Position Number: P00043
Directorate: Environment & Planning Services
Service: Water Resource Management Service
Location: Katoomba HQ
Position
Classification:
Band: 11
Date
Created/Updated
13/06/2025
POSITION PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE
Environmental Education
Program and Community Conservation Program.
To develop, contribute to and implement programs, projects, strategies and policies aimed
as a leader in sustainable water management.
Sensitive Blue Mountains.
RELATIONSHIPS
Reports to (Position Title): Manager Environment
Report to (Position Number):
Staff Responsibility: Up to 6: Aquatic Monitoring Program, Connect to
Nature Environmental Education Program &
Community Conservation Program, Healthy
Waterways Cadet (as required).
Key Internal Relationships: Natural Area Management, First Nations,
Communications, Compliance, Project Delivery
Teams, All Council Groups
Key External Relationships: State and Australian Government Agencies,
other Councils, Tertiary Institutions, Blue
Mountains Schools and Community Groups
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The key responsibilities for this position include:
Develop, co-ordinate and support delivery of strategies, policies and programs to
enhance, contribute to healthy Country
and set a coordinated approach to water management across Council, based on
best practice water management principles.
Support the implementation of the Water Sensitive Blue Mountains Strategic Plan
and promote water sensitive principles and practices across the organisation
through the Integrated Water Management Group and other channels.
monitoring programs, including aquatic macroinvertebrate surveys, site/issue/project
specific monitoring, recreational water quality monitoring and freshwater crayfish
surveys.
Coordinate, lead and manage staff to establish priorities for waterway and catchment
management, based on analysis of monitoring program data.
Coordinate, lead and manage staff to deliver effective communication of monitoring
program findings and key messages through a variety of channels, including the
Health Snapshots and corporate reporting.
Connect to Nature
Environmental Education and water literacy programs, which engage over 4,000
participants annually through approximately 14 schools, 12 Early Childhood
Education Centres and 12 community events across the Blue Mountains Local
Government Area.
Coordinate, lead and manage staff to deliver a program of works related to the
Community Conservation Officer position, including
Bush Backyards, policy and strategy development, facilitation
of community catchment groups; accessing external funding opportunities and
contractor management.
Encourage and support a positive workplace culture within a multidisciplinary team.
Lead and supervise external partnerships, and support project delivery, including
contract and financial management, monitoring and reporting. Work work closely
with partners to investigate funding opportunities for catchment and water
management improvement initiatives. (e.g. WaterNSW Urban Partnerhips Program,
GSLLS private land incentive programs.)
Provide specialist advice, advocacy and leadership in the areas of integrated water
management and water sensitive approaches, waterway protection, management
of urban stormwater impacts and environmental education and engagement
approaches to water literacy.
In consultation with the Branch manager, develop and present Council positions to
other Branches/Groups of Council, consultants, Government Departments,
Parliamentary Inquiries, community groups and members of the public as necessary
and undertake ongoing liaison, advice and networking.
Represent Council at high level, regional and State strategic environmental
committees, public hearings and local public or community group meetings,
including out-of-hours meetings.
Keep up to date with legislative and other changes affecting operations and
responsibilities of the Branch and prepare advice on Council positions on such
matters.
Prepare correspondence, Council reports, media releases as required/directed.
Prepare, implement, and report on the Water Resource Service business plan and
budget, and secure external funding in support of Branch functions.
Conduct annual staff performance reviews in a timely manner ensuring that all staff
being managed are suitably skilled and competent, develop annual work programs
and receive appropriate training to develop into a highly skilled multidisciplinary
team that delivers on key Branch outcomes.
Keep the Manager informed on all matters which are likely to impact on the Team,
Branch or Group in the short or long term.
Act as the Branch Manager as required.
Guiding Principles (mandatory section do not delete)
We act as one organisation responding to the changing needs of our LGA and
community
We are strategy led, driven by our Community Strategic Plan with clear priorities and
focus
We are service focused & we continuously improve service provision and provide
excellent customer service
We collaborate and work together to achieve our outcomes
We ensure safety and well-being is at the centre of our organisation, operations and
culture
We are a financially sustainable organisation, living within our means, ensuring best
value resource allocation
Safe Home safe; Service Excellence; Value for Money; Trust and Respect; and,
Supporting Community.
