Team Leader Water Quality & Resources

Position Description

Team Leader Water Quality and Resources

It’s an exciting time to join

We’re transforming the way we do business with significant investment in customer, digital and business innovation, re-

designing our infrastructure to service communities for generations to come and pursuing a circular economy so we can

not only reduce our environmental footprint but also reduce energy costs to keep customer bills affordable. We’re also

engaging communities to achieve better outcomes and supporting our incredibly talented and valued leaders and people.

Organisational Context

east Victoria across an area of 20,000 square kilometres. The service delivery area is bound by Corryong, Yarrawonga,

Benalla and Dartmouth. We operate 21 water treatment facilities and 22 wastewater treatment plants that service most

towns across the region. Over 200 full time equivalent staff are employed at our centres in Wodonga, Wangaratta, Benalla,

Yarrawonga, Corryong, Beechworth, Mount Beauty and Myrtleford.

Our operations are overseen by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) on behalf of the

Minister for Water, and the Department of Treasury and Finance (DTF) on behalf of the Treasurer. We continue to invest in

innovative and long-term capital projects which contribute to the health and well-being of current and future generations.

Our Commitment to Health and Safety

from bullying and harassment for all employees, contractors, customers and visitors. We prioritise the health, safety

(physical and psychological) and wellbeing of all staff and customers.

Our Mindsets

At

where our people are aligned with our business direction, proud of their contribution to business performance, and own a

culture that is centred on the following mindsets:

• Committed to advancing and supporting people to succeed.

• Consistent in interactions with people and in applying processes.

• Provide empathy for people and be willing to place oneself in another person’s position.

• Accountable for one’s own actions and responsibilities and playing your part for the success of the

organisation.

• Cooperative with others to work towards the Corporation’s common goals.

Position Objectives

The Team Leader Water Quality and Resources:

• Ensures the provision of safe and reliable drinking water to customers across north east Victoria, and the

sustainable operation of the region’s water resources, through your contribution, leadership, and expertise.

• Ensures compliance with key legislation in relation to Bulk Water Entitlement and Safe Drinking Water, through

reporting and coordination of improvement programs.

• Manages the Drinking Water Quality Management System.
• Delivers approved projects aligned with operational improvements.

• Identifies and resolves complex water quality problems and challenges, in consultation with the Manager Water

Treatment and Quality.

• Responds to customer drinking water quality inquiries in accordance with
• Promotes and fosters cooperation with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders, as well as customers to

ensure water quality objectives are met.

• Informs broader business decisions and operational performance through supporting the development of reporting

metrics relating to water quality and water resources.

Key Responsibility Areas

• Leading, motivating, and developing a team of tertiary qualified employees, or employees with extensive

experience in relevant fields.

• Management of the Drinking Water Quality Management System including organising and leading regulatory

audits and addressing subsequent opportunities for improvements.

• The delivery of individual and team goals through preparing, allocating and monitoring staff work plans.
• Scheduling and prioritising your own work to manage routine tasks, as well as projects from conception to

completion within set timeframes.

• Delivery of planned programs, projects and consultancies that meet drinking water quality objectives.
• Developing and maintaining relationships with a wide range of people in their various capacities to gain their

confidence, cooperation, and assistance, including with counterparts in other organisations to discuss specialist

matters, with the ability to persuade, convince or negotiate others to achieve set objectives.

• Providing specialist advice or information to the public, regulators, customers, staff, contractors, and other

interested parties in respect to matters relating to the role.

• Making decisions and taking action subject to regulations and corporate policies. The effect of these decisions will

be significant on employees at

• Development and review of water quality and water resource related policies, systems, and procedures for broader

use within the Corporation and public, including delivery of the Annual Water Outlooks and the Drought

Preparedness Plan.

• Oversight of key operational contracts to ensure required obligations are achieved.

Organisational Relationships

This role reports to the Manager Water Treatment and Quality, and liaises with all internal stakeholders, peers in water

corporations or local government, government agencies and members of the public.

Accountability and Extent of Authority

• Accountable to the Manager Water Treatment and Quality for completion of key responsibilities as detailed.
• Ability to drive business unit goals, with accountability to make decisions and act on policy and legislative

requirements which may impact communities.

