer expectations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the safe, efficient sewerage network operation and maintenance.
• Oversee maintenance programs and contractor delivery.
• Contribute to long-term management and optimization of sewer assets.
• Support emergency response and incident management activities.
• Drive regulatory compliance and continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Safety leadership

Analytical/problem-solving

Customer focus

Communication

Operational excellence

Contractor management

Education

Civil or Environmental Engineering degree

Job description

Who are we?

We're here to help people live well and create a better and more sustainable future. We support healthy and liveable communities by delivering water, sewerage and recycled water services to 1.77 million people who rely on us every day and every night. At South East Water, we innovate with purpose and act with care to deliver healthy water for life. Fresh thinking and collaboration are at the heart of our organisation. We are constantly learning, embracing the challenges of today and excited by the opportunities that tomorrow will bring.

The role

As Sewer Maintenance Manager, you will lead the safe, efficient and customer-focused operation and maintenance of South East Water's sewerage network and trade waste compliance functions. You will be responsible for ensuring critical services are delivered to the community 24/7, while driving operational excellence, contractor performance, regulatory compliance and continuous improvement across a diverse team of technical, operational and customer service professionals.

Working closely with internal and external stakeholders, you will provide expert technical leadership, oversee maintenance programs and contractor delivery, and contribute to the long-term management and optimisation of South East Water's sewer assets. You will also champion innovation, safety and customer outcomes while supporting emergency response and incident management activities.

Who are you?

To be successful in this role, you will bring:

• A tertiary qualification in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering or a related discipline.
• Significant experience across sewerage network operations, maintenance, asset management or related infrastructure environments.
• Proven leadership experience managing multidisciplinary operational, technical and customer-focused teams, with a track record of developing capability and driving high performance.
• Strong knowledge of sewerage network asset lifecycle management and associated operational practices.
• Demonstrated experience managing contractors and service delivery partners to achieve safety, performance and customer outcomes.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence outcomes across a broad range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and project management capabilities, with the ability to identify opportunities for continuous improvement and innovation.
• A strong commitment to safety leadership, risk management and fostering a positive safety culture.
• A customer-first mindset and the ability to balance operational performance, compliance obligations and customer expectations.

What's in it for you?

Working at South East Water means you can enjoy a wealth of benefits, starting with the chance to be part of an organisation deeply committed to environmental initiatives and sustainability; one who has been recognised as one of the top 101 Workplaces for Women in Australia by Work180 for the past two consecutive years and a 2026 Finalist in the Work180 Equitable Workplace Awards 'Flexible Working' category.

South East Water cultivates a dynamic culture that emphasises collaboration and strong work ethics, supported by career-focused learning and development opportunities. As a SEW employee, you can enjoy the following offerings from our benefits package:

• Access to My Fitness Passport, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), annual flu shots, and health checks.
• Work-life balance with flexible working arrangements, including hybrid work options and leave purchasing.
• Additional leave offerings, such as cultural and ceremonial leave and study leave.
• Head office with modern facilities and panoramic beachfront views, a separate parents' room, a prayer and meditation room and an onsite cafe.
• Limited free onsite and offsite car parking available, as well as pay-as-you-go parking options nearby.
• Opportunity to be part of great initiatives involving the local community.

We're for everyone

Our people are as diverse as the communities we serve. It makes us better learners, thinkers and collaborators, helping create better outcomes for our customers.

We are deeply committed to Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging, and we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTIQ+ individuals, people with disability and jobseekers of all ages and cultures. We aim to provide an inclusive, accessible workplace where everyone is welcome, safe, and celebrated. If you need any help with the application process or would like to discuss your reasonable adjustments during interviews, please reach out to our Talent team at *******@southeastwater.com.au.

To be considered for this opportunity, you must hold unrestricted working rights for the period of employment at the time of application. Successful candidates will also be required to undergo a number of pre-employment checks, including a police records check

As part of a team of engineers and technicians, central to this role are responsibilities for 24/7 safe operation to provide support and minimise disruption of services to customers and as well as ensuring that public health and the environment are not put at risk. This includes participation in a rostered after-hours duty team, emergency response, and incident support as required.

Visit southeastwater.com.au to learn more about us and how we serve our customers.