Treatment and Network Coordinator

SA Water; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

SA Water in Australia seeks a senior operations leader to oversee Treatment and Network teams across multiple remote communities, ensuring safe, reliable water services and high asset performance.

You will coordinate day-to-day activities, drive safety culture, and manage resources, while collaborating with regulators and customers to deliver exceptional service outcomes. Location is flexible within SA regions.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in an operational leadership role within water/utility sectors.
• Proven ability to lead geographically dispersed teams and manage safety outcomes.
• Strong knowledge of water treatment, network operations and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Coach, develop and support Treatment and Network Technicians to achieve safe, reliable and customer-focused outcomes while fostering a positive team culture.
• Lead a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with WHS, water quality, environmental and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee day-to-day operations, ensuring safe water services, asset performance and effective response to operational and customer issues.
• Coordinate work programs, rosters, on-call arrangements, training and resource allocation to support efficient service delivery.
• Monitor performance, identify improvement opportunities and implement initiatives that enhance reliability, efficiency and operational resilience.
• Monitor budgets, operational costs and service delivery targets while providing timely reporting and performance insights.
• Collaborate with internal teams, regulators and customers to resolve issues, support projects and deliver positive service outcomes.

Skills

Operational leadership

Team coaching

WHS compliance

Stakeholder management

Water operations knowledge

Education

Certificate III in Water Operations

Water Industry qualifications

Job description

SA Water is a successful, modern water utility wholly owned by the Government of South Australia. We employ more than 1,700 people across a broad range of disciplines who operate more than $14 billion worth of infrastructure to deliver essential water and sewerage services to more than 1.8 million South Australians.

We operate in a geographically and climatically diverse service area, with sites and locations from Ceduna through to Port Augusta, the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, across to the Riverland, down to Mount Gambier, and most places in between.

Our strength and expertise have been shaped by our history. For more than 165 years, South Australians have depended on us to innovate and deliver efficient and sustainable water services. With nationally and internationally recognised industry expertise, we’re focused on understanding and meeting our customers’ expectations.

As well as safely delivering smart and reliable services for our customers of today, we innovate to shape the water solutions of the future that will support thriving economies and healthy communities.

We are driven by our values; we value our people, we do work that matters, we keep it real, we know that our work has impact, and we are future focussed. Staying true to our values ensures that we consistently deliver positive outcomes for all South Australians.

About the job

Location is flexible, with the Treatment and Network Coordinator responsible for operations across Marla, Oodnadatta, Maree, Coober Pedy, Leigh Creek and Hawker.

In this leadership role, you will oversee a team of Technicians and contractors, ensuring the safe and efficient delivery of operational services that maximise asset performance, maintain water quality standards and deliver exceptional customer outcomes.

You will be responsible for coordinating day-to-day treatment and network operations, planning and prioritising operational activities, managing resources effectively and responding to operational incidents as required. The role also plays a key part in fostering a strong safety culture, driving operational excellence and developing a high-performing team committed to delivering reliable water services to remote communities.

About Operations and Maintenance

The Operations & Maintenance team oversees the management of our water, wastewater and River Murray activities and conducts operational control activities for a secure water supply. The team is responsible for both planned and unplanned maintenance activities, integrating corrective, preventive, predictive, and precision maintenance strategies. They aim to meet availability, performance, cost, and risk targets by leveraging technical asset maintenance and reliability expertise. Operations & Maintenance strives to deliver smart and reliable services to customers while enhancing overall operational efficiency.

In addition, your responsibilities will include:

Fostering trust with our people, customers and community by providing expert advice and service that ensure we effectively communicate and engage audiences with our business strategy and its delivery across South Australia, every day.

You will:

• Coach, develop and support Treatment and Network Technicians to achieve safe, reliable and customer-focused outcomes while fostering a positive team culture.
• Lead a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with WHS, water quality, environmental and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee day-to-day operations, ensuring safe water services, asset performance and effective response to operational and customer issues.
• Coordinate work programs, rosters, on-call arrangements, training and resource allocation to support efficient service delivery.
• Monitor performance, identify improvement opportunities and implement initiatives that enhance reliability, efficiency and operational resilience.
• Monitor budgets, operational costs and service delivery targets while providing timely reporting and performance insights.
• Collaborate with internal teams, contractors, regulators and customers to resolve issues, support projects and deliver positive service outcomes.

Your success in this role will come from:

• Significant experience in an operational leadership role, or relevant qualifications in management, engineering, science, trades or a related discipline.
• Proven ability to lead, coach and develop geographically dispersed operational teams, driving strong performance, safety and capability outcomes.
• Sound technical knowledge of treatment and network operations, asset management, maintenance practices, water quality, environmental and WHS requirements.
• Strong planning and organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, operational incidents and service delivery demands.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build relationships, influence outcomes and resolve issues effectively.
• Experience managing safety, operational risk, incident response and continuous improvement within a field-based or industrial environment (highly regarded).
• Certificate III in Water Operations and/or Water Industry qualifications, or a willingness to obtain relevant industry certifications (desirable).

Applications close 5pm 25th of September.

A great customer experience is best achieved by having a diverse and inclusive team that reflects the community we serve. Applications are encouraged from everyone, including people living with disability, job seekers of all ages, members of the LGBTIQA+ community, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and people from culturally diverse backgrounds.

Our Industry is like no other. Dive into the wonderful world of water and explore the boundless opportunities. Learn more about the water industry at careersinwater.com.au.