Just over an hour north of Townsville is the tropical paradise of Hinchinbrook. With Ingham at its centre, the region is surrounded by rugged mountain ranges, giant waterfalls, the Great Barrier Reef, wild beaches and tropical islands. It's a place where breathtaking scenery, unique wildlife, world-class fishing experiences, delicious, locally sourced food, inspirational art and 60,000 years of culture are all weaved into one incredible story: The Hinchinbrook Way.
Hinchinbrook Shire Council is seeking an experienced and forward thinking Manager Water and Waste to lead the delivery of safe, compliant, and sustainable water, wastewater, and waste services to the local community. This pivotal leadership position reports directly to the Director Infrastructure Services and plays an integral part in ensuring the reliability, efficiency and future readiness of Council's essential service networks.
About the Role
As Manager Water and Waste, you will lead a multidisciplinary team responsible for the full lifecycle of water, wastewater and waste operations, including treatment plants, networks, capital upgrades, environmental compliance, and customer‑focused service delivery.
You will provide strategic and operational leadership across:
* Water and wastewater treatment operations and network performance
* Waste management services
* Capital works planning and delivery
* Regulatory and environmental compliance
* Safety culture and operational risk management
* Team capability, workforce planning and continuous improvement
Overseeing a team of 28 dedicated employees, you will bring structure, accountability and clarity to operations, uplifting performance and fostering a strong culture of collaboration, professionalism and safety.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead the day‑to‑day operation, maintenance and optimisation of Council's water, wastewater and waste assets
* Drive regulatory compliance, including drinking water quality, environmental licensing and reporting
* Oversee capital works and infrastructure renewal programs, including treatment plant upgrades and network expansions
* Provide high‑level technical, operational and strategic advice to the Director and senior leadership
* Manage significant operational and capital budgets, ensuring cost‑effective and sustainable service delivery
* Build team capability, mentor supervisors and technical staff, and lead cultural and performance uplift
* Represent Council in discussions with regulators, contractors, stakeholders and community members
About You
You are a capable, connected and solutions‑focused leader who thrives on operational excellence, team development and service improvement. You will bring:
* Experience in water, wastewater, waste management or similar infrastructure environments
* Strong leadership capability with the ability to guide teams through change
* Demonstrated success driving compliance, safety and operational performance
* The ability to manage complex budgets, competing priorities and technical challenges
* Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills
RPEQ registration or equivalent technical qualifications will be highly regarded.
This role offers the rare opportunity to shape long‑term community outcomes, modernise ageing infrastructure and contribute to one of Queensland's most unique and beautiful regions. You will make a meaningful and lasting impact on services essential to everyday life.
BEFORE APPLYING, PLEASE OBTAIN THE CANDIDATE INFORMATION PACK from the McArthur website, search J8491 or for a confidential discussion - call Rebecca McPhail on 07 3211 9***.
Applications close Monday 16 March 2026 however applications will be assessed prior to this date.