Strategy and Forward Planning Manager

Who are we?

We’re here to help people live well and create a better and more sustainable future. We support healthy and liveable communities by delivering water, sewerage and recycled water services to 1.77 million people who rely on us every day and every night. At South East Water, we innovate with purpose and act with care to deliver healthy water for life. Fresh thinking and collaboration are at the heart of our organisation. We are constantly learning, embracing the challenges of today and excited by the opportunities that tomorrow will bring.

The role

As our Strategy & Forward Planning Manager, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the medium to long-term capability, technology, and strategic direction of the Service Delivery function. This is a unique opportunity to influence how we respond to emerging challenges, regulatory change, evolving customer expectations, and technological innovation.

Working across the business, you will lead strategic planning, drive efficiencies, oversee regulatory compliance obligations, and ensure we have the capability, systems, and resources required to meet future demands.

What you will do:

• Develop and maintain a multi-year capability and technology roadmap aligned to South East Water's strategic objectives.
• Monitor emerging regulatory, legislative, environmental, and community trends, assessing impacts and translating them into actionable business requirements.
• Lead strategic improvement initiatives focused on productivity, cost efficiency, customer outcomes, and operational excellence.
• Explore and evaluate emerging technologies, including AI-enabled solutions, to enhance planning capability and business performance.
• Build compelling business cases supported by financial modelling, risk assessments, and cost-benefit analysis.
• Coordinate Service Delivery contributions to major organisational planning initiatives, including price submissions and future planning activities.
• Facilitate Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs), driving accountability and delivery against business objectives.
• Prepare high-quality reports, presentations, and recommendations for executive leaders and key stakeholders.

Who are you?

You are a strategic thinker who enjoys solving complex business challenges and turning long-term vision into practical action. You have a demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders, drive organisational improvement, and navigate a changing regulatory environment.

You will bring:

• Significant experience in strategic planning, forward planning, portfolio management, or business transformation.
• Proven success assessing regulatory and legislative changes and translating them into operational and technology requirements.
• Strong experience leading complex change programs.
• Advanced capability in business case development, financial analysis, risk assessment and management, and investment planning.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, facilitation, communication, and presentation skills.
• Experience working across multiple business functions to drive alignment and achieve outcomes.
• Familiarity with portfolio and resource management tools.A tertiary qualification in Business, Engineering, Economics, or a related discipline.

Desirable:

• PRINCE2 Practitioner, PMI, Agile, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
• Experience within utilities, infrastructure, water, government-regulated, or asset-intensive environments.

What's in it for you?

Working at South East Water means you can enjoy a wealth of benefits, starting with the chance to be part of an organisation deeply committed to environmental initiatives and sustainability; one who has been recognised as one of the top 101 Workplaces for Women in Australia by Work180 for the past two consecutive years and a 2026 Finalist in the Work180 Equitable Workplace Awards ‘Flexible Working’ category.

South East Water cultivates a dynamic culture that emphasises collaboration and strong work ethics, supported by career-focused learning and development opportunities. As a SEW employee, you can enjoy the following offerings from our benefits package:

• Access to My Fitness Passport, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), annual flu shots, and health checks.
• Work-life balance with flexible working arrangements, including hybrid work options and leave purchasing.
• Additional leave offerings, such as cultural and ceremonial leave and study leave.
• Head office with modern facilities and panoramic beachfront views, a separate parents' room, a prayer and meditation room and an onsite cafe.
• Limited free onsite and offsite car parking available, as well as pay-as-you-go parking options nearby.
• Opportunity to be part of great initiatives involving the local community.

We're for everyone

Our people are as diverse as the communities we serve. It makes us better learners, thinkers and collaborators, helping create better outcomes for our customers.

We are deeply committed to Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging, and we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTIQ+ individuals, people with disability and jobseekers of all ages and cultures. We aim to provide an inclusive, accessible workplace where everyone is welcome, safe, and celebrated. If you need any help with the application process or would like to discuss your reasonable adjustments during interviews, please reach out to our Talent team at careers@southeastwater.com.au.

Keen to make an impact?

Click here to check out the position description. We're accepting applications for this exciting opportunity until Tuesday 20th October 2026!

To be considered for this opportunity, you must hold unrestricted working rights for the period of employment at the time of application. Successful candidates will also be required to undergo a number of pre-employment checks, including a police records check.

As part of a team of engineers and technicians, central to this role are responsibilities for 24/7 safe operation to provide support and minimise disruption of services to customers and as well as ensuring that public health and the environment are not put at risk. This includes participation in a rostered after-hours duty team, emergency response, and incident support as required.

Visit southeastwater.com.au to learn more about us and how we serve our customers.