• Required to carry out planning, resource tasks and supervise staff to ensure the attainment of

Corporation objectives.

• Accountable for the integrity of data gathered, recorded and reported with respect to the responsibilities

of the position.

• Authority to provide and accountable for information provided to end users relying on such data.

• Decisions on daily operations, allocating resources, projects, and emergencies within the budget and financial

delegation.

• Accountable for the quality, accuracy and effectiveness of advice and recommendations provided and acted upon.
• Decisions and actions taken may have a substantial effect on the community.

Judgement and Decision Making

• Ability to exercise judgement and decision-making skills and timely responses to water quality emergencies and

operational challenges.

• Demonstrated ability to balance immediate operational needs with long-term system sustainability and prioritise

tasks in high-pressure situations while considering the wider implications on customers and stakeholders.

• Required to carry out specialised and technical work requiring advanced problem-solving abilities with reference to

the Manager Water Treatment and Quality, or other appropriate sources as periodically required.

• Required to identify and develop policy options for senior management consideration.
• Guidance is not always available from others for problem solving and decision making.

Specialist skills and knowledge

• Knowledge and expertise in delivering safe drinking water, water resource management and catchment

management services.

• Detailed knowledge and understanding of water quality, water treatment processes, the water industry, industry

regulators and its operations.

• Well-developed analytical, investigative and problem-solving skills.
• Well-developed computer skills encompassing the Microsoft Office suite.
• Demonstrated skills in the operation of computer databases.
• Proficient in the application of scientific and technical principles and theories to solve problems in a logical manner.
• Excellent report writing skills.
• Demonstrated understanding of the Drinking Water Regulations and Act.
• Understanding of the long-term goals of

which it operates.

Management Skills

• Directly supervise the water systems team, ensuring they are adequately trained, and performance concerns are

promptly addressed. Leading the team to undertake duties to ensure implementation of operational systems

improvements in relation to drinking water compliance, strategy, and general product quality management.

• Ability to implement employment policies and practices including Equal Employment Opportunity, OHS and DWQ

policies and procedures.

• Ability to achieve objectives despite conflicting pressures, demonstrating well-developed skills in managing time,

setting priorities, planning, and organising own workload and that of others, and re-evaluating as necessary.

• Utilises effective time management and prioritisation to meet schedules and deadlines.
• Displays proficiency in timely problem resolution.

Interpersonal Skills

• Demonstrates excellent leadership communication, fostering open dialogue with both team members

and higher management. Ability to communicate to a range of audiences, including the ability to present

to board members on a technical level.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to lead, motivate and develop other employees.
• Ability to gain cooperation and assistance from internal stakeholders and work collaboratively with the

team.

• Ability to lead by example and demonstrate a high level of individual initiative in the performance of own

duties.

• Handles public and customer interactions with tact and professionalism.

• Engages and negotiates effectively with contractors, suppliers, and other partners, ensuring projects align with the

authority's standards and goals.

Qualifications and Experience

• A degree or diploma in the Science or Engineering fields and demonstrated experience in a similar role or related

field; or lesser formal qualifications with extensive experience in a similar role.

• Significant experience in management systems, with knowledge of Water Quality Management System and/or

Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

Requirements of Employment

Employees of

Health, Safety and Wellbeing

• Support the implementation of the HS&W Management System, culture growth and safe work practices, through

high levels of positive role modelling.

• Inspire staff to proactively focus on their physical and mental wellbeing.
• Empower staff to identify workplace hazards (including psychological hazards) and implement the appropriate

control measures.

• Ensure all incidents regardless of the severity are reported and debriefed in accordance with NEW’s procedures.

Protecting the Environment

helping our communities build resilience and adapt to climate change. This will be demonstrated through continued

emissions reduction, climate adaptation and environmental stewardship.

Data Privacy

As a Victorian government organisation,

2014 (“PDP Act”). There are 10 Information Privacy Principles (“IPPs”) in the PDP Act that govern the way that North East

Water collects and handles the personal information of current and future employees and customers.

Privacy Statement can be found on our website.