Group Manager Contracts and Asset Services

Who are we?

We’re here to help people live well and create a better and more sustainable future. We support healthy and liveable communities by delivering water, sewerage and recycled water services to 1.77 million people who rely on us every day and every night. At South East Water, we innovate with purpose and act with care to deliver healthy water for life. Fresh thinking and collaboration are at the heart of our organisation. We are constantly learning, embracing the challenges of today and excited by the opportunities that tomorrow will bring.  

The role

A key member of the Service Delivery leadership team, the Group Manager Contracts and Asset Services will ensure the delivery of commercially sustainable contracts and supply agreements, oversees the efficient operation of mechanical and electrical services across the network and treatment functions, and maintains logistics and emergency spare availability. You will also manage road reinstatement services and ensure capital works are delivered in a safe, timely and cost-effective manner. 

Reporting to the General Manager Service Delivery, you will lead and manage the team establishing the long term forward plan of the sourcing needs of the department and ensuring the commercial success of the ongoing contracts in operation. 

While no two days are the same in this role, some day-to-day tasks may include: 

• Commercial & Contracts: Create a long term forward view of the supplier capability needs of the group and ensure a right-sourced, commercially effective service provision, ensuring commercially viable contracts, strong performance outcomes, and effective management of payments, claims, and investigations. 
• Risks and Opportunities:  Ability to work with the operational and forward planning groups to understand the emerging future risks and opportunities, aligning the provision of services using an array of models that have been effectively right-sources to ensure high performing outcomes
• Industry Partner Performance: Drive efficiency across Water, Sewerage, and Treatment networks through monitoring, analytics, and resource coordination. 
• Understand the performance of assets across the group and lead an array of suppliers delivering asset service to the business, including:
  • Mechanical & Electrical Maintenance – Safe and effective contract services for an array of assets
  • Minor capital works – Smaller value (<$2m) upgrades and enhancements, modifications and adjustments to water and sewerage assets
  • Reinstatement services - contracts for reinstating roads, footpaths, and surfaces post-maintenance, ensuring safety, low defect rates, and minimal public disruption

Who are you?

The preferred candidate will hold tertiary qualifications in Engineering, Business, Legal, or Management, with proven experience in leading high-performing, multidisciplinary teams and driving high employee engagement.

Taking a strong ‘customer-first’ approach, you will also hold the following skills and attributes: 

• Excellent understanding of establishing various commercial models for the delivery of services in a complex infrastructure environment
• Ability to forward plan, understanding future risks and opportunities, and aligning advanced plans to support the future capability and service needs of the group
• Proven track record of managing the complexity of commercial sustainability and success of ongoing contract arrangements (Value $30-80m pa) taking a collaborative approach for long term success
• An understanding of asset management and field delivery principles in a complex high value infrastructure environment
• Demonstrable experience managing day to day performance of a contract workforce
• Excellent stakeholder management, coupled with a strategic mindset and analytical capabilities
• Ability to create and present complex recommendations to executive and board for adoption

What's in it for you?

Working at South East Water means you can enjoy a wealth of benefits, starting with the chance to be part of an organisation deeply committed to environmental initiatives and sustainability; one who has been recognised as one of the top 101 Workplaces for Women in Australia by Work180 for the past two consecutive years.   

South East Water cultivates a dynamic culture that emphasises collaboration and strong work ethics, supported by career-focused learning and development opportunities. 

As a SEW employee, you can enjoy the following offerings from our benefits package: 

• Access to My Fitness Passport, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), annual flu shots, and health checks.  
• Work-life balance with flexible working arrangements, including hybrid work options and leave purchasing. 
• Life insurance and salary continuance. 
• 15 weeks paid parental leave and paid superannuation on eligible portions of unpaid parental leave. 
• Additional leave offerings, such as cultural and ceremonial leave and study leave.  
• Head office with modern facilities and panoramic beachfront views, a separate parents' room, a prayer and meditation room, an onsite cafe, and free parking. 
• Opportunity to be part of great initiatives involving the local community  

We're for everyone

Our people are as diverse as the communities we serve. It makes us better learners, thinkers and collaborators, helping create better outcomes for our customers.  

We are deeply committed to Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging, and we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTIQ+ individuals, people with disability and jobseekers of all ages and cultures. We aim to provide an inclusive, accessible workplace where everyone is welcome, safe, and celebrated. If you need any help with the application process or would like to discuss your reasonable adjustments during interviews, please reach out to our Talent team at careers@southeastwater.com.au. 

Keen to make an impact?

Click here to check out the position description. We're accepting applications for this exciting opportunity until Thursday, 16th of October! 

To be considered for this opportunity, you must hold unrestricted working rights for the period of employment at the time of application.  Successful candidates will also be required to undergo a number of pre-employment checks, including a police records check 

 
As part of a team of emergency response personnel, central to this role are responsibilities for 24/7 safe operation to provide support and minimise disruption of services to customers and as well as ensuring that public health and the environment are not put at risk. This includes participation in a rostered after-hours duty team, emergency response, and incident support as required. 

Visit southeastwater.com.au to learn more about us and how we serve our customers.