About the role
We are seeking a dynamic and experienced leader to step into a 12-month acting opportunity as a Maintenance Leader. In this senior leadership role, you will provide effective leadership to field teams, ensuring high quality water and wastewater service.
You will lead a large, diverse, field workforce operating 24/7 and be responsible for ensuring operational excellence in a complex, unionised environment—balancing safety, environmental responsibility, customer satisfaction, and cost-effectiveness.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead and inspire field teams to deliver high-quality water and wastewater services, including 24/7 fault response.
- Manage complex customer and environmental issues related to network faults.
- Oversee maintenance operations and prioritise tasks to meet service standards and the Network Maintenance Workplan.
- Champion a proactive safety culture and implement best-practice safety programs.
- Ensure compliance with Operating and Environmental Protection Licences.
- Provide operational support during incidents and emergencies.
- Collaborate with the Customer Hub to enhance customer experience during service disruptions.
- Identify and manage risks associated with network maintenance.
- Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
- Maintain service levels during planned asset works and upgrades.
- Optimise workforce capability through strategic skills development and training.
- Coordinate with contractors and service providers to ensure quality and timely delivery.
- Build strong relationships with regulators, unions, and key stakeholders.
- Oversee works impacting water, wastewater, recycled water, and stormwater networks.
About you
You are a strategic thinker and proven leader with a strong background in utility operations. You thrive in complex environments and are passionate about delivering exceptional service and safety outcomes.
You’ll bring:
- A degree in Engineering, Science, Business Management, or equivalent experience.
- 10–15 years’ experience in utility network operations, maintenance, and stakeholder management.
- Deep knowledge of water industry systems and trends.
- Demonstrated ability to lead 24/7 operational teams and manage dispersed field staff.
- Strong interpersonal, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
- Experience working collaboratively with unions to achieve commercial outcomes.
- Expertise in quality assurance, continuous improvement, and environmental management.
- Proven capability in emergency and incident response, with availability for 24/7 contact.
Important: Please ensure you obtain approval from your direct manager before applying for this position.
Closing Date: Wednesday 11th June 2025 at 11:59PM
Please advise if you require any adjustments to actively participate in the application and recruitment process.
Please see the job profile for the role’s full accountabilities.
Working at Sydney Water
At Sydney Water, we are passionate about making a difference to the lives of our customers and communities. We have a proud heritage and progressive future providing world class drinking water and services that are vital to our customers’ quality of life and safeguarding Sydney’s future. We see the world is changing, so we are changing too.
Our vision is to create better lives through world-class services, and we believe that starts with our people. Our people and their jobs are as diverse as the communities we serve. Our diverse skills, mindsets and backgrounds work together on exciting and challenging projects that make a difference and help ensure Sydney remains one of the most iconic and liveable cities in the world.
We welcome and encourage applications from diverse backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, LGBTQIA+, people with disability, people with caring responsibilities, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and veterans.