Water Treatment Operator

Downer; Townsville City; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare discounts

Training & development

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Downer invites applications for a Water Treatment Operator at Lavarack Barrack, Townsville. The role covers safe operation, monitoring of water quality, and basic maintenance within a Defence base setting.

Candidates should have a Certificate III in Water Industry Operations, relevant licences, and a readiness to obtain a Defence Security Clearance. The position is on-site with growth opportunities in a respected, long-standing partnership.

Qualifications

• Certificate III in Water Industry Operations required.
• Water operator licence or certification preferred.
• Experience in water treatment operations required.
• Experience with chemical handling in plant environment.
• Ability to obtain Defence Security Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain small water treatment plants on a Defence base.
• Monitor water quality and report results.
• Conduct routine inspections, sampling and testing of water quality.
• Adjust chemical dosing under supervision.
• Perform basic preventative maintenance on plant equipment.
• Report faults to Leading Hand.

Skills

Water treatment operations

Chemical handling

Driver's licence

Education

Certificate III in Water Industry Operations

Tools

QLD Water Operator Licence (QLD) / NSW Water Operator Certification (NSW)

Open Driver's Licence

Job description

Downer has been awarded the Property and Asset Services (PAS) contract to deliver base and estate services across their two largest regions NSW/ACT and QLD. This is a significant milestone for our business and our enduring 80+ year relationship with the Australian Defence Force.

We're inviting applications to join our permanent workforce at Lavarack Barrack, Townsville as a Water Treatment Operator. We're committed to building a workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and empowered to contribute.

We're looking for people from all backgrounds - whether you bring Defence experience, industry knowledge, or transferable skills from other sectors.

If you're passionate about contributing to Defence capability and want to be part of a high-performing, inclusive team - express your interest today.

What You'll Do

This role offers a broad scope, with key responsibilities including:

• Responsible for the safe and efficient operation and maintenance of small water treatment plants located within a single Defence base
• Plant operation, monitoring and reporting of water quality, basic maintenance
• Conduct routine inspections, sampling and testing of water quality
• Adjust chemical dosing and treatment processes under supervision
• Perform basic preventative maintenance on plant equipment
• Report equipment faults or failures to the Leading Hand

What You'll Bring

• Certificate III in Water Industry Operations
• Chemical Handling Certification (desirable)
• Experience in water treatment plant operations or related field
• Experience in chemical handling and dosing in a plant environment
• QLD Water Operator Licence (QLD), or NSW Water Operator Certification (NSW)
• Confined Space and Working at Heights qualifications and White Card (desirable)
• Current Open Driver's Licence.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Defence Security Clearance (Australian citizenship is mandatory).

More than anything, you'll bring a strong work ethic, a positive attitude, and a commitment to delivering high-quality outcomes for our clients.

Why Downer?

At Downer, we plan, create, and sustain essential public services across Australia and New Zealand. From hospitals to data centres and defence partnerships, we manage critical infrastructure that keeps communities thriving.

Downer is a sovereign-owned, ASX-listed Australian company and proud recipient of the Estate & Infrastructure Business of the Year (2025) and Prime Contractor of the Year for two consecutive years (2024, 2025). With over 80 years of support to the Australian Defence Force (ADF), our Base and Estate Management team delivers innovative solutions and integrated services to both the ADF and New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF).

What It Means to Belong at Downer

We're proud of our high-performance culture and commitment to diversity, offering:

• Training and development to support and diversify your career.
• With 30% of vacancies filled internally you'll find real opportunities to advance your career.
• Perks@Downer: healthcare discounts, great savings on retail purchases, car purchases and much more.
• Employee Assistance Program: professional support for you and your family when you need it most.

You want your work to matter and so do we. With over 26,000 people across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, our team is made up of individuals with unique perspectives, backgrounds, and ideas.

We know that diversity makes us stronger and we actively celebrate it through our commitment to inclusion and belonging.

We're committed to building a team that reflects the diverse communities we serve and we welcome people of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, cultures, abilities, and lived experiences. We especially encourage applications from those whose voices have traditionally been underrepresented in our industry, including women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Māori and Pasifika Peoples, veterans, people with disability, and neurodivergent individuals. Even if your experience doesn't align perfectly with this role, we'd still like to hear from you. If it feels like the right fit, apply - potential counts, and so do you.

As a WORK180 Endorsed Employer, we support flexibility that works for your life, inclusive leadership that values your voice, and equitable access to opportunity so you can do your best work and bring your whole self to it.

If you need support or adjustments through the recruitment process, just let us know, we're here to help you put your best foot forward.