Water Network Team Leader in Nuriootpa

SA Water is a successful, modern water utility wholly owned by the Government of South Australia. We employ more than 1,700 people across a broad range of disciplines who operate more than $14 billion worth of infrastructure to deliver essential water and sewerage services to more than 1.8 million South Australians.

We are seeking an experienced leader to oversee water network maintenance and cleaning operations, ensuring safe, efficient and high-quality service delivery across the network. This role is responsible for leading a high-performing operational team, managing maintenance programs, driving continuous improvement initiatives, and ensuring compliance with regulatory, safety and operational standards.

You will play a key role in delivering reliable customer outcomes while fostering a culture of safety, accountability and operational excellence.

You are a people-focused leader with experience in water, utilities, infrastructure, or a related industry. You lead by example, fostering a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement. With strong organisational skills, you effectively manage field operations, coordinate work programs, and enhance system performance. You are commercially aware, capable of managing resources and budgets, and skilled at building strong stakeholder relationships to deliver operational outcomes.

The Operations & Maintenance team oversees the management of our water, wastewater and River Murray activities and conducts operational control activities for a secure water supply. The team is responsible for both planned and unplanned maintenance activities, integrating corrective, preventive, predictive, and precision maintenance strategies.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Fostering trust with our people, customers and community by providing expert advice and service that ensure we effectively communicate and engage audiences with our business strategy and its delivery across South Australia, every day.
• Leading and promoting a proactive safety culture, ensuring safe work practices are embedded across all team activities.
• Coaching, mentoring and developing team members through effective performance management, feedback, goal setting and capability-building initiatives.
• Ensuring compliance with WHS requirements, operational standards, environmental management systems and drinking water quality management requirements.
• Overseeing water mains cleaning and water ancillary maintenance programs to support network reliability and performance.
• Developing, implementing and reviewing operational procedures, maintenance strategies and quality management practices.
• Managing team resources, workloads, leave planning and training requirements to ensure operational readiness.
• Monitoring and managing financial performance, including labour, overtime, materials and contractor expenditure.
• Building strong stakeholder relationships and coordinating operational activities to deliver reliable service outcomes.
• Leading customer issue resolution, driving continuous improvement, and fostering a high-performing, accountable team.

Your success in this role will come from:

• Significant experience in an operational leadership role or relevant qualification in management or trades.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills including an ability to resolve conflict.
• Sound organisation and prioritising skills including an ability to problem solve and manage competing priorities.
• Drivers Licence.
• Demonstrated experience in training, coaching, mentoring and providing feedback to teams.
• Enterprise Trainer and Assessor Skill Set (or willing to complete).

A great customer experience is best achieved by having a diverse and inclusive team that reflects the community we serve. Applications are encouraged from everyone, including people living with disability, job seekers of all ages, members of the LGBTIQA+ community, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and people from culturally diverse backgrounds.