Group Manager Operational Planning and Performance

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 Operational Planning and Performance leads future planning and operational improvement across South East Water’s Service Delivery division, supporting over $4 billion in infrastructure.

Reporting to the General Manager Service Delivery, you will drive process and performance uplift over the short and medium term, build a comprehensive forward plan, foster continuous improvement, and enhance resource planning through data, feedback, and observation. Key focus areas include building resilience, strengthening security, and aligning people, processes, and technology to meet future demands. 

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

• Forward Planning: Develop, maintain and execute a long-term Service Delivery roadmap aligned with SEW’s strategic goals.  Focusing on understanding risks and opportunities, to build a comprehensive uplift plan.
• Anticipate the evolving customer and regulatory expectations, technology & process needs, integrated right-sourcing and financial efficiency goals.  Use insights to form business plans, seek funding and influence economic price submissions.  A technology focus is highly desirable.
• Collaborate on the design and implementation of a division-wide continuous improvement framework with clear metrics, root cause analysis, and performance tracking using well established approaches. Ensure data accessibility to drive safer, better, and more efficient operations. Help the business unit achieve great results
• Lead the development of the workload forecasting and program planning to manage seasonal trends and resource allocation. Collaborate with Operations and Maintenance and Commercial Contract areas to align budgets and enable strategic right-sourcing decisions, ensuring we have the right resources to deliver excellent outcomes
• An ability to develop and lead complex programs (e.g. SOCI, Resilience programs), setting standards, manage facilities and small contracts
• Maintain relationships with stakeholders and partnerships agencies e.g. Council, EMV, Victoria Police and ASIO
• Shape cross-functional outcomes by influencing executives and business units. Deliver strategic reports, presentations, and recommendations to support Service Delivery’s people, process, and technology agenda

Who Are You?

The preferred candidate will hold relevant qualifications in Business Improvement, Business Management, Engineering, or Technology, you will hold expertise in the development of plans and programs to enhance business outcomes using data, analytics and structured methodology to identify needs and program management.

With a ‘customer first’ mindset, you will also hold the following skills and attributes:

• Proven track record in developing data-driven programs that enhance business outcomes
• A track record of delivering effective outcomes under pressure
• Ability to understand risks and opportunities, and how the digital future of the industry can be leveraged to bring about operational benefits  
• An ability to understand future technology needs and how to develop business cases to support investment
• Ability to develop technology and digital roadmaps (and associated process and capability uplifts), aligning to business needs, developing recommendations and business cases
• Ability to distil problems from multiple perspectives to formulate a best for business approach
• Demonstrable exceptional communication skills, with experience presenting to Executive and Board levels, with the ability to influence key stakeholders
• Knowledge of continual improvement and business analysis frameworks, and structured approaches to strategic business planning is of significant benefit
• Proven leadership skills and demonstrated success in driving high employee engagement
• An understanding of emergency management, security and resilience frameworks is an advantage

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.