Workplace Health & Safety (mandatory section do not delete)
Ensure compliance with WHS obligations and responsibilities as outlined in Councils
policies and procedures and under the relevant WHS legislation. These include but are
not limited to: identifying potentially unsafe situations or work practices and notifying your
Supervisor or Manager (or the Health, Safety Manager/Area Safety Representative);
never performing a task that you believe is dangerous or for which you do not have the
experience, or have not received appropriate instructions and training or where the correct
equipment to carry out the task safely is not available; always work in a safe manner and
in accordance with safety instructions, where applicable; use the work equipment supplied
for the job, in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions), and any personal
protective equipment, which the Council deems necessary and has provided; be safety
aware and report any actions to your line manager which will assist the Council to meet
its legal workplace health and safety obligations.
You have the right to cease or direct cessation of unsafe work. In addition, you are required
at all times to comply with Councils Asbestos Management Plan and Policy.
Compliance & Risk
You will support the team in ensuring that risk management responsibilities as described
Framework) are met, with the goal of ensuring that potential issues are identified and
reported in a timely manner.
COMMUNICATION
The person will communicate with a variety of people in a wide range of internal and
external settings for the purpose of developing and translating the relevant programs into
the wider organisation and community. The position will provide advice, lead discussions,
negotiations and make presentations in order to develop and maintain program direction
government (and non-government) agencies. The position will provide specialist advice
of both a verbal and written nature, on matters relating to the responsibilities of the
City.. To be effective, the person must be able to collaborate with a wide audience in order
to facilitate and enable positive change. All of the above will require highly developed
interpersonal and written and verbal communication skills.
JUDGEMENT & PROBLEM SOLVING
The position requires highly developed judgment, problem solving and project
management skills, including the ability to manage a number of projects at one time.
These skills will be required to manage the complex issues facing Council in its efforts to
protect local waterway assets, build resilience to climate change and manage our water
resources and assets more efficiently and sustainably. Responsibilities will include
developing and recommending programs, procedures and policies to the Manager, CEO
and for formal Council consideration. The individual will need to work effectively with
people from across Council, other organisations and the community in order to meet these
challenges. Appropriate and effective team management and leadership are necessary to
satisfy the positions supervisory responsibilities.
AUTHORITY
1. Effective management of budget focus areas under their control, including a
combined internal and external budget in excess of $300,000 and financial
delegation to expend up to $10,000.
1. Effective management of delegations associated with the statutory functions of the
position.
1. Effective management of the relevant staff and associated leave, recruitment and
performance management authorisations.
1. Matters as delegated from Chief Executive Officer.
SKILL, EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS & BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES
ESSENTIAL
Tertiary qualifications in environmental science, natural resource management,
social science, communications or other relevant field, or extensive industry
experience (at least 10 years) in a similar role.
Highly developed communication skills and a record of achievement in working
collaboratively with multi-disciplinary teams to develop and implement strategies
and programs that generate positive change.
High level project management and organisational skills and demonstrated
experience developing and implementing programs and projects, including strategy
development, budgetary and time management, preparation of brief and contracts
and monitoring and evaluation.
Demonstrated experience in preparing reports and discussion papers for the
purposes of securing strategic outcomes.
Experience and a record of success in leading and managing multi-disciplinary
teams and engaging others in an effective and appropriate manner.
Highly developed skills and experience in developing and maintaining relationships
through effective communication, negotiation and issues management.
Well-developed computer skills including experience with word processing, GIS,
and spreadsheet packages
Understanding of and commitment to Work Health & Safety and Equal Opportunity
principles.
Current drivers licence.
DESIRABLE
Experience leading a multi-disciplinary team and supporting a positive workplace
culture.
Detailed knowledge of the Blue Mountains area its physical and biological
environments including waterways, endangered species, environmental sensitivity
and vulnerability, land use patterns and legislation.
Knowledge of Water Sensitive Urban Design / Water Resource Management,
waterway health and stormwater management approaches and water quality
monitoring / freshwater ecology.
Demonstrated experience in effective science communication
Demonstrated experience in the development of social marketing / behaviour
change and or organisational change strategies.
Experience working in or with Local Government.