General Manager Water

Division/Section: Infrastructure and Operations – Water Services

Position Type: Senior Officer contract – four years full time

Salary Range: A competitive executive remuneration package will be negotiated with the preferred candidate, commensurate with the scale and complexity of the role. Relocation assistance is available.

Application Close: 11:45pm, Sunday 22 November 2026

Lead the future of water services in Northern Australia

Townsville City Council is seeking an accomplished utility executive to lead the safe, reliable and sustainable delivery of water and wastewater services for one of Northern Australia’s most important regional cities.

As a member of Council’s Senior Leadership Team, you will shape long-term water security, infrastructure investment, operational resilience and customer outcomes during a period of continued city growth and increasing environmental and regulatory complexity.

This is an opportunity to lead an integrated water business with responsibility spanning water and wastewater networks, dam operations, mechanical and electrical services, and laboratory services. You will work at the intersection of public health, environmental stewardship, major infrastructure, technology, commercial performance and community service.

A competitive executive remuneration package will be negotiated with the preferred candidate, commensurate with the scale and complexity of the role. Relocation support is available with consideration for temporary accommodation for a period of time. The position does not attract vehicle allowance.

Reporting to the Director Infrastructure and Operations, the General Manager Water Services is accountable for the strategic and operational performance of Council’s integrated water and wastewater services.

You will lead a skilled and diverse workforce of approximately 250 employees and ensure that Townsville’s community can rely on safe drinking water, compliant wastewater services and resilient critical infrastructure every day.

Your mandate will include:

• leading Council’s long-term water and wastewater strategy, including water security, demand management, treatment, recycled water and infrastructure sustainability;
• maintaining strong drinking-water, environmental, trade-waste and dam-safety compliance;
• overseeing an annual operating budget of approximately $189 million and the delivery of Council’s Water Services $82.9 million three-year capital works program, ensuring prudent financial management, value for money and long-term service sustainability.
• providing strategic oversight of $4.1 billion in water and wastewater assets, driving asset performance, reliability, resilience and sustainable infrastructure outcomes for the community;
• strengthening incident, emergency and business continuity capability;
• improving asset performance, service reliability and customer outcomes;
• advancing secure, reliable and data-led operational technology, including SCADA and control systems;
• growing the performance and value of Council’s laboratory and technical services;
• developing workforce capability and succession pipelines for critical technical skills; and
• building trusted relationships with government, regulators, industry, Traditional Owners, elected members and the community.

About You

You are a contemporary executive leader who combines sound technical judgement with commercial discipline, visible leadership and a strong commitment to public service.

You will bring:

• substantial senior leadership experience in a water or wastewater utility, or a comparable regulated infrastructure business;
• demonstrated accountability for complex operations, regulatory compliance and public-health or environmental risk;
• a record of turning long-term strategy into measurable service, asset and customer outcomes;
• strong financial, commercial and asset-management capability, including oversight of major operational and capital programs;
• experience leading through incidents, emergencies and business-continuity events;
• the ability to build capable, accountable and safety-focused teams in a scarce-skills environment;
• highly developed stakeholder skills and the ability to operate effectively with regulators, government, elected representatives and communities; and
• relevant tertiary qualifications.

Registration as a Professional Engineer of Queensland, or eligibility to obtain registration, is highly regarded.

Experience in dam safety, bulk water, operational technology, NATA-accredited laboratory services or regional utility operations will be highly regarded.

For further information review the Position Description.

Why Townsville?

Townsville offers a vibrant tropical lifestyle with the perks of a metropolitan city. Home to over 200,00 residents, the city combines natural beauty, affordable living, short commutes, and more than 300 sunny days annually. With access to two UNESCO World Heritage sites – the Wet Tropics Rainforest from Bluewater to Paluma and the Great Barrier Reef, including Cleveland-Halifax Bays and Magnetic Island – and one internationally recognised RAMSAR Wetland at Bowling Green Bay.

Townsville provides a unique blend of urban and outdoor life, surrounded by nature. James Cook University (JCU) and the TropiQ education, research and health precinct highlight Townsville’s commitment to innovation in tropical science and healthcare.

This role offers the opportunity to deliver nationally significant infrastructure and environmental outcomes while living in a major Northern Australian regional city.

You will join an organisation responsible for more than $7 billion in community assets and have the opportunity to influence decisions that will shape Townsville’s growth, resilience and liveability for generations.

The position offers:

• up to 13.5% employer superannuation contribution for eligible contributing members;
• relocation assistance and/or temporary accommodation;
• four weeks’ annual leave and two weeks’ personal/carer’s leave;
• professional licence and membership support;
• leadership and professional development opportunities; and
• access to Council’s employee wellbeing and assistance programs.
• The Council contribution to employees' superannuation for contributing employees shall be 13.5% of the employees' ordinary time earnings subject to the employee contributing a minimum of 6% of their ordinary time earnings.

For a confidential discussion, contact Matt Richardson, Director Infrastructure and Operations, on 0435498***or at ***@townsville.qld.gov.au.

We are committed to creating a safe and inclusive workplace where diverse styles, backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, encouraged, and respected. People from diverse backgrounds (including but not limited to, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, people with diverse gender identities and sexualities, people from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds, people with disability, and veterans) are encouraged to apply!

All successful candidates are required to undergo drug and alcohol testing as part of the recruitment process. Please be aware Townsville City Council has a ‘zero tolerance’ policy to drugs and alcohol in the workplace.

If you need any adjustments to be made to the recruitment process or if you would like to discuss any accessibility requirements, please contact **************@townsville.qld.gov.au or phone 07 4727 9*** for a confidential discussion.

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