Lead complex water infrastructure programs shaping future urban environments and communities

A unique opportunity for a senior infrastructure professional to lead a complex water/flood program within a major urban environment. This role blends program leadership, technical oversight and stakeholder influence, offering high-impact, career-defining work in a fast-paced and evolving setting.

Your new organisation
This is not your typical infrastructure role.

We're partnering with a major public sector organisation delivering one of Victoria's most high-profile urban renewal programs, and they're looking for a senior program leader to help shape how a future precinct is protected, planned, and delivered.

You'll sit at the centre of a complex, fast-moving environment where strategy, engineering, policy and delivery collide and play a critical role in transforming high-level planning into real, investable programs.

If you're motivated by impact, complexity and influence, this is a rare opportunity to step into something genuinely career-defining.

Your new role

• Lead the development of a large-scale flood mitigation / water infrastructure program
  
• Translate strategy into practical, deliverable projects (e.g. major drainage, pump systems, flood solutions)
  
• Oversee and guide flood modelling inputs, ensuring quality, timing and decision-readiness
  
• Manage consultants and technical partners, driving outcomes and challenging thinking
  
• Build cost estimates and program plans to support long-term investment decisions
  
• Work closely with planners and stakeholders to shape policy, planning and delivery frameworks
  
• Navigate complexity, ambiguity and competing priorities with confidence
  

What we're looking for
We're looking for someone who can balance technical understanding with program leadership.

You might bring:

• Strong program or project management experience (infrastructure, water or similar)
  
• Exposure to flood modelling, drainage, or water-related programs
  
• The ability to challenge technical outputs without needing to be the deepest SME
  
• Confidence managing consultants, stakeholders and competing agendas
  
• A proactive, autonomous mindset with strong critical thinking skills
  

What you'll get in return

• Work on a high-profile, city-shaping program
  
• Blend of strategy + technical + delivery (no pigeon-holing)
  
• High autonomy, real ownership and influence
  
• Supportive, forward-thinking leadership
  
• Long-term program pipeline beyond initial contract
  
• Competitive day rate paying between $750 - $950 p/d + super with flexibility for the right candidate.
  
• Initial 2-year contract role
  

What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV or send direct to Ali••••••••@hays.com.au. If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact Alissa Sara on 03 •••• •424 for a confidential discussion on your career.