Vulnerability & Social Impact Manager

Melbourne Water; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Melbourne Water is seeking a strategic leader to drive vulnerability, equity and social impact initiatives across the organisation and with government, regulators and community partners. The role focuses on delivering customer outcomes, program governance and cross-sector collaboration to embed social impact in service delivery.

The role combines strategy, policy, stakeholder engagement and program delivery, with responsibilities spanning funding, governance, and contract management to drive

Qualifications

• Experience delivering vulnerability, social impact or community programs within utilities, government or community sectors.
• Ability to develop and implement vulnerability and equity strategies and programs.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, partnership and communication skills to influence outcomes.
• Proven governance, performance monitoring, evaluation and reporting capabilities.
• Ability to operate in complex, evolving environments balancing strategy and operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and delivery of Melbourne Water's vulnerability and social impact program aligned to commitments.
• Manage program funding, governance, performance and reporting for measurable outcomes.
• Embed vulnerability, equity and social impact considerations into customer programs and policies.
• Establish strategic partnerships, contracts and stakeholder relationships for delivery.
• Develop engagement strategies with regulators, government, community organisations and industry partners.
• Provide strategic advice to senior management and the Board on related risks and opportunities.

Skills

Vulnerability program management

Stakeholder engagement

Governance & reporting

Policy development

Strategic partnerships

Contract management

Analytical problem solving

Advocacy & influencing

Education

Tertiary qualification in Social Policy / Social Science / Public Policy

Job description

Who we are

In Melbourne, water is essential to our way of life.

As caretakers for Melbourne’s water cycle, and our catchments. We care for water, life, and land throughout Melbourne: both its people and its biodiversity.

Each time you drink from the tap, flush a toilet, or kayak down the Yarra we’re there. Primed and ready, quietly delivering some of the world’s cleanest water for over five million residents and wildlife that call Melbourne home, just as we have for over 130 years.

About the Role

Melbourne Water is seeking a strategic and influential leader to drive our approach to vulnerability, equity and social impact. This newly established role will play a critical part in delivering Melbourne Water's customer commitments, shaping sector thinking and strengthening outcomes for customers and communities experiencing vulnerability.

Reporting to the Manager External Policy, this fixed term role until June 2027, the Vulnerability and Social Impact Manager will lead the development and implementation of Melbourne Water's vulnerability and social impact program, working across the organisation and with government, regulators, community organisations and industry partners to drive positive and lasting change.

This role combines strategy, policy, stakeholder engagement and program delivery, providing an opportunity to influence outcomes at both an organisational and sector-wide level. In this role you will:

• Lead the establishment, delivery and continuous improvement of Melbourne Water's vulnerability and social impact program, ensuring achievement of Price Submission commitments and customer outcomes.
• Manage program funding, governance, performance and reporting requirements, ensuring accountability, value and measurable outcomes for customers and communities experiencing vulnerability.
• Lead cross-organisational collaboration to embed vulnerability, equity and social impact considerations into customer programs, service delivery, policies and decision-making.
• Establish and manage strategic partnerships, contracts and stakeholder relationships to support effective delivery of vulnerability initiatives and community outcomes.
• Develop and implement engagement, advocacy and influencing strategies with regulators, government, community organisations and industry partners to advance Melbourne Water's vulnerability and social impact objectives.
• Provide strategic advice, insights and recommendations to senior management and the Board on vulnerability, equity and social impact issues, emerging risks, opportunities and program performance.

For more information, please refer to the attachedRole Mandate

About you:

• Demonstrated experience delivering vulnerability, social impact, community or customer programs within utilities, government, infrastructure or community sectors.
• Strong understanding of customer vulnerability, equity and community expectations within a regulated service environment.
• Proven experience managing complex programs, partnerships, contracts and funding arrangements to deliver measurable outcomes.
• Expertise in developing and implementing vulnerability, equity and social impact strategies, programs and initiatives.
• Highly developed stakeholder engagement, partnership and communication skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships and influence outcomes.
• Demonstrated capability in program governance, performance monitoring, evaluation and reporting.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to provide evidence-based advice and recommendations.
• Ability to operate effectively in complex, ambiguous and evolving environments while balancing strategic and operational priorities
• Tertiary qualification in Social Policy, Social Science, Community Development, Public Policy or a related discipline.

Why join us:

At Melbourne Water, we care deeply about water and the life it sustains.

Our team is inspired by passion and purpose, with an unwavering commitment to safety. We are on a mission to protect every Melburnian’s way of life, one drop at a time.

We don’t just talk about flexible working - we live it. Our culture of purpose, safety, results, and learning flows through everything we do. We're dedicated to doing what's right, and this commitment extends to the meaningful work we do in 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.

If you’re curious, action-orientated, outcomes-focused, and passionate about public resources, community, and the environment, we'd love to receive your application and learn if you could be a great fit.