Stakeholder Engagement Lead - Remote

• Build a better city by being part of a high performing team
• Proudly make a difference to establishing a best-in-class, customer centred, client organisation
• Full-time permanent position conveniently located at Parramatta, offering hybrid working options.

About us

At Sydney Water, we are creating a better life with world-class water services. We are Australia’s largest water utility, providing water, wastewater, recycled water and some stormwater services to 5.3 million people. For 135 years, this has been our legacy – ensuring our waterways are healthy and thriving and the people of Greater Sydney have a safe, reliable water supply.

Sydney Water will service nearly two million more people by 2050. To enable this growth, in an integrated and sustainable way, Sydney Water will be making significant investments over the next 10 years to deliver a resilient water and wastewater network, protect the environment and support healthy waterways.

About the role

Join the Government, Stakeholder & Community team to ensure Sydney Water’s engagement with senior government agency, council and private sector stakeholders is strategic and coordinated. This role will lead a small team to develop and deliver engagement plans which protect and promote Sydney Water's reputation, educate on strategic priorities and gain insights to inform business decisions and future engagement.

The role holder will be outcomes-focused and have a strategic and future-focused approach to capitalising on opportunities and mitigating risks they identify. You will be skilled at building trusted relationships both internally and externally and creating advocates to support the delivery of Sydney Water’s strategic outcomes. You’re an excellent communicator and have strong instincts for crafting the right message and approach to meet the needs of each stakeholder.

• Provide leadership to direct reports and work with the Government, Stakeholder and Community (GSC) team members to contribute to the overall success of the broader Customer & Stakeholder Engagement team.
• Shape engagement approaches and gain input from relevant teams across the organisation to respond to emerging issues and stakeholder insights, working closely with the Senior Engagement Manager and the broader team.
• Provide advice to senior leaders across Sydney Water to plan and manage communications for Stakeholder Engagement initiatives and programs.
• Develop a solid understanding of the business and be able to navigate complex subjects and a matrix working environment.
• Provide advice on socio-political developments and best practice engagement to drive performance and business results.

About you

• Formal qualifications in communications, public policy, public relations/journalism, economics, business or a related field.
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in Stakeholder Engagement, government relations, public affairs, or communications in a corporation, government department or agency.
• Strong business acumen and experience liaising and working with senior management and other Communications and Government Relations team members to determine positions on public policy issues, both proactive and reactive.
• Experience leading and advising others in Stakeholder Engagement.
• Builds constructive and effective relationships to develop a deep understanding of business needs and objectives, and the environment Sydney Water works within.
• Strong focus on delivering outcomes with a clear link to organisational priorities.
• Emotional intelligence, including strong team development, coaching, diplomacy and conflict management skills.
• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills including strong corporate and policy communication skills, and the ability to translate technical language into clear, easy-to-understand messages.

Closing Date: Thursday 14 March 2024

Please see the position description for the role’s full accountabilities.

You must be an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident at the time of submitting your application to be considered for this role. For more information, you can contact sophia.catacouzinos@sydneywater.com.au.

We want your perspective and ideas to help us find better ways to delight our customers, so we encourage you to apply no matter your age, sex or culture. You can be part of a committed, highly skilled team who’ll appreciate what you bring to the table. You’ll set and achieve real goals and make decisions that matter, as together we help shape the lifestyle of greater Sydney.

As part of the application process, Sydney Water will be collecting your personal information to assess your suitability for the role. We will also use your personal information to establish a LiveHire talent profile in our Talent Community. We look at our Talent Community first when new opportunities come up when you apply for a role. Your personal information will be collected in accordance with LiveHire’s Terms, Privacy Policy and Sydney Water’s Privacy Collection Statement – Job Application.