In Melbourne, water is essential to our way of life.
As caretakers for Melbourne's water cycle, we care for water, life and land throughout Melbourne: both its people and its biodiversity.
Each time you drink from the tap, flush a toilet or kayak down the Yarra, we're there. Primed and ready, quietly delivering some of the world's cleanest water for over five million residents and wildlife that call Melbourne home, just as we have for over 130 years.
If you value making it count, diving in with curiosity, and doing what's right, you're in the right place.
About The Role
This is a rare opportunity to lead the environmental program at one of Victoria's most significant ecological sites. Your work will directly to manage and protect Ramsar listed wetlands, endangered species and culturally important landscapes, while supporting essential services that Melbourne relies on every day. You'll lead a passionate specialist team, influence major operational and land use decisions, and shape long term biodiversity outcomes. Along the way, you'll grow your leadership profile, build deep regulatory and stakeholder expertise, and secure a meaningful career in an organisation with purpose and stability.
Reporting to the Manager, Environmental & Management Systems, you'll lead a small team of technical environmental and land management professionals responsible for safeguarding the environmental values of the Western Treatment Plant (WTP). The role balances strategy and delivery, with strong influence across Melbourne Water and with external partners to ensure compliance, conservation and continual improvement.
You will:
* Lead the design and delivery of biodiversity conservation and land management programs across wetlands, grasslands and coastal ecosystems.
* Oversee environmental compliance, monitoring and improvement activities under the EPBC Act, Environmental Protection Act, EPA licence conditions, and Ramsar obligations.
* Manage operational and capital budgets to deliver lasting environmental outcomes.
* Influence planning, operational change and capital works to protect environmental and cultural values at WTP.
* Build trusted relationships with Traditional Owners, government agencies, researchers, agricultural tenants and community stakeholders.
About You
You're an experienced environmental or land management leader who sees the bigger picture and knows how to turn strategy into action. You lead with energy, sound judgement, bring people together around shared outcomes, and stay confident navigating regulation, competing priorities and scrutiny.
You'll bring:
* Proven people leadership experience in environmental management, land management or a related technical field.
* Strong knowledge of environmental legislation and regulatory compliance.
* Experience designing and delivering biodiversity or conservation programs at scale.
* Sound financial and budget management capability.
* Confidence working with complex stakeholder groups to achieve long term environmental outcomes.
* A relevant tertiary qualification.
For more information, please review the attached position description: Area Lead WTP Biodiversity Land Management.pdf
Why Join Us
At Melbourne Water, we care about water and all life that springs from it.
Our people are fuelled by passion, and with safety at the forefront, we have an unwavering sense of purpose and are on a mission to protect every Melburnian's way of life, one drop at a time.
We walk the talk when it comes to flexible working - but that's not all. Our culture of purpose, safety, results, and learning permeates everything we do. We're dedicated to doing what's right, and this commitment extends to the meaningful work we do in a supportive and inclusive culture that encourages you to make the most of your talents.
Our long-standing commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging means that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTIQ+ individuals, neurodivergent individuals, people living with disability, mature age and young jobseekers from all cultures can apply with confidence knowing they are safe, affirmed, and celebrated.
If you're curious, action-orientated, outcomes-focused, and care deeply for public resources, community, and the environment, we'd love to receive an application and learn if you could be a great fit.
How To Apply
Click the 'Apply Now' button below and complete our online application form.
Closing date: 23rdFebruary 2026 at 11:55pm AEST
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