• Opportunity to contribute to the shape of national policies and strategies for the water industry
• Engage with senior representatives from across the Australian and New Zealand water sector
• Full time or part-time role, 3-year contract with the prospect for renewal
• Offering competitive salary, professional development and flexible working

The Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) is the peak body of the Australian urban water industry. Its members provide water and wastewater services to over 20 million customers in Australia and New Zealand and many of Australia’s largest industrial and commercial enterprises.

An opportunity for a Liveable Communities Project Officer has arisen within the WSAA team. This position is based in Melbourne and reports to the Liveable Communities Manager. The Liveable Communities Project Officer supports the Liveable Communities Manager in the advocacy, policy development and project delivery of the future products and services of the urban water industry in Australia and New Zealand. WSAA and its members are pursuing specific areas within the Liveable Communities Program:

• Water for health – beyond the core business of taps and toilets including physical and mental health benefits and urban heat island.
• Water for placemaking – providing opportunities for water to be included in urban planning, resulting in connectedness with water.
• Water for growth –ensuring all water supply options are available for decision makers.

The Liveable Communities Program also includes projects related to Sustainable Development Goals, water quality, water and wastewater planning, integrated water cycle management, energy management, climate change adaptation and mitigation, the circular economy and reconciliation.

We are seeking a professional with 2 - 5 years of experience. You will have clearly demonstrated your ability to influence and delivery project outcomes involving a range of stakeholders without direct line authority. The person we are seeking is energetic, self-motivated and has highly developed communication skills. Knowledge of the urban water industry is desirable but not essential. We offer the opportunity to build a strong network across the Australian water sector, support water utilities and their customers through leadership and collaboration.

WSAA offers a competitive salary, generous salary packaging benefits professional development opportunities, and flexible working arrangements.

Note that the role involves a level of interstate travel to attend meetings including some overnight stays. WSAA promotes workplace flexibility in working hours to accommodate for different workloads, the need to work across multiple time zones and undertake reasonable levels of overtime.

You will need to have:

• Suitable tertiary or postgraduate qualifications.
• Experience in managing projects and delivering tasks within a specified time and budget.
• Experience in contract management.
• An adaptable approach to work recognising that WSAA is a small organisation.
• A demonstrated ability to work well as part of a team and engage with stakeholders at all levels.
• A high level of personal energy, motivated to achieve great outcomes for the urban water industry.
• A high level of initiative along with a willingness to keep exploring better ways of doing things and pursue new initiatives.
• A high level of professionalism and personal integrity.