Position overview

• 5-Year Maximum Term Contract, Full-Time opportunity
• True hybrid working - work from home and our Mitcham office
• $242,400 Total Remuneration Package inclusive of 12% superannuation

The Role
Lead the development of long-term, intergenerational plans for assets, land, and water products through a stewardship-based approach grounded in reciprocity, equity, and mutual benefit. This role provides strategic and commercial leadership that puts the future first-shaping decisions today for outcomes that will benefit communities, Country, customers, and partners beyond our own time. You will partner across the organisation, the water sector, and with Traditional Owners, government, and commercial stakeholders to influence complex decisions and champion solutions that may not yet exist-holding space for uncertainty, innovation, and courageous choices.

About us
We're on a mission to create a brighter future, where you can be a change maker at the actual source. We're one of Australia's largest water utilities with over 30% of Victoria's population relying on us for their essential water and sanitation services.

Our award-winning culture fosters an inclusive, collaborative, and flexible environment that enables our people to thrive. Here, you'll be inspired and challenged to grow alongside us.

We're committed to reconciliation and supporting the self-determined role for Traditional Owners/Custodians in water and land management.

Your key responsibilities

• Lead long-term, integrated planning for assets, land, and products grounded in stewardship, intergenerational equity, and systems thinking.
• Partner with Traditional Owners, communities, and sector stakeholders to co-create plans that reflect shared values and future needs.
• In partnership, shape responses to challenges such as water security, climate adaptation and liveability.
• Identify and pursue commercial opportunities and partnerships that create long-term public value across water, energy, and land systems.
• Balance visionary thinking with commercial discipline to develop executable plans that transform future service outcomes.
• Represent the organisation in policy, planning, and investment forums to influence and respond to regulatory and market shifts.
• Build and lead a multidisciplinary, future-focused team with capabilities in Country planning, biodiversity, land use, renewables, and water cycle stewardship.
• Foster a values-led, high-performance culture committed to collaboration, inclusion, sustainability, reconciliation, and customer value.

What we're looking for

• Tertiary qualification in public policy, urban planning, business, strategy, innovation or related field.
• Proven ability to lead and inspire multidisciplinary teams through ambiguity and change.
• Demonstrated experience shaping long-term strategies and making decisions that balance innovation, public value and commercial outcomes
• Strong influence and negotiation skills with senior stakeholders in complex and dynamic environments.
• Commercial acumen with a good grasp of political, regulatory and industry trends
• A collaborative mindset - you build partnerships, remove barriers and foster diversity of thought.
• Systems and foresight thinking - you're comfortable with uncertainty and thinking beyond what exists today.
• A commitment to safety, inclusion, and shared value for current and future generations

To view the full position description, click HERE.

Why Yarra Valley Water?
We celebrate and encourage new thinking at every level. Creating opportunities for you to grow - both professionally, and personally. When you flourish, we all do.

• $242,400 Total Remuneration Package inclusive of 12% superannuation
• Flexible working arrangements where our people are empowered to design their days with their team. Read our hybrid playbook HERE.
• $650 home office set up allowance for eligible employees
• Free and secure on-site parking with on-site café at our Mitcham office
• 14 weeks paid leave parental leave
• 15 days paid personal leave, which can be used for caring, wellbeing, mental health, menstrual or menopause
• Request to swap certain public holidays for another day of paid leave

To read more about our benefits and culture, read our employee handbook HERE.

Did you know?
Research shows that men apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, while women and other marginalised people tend to only apply when they meet all of them. So, if you think you have what it takes, but don't necessarily tick every box, please apply or get in touch. We'd love to have a chat and see if you could be a great fit.

How to apply
Applications should include a supporting Cover Letter and Resume.
Closing date: Monday, 28th July 2025
This position is available for Yarra Valley Water employees and external applicants.

We welcome applications from everyone, including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, mature age and young job seekers, members of the LGBTIQA+ community and people of all cultural backgrounds. If you need this information in an accessible format or would like to discuss reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please call 03 9872 2542 or email [email protected]. If you need any help with the application process or would like to discuss the recruitment process, please contact us via email [email protected].

Successful applicants must be eligible to work in Australia and agree to provide information for pre-employment checks, if required for the position. This may also include a Police Check or AusCheck, where an offer will be subject to a satisfactory outcome of these checks.