Water Monitoring Field Officer

Job description:

Ready to make a splash in your career? WaterNSW is seeking a Water Monitoring Field Officer / Hydrographer (Full-Time, Permanent) to join our Built Infrastructure team.

In this hands-on role, you’ll help protect and manage vital water resources. You’ll operate and maintain water monitoring sites and equipment, ensuring the collection and delivery of high‑quality, accurate data and always with safety front of mind. The work is varied and engaging, combining field and office activities. One day you may be conducting surveys or flow measurements, the next processing and validating data.

This is an opportunity to work with an essential organisation creating a more sustainable future for the state. This role suits someone who enjoys balancing technical data work with practical, outdoor experience and making a real‑world environmental impact. Full training and mentoring will be provided to help you build your skills and grow in the role.

Our Perks and Benefits:

At WaterNSW, we believe that our employees should be as well taken care of as our rivers, dams, and pipelines, that’s why we offer a load of benefits.

• Flexible working
• Work a 9-day fortnight at Full pay on the Enterprise Agreement
• Up to 16 weeks paid parental leave
• Fertility leave
• Corporate wear allowance
• Professional development and educational assistance
• Salary starting from $78,968 base + super
• And so much more!

What you’ll do:

• Delivery of Water Monitoring Program: Undertake surface water, groundwater and water quality monitoring functions such as rating, gauging, groundwater monitoring, collection of water quality samples, instrument management and calibration, surveys.
• Water Data Collection and Verification: Monitor, collect and verify water monitoring data, including time series data, in accordance with agreed schedules for allocated sites, to ensure the availability of high quality, consistent and accessible data for water resource management.
• Field Equipment Management: Install, manage and maintain water monitoring equipment and infrastructure to prescribed standards. Report on the performance of individual water monitoring sites and seek instrumentation advice to identify and resolve issues.
• Data Processing: Process, edit, quality code and archive water monitoring data into corporate databases, in accordance with relevant procedures ensuring the quality standards of data and data availability as agreed for customer access.
• Water Quality Sampling: Responsible for collecting water quality samples, as requested by internal or external stakeholders within assigned sites and in accordance with quality guidelines and relevant procedures.

What we are looking for:

• Diploma of Water Industry Operations (hydrography), or relevant tertiary qualification environmental studies or a related field, with an interest in water.
• Knowledge of the principles of surface water, groundwater and/or water quality monitoring and awareness of and interest in natural resource management, particularly water.
• Ability to carry out activities that may be physically demanding including remote field work in all weather conditions.
• Computer literacy and ability to interpret data, work with specialist databases and monitor network performance.
• Comfortable working around and within water, with demonstrated ability to swim confidently and competently.
• Willing to travel and work at various sites within WaterNSW.

Who we are:

WaterNSW operates the state’s dams, capturing and storing water, and then supplying it ready for distribution – for the environment, agriculture, industry and the community. With 41 major dams and hundreds of waterways across the state, we play a vital role at the source of the state’s water, delivering two thirds of all water used in NSW.

We’re the people taking care of the state’s water at the source – capturing, storing, delivering.

How we will support you:

At WaterNSW, we balance flexibility – and the way we work – with the needs of the business, our teams, and us as individuals. When it comes to working in an office, we work in a hybrid way. If you’re required to be in the field or on site, the benefits of flexibility can be achieved in other ways, such as through a condensed work week.

We are proud to be a WORK180 Endorsed Employer and are committed to providing equal opportunities for women. Visit our WORK180 page to access our benefits and career development opportunities.

Our commitment & culture:

No matter how or where you work, safety is the number one priority. This means the physical and mental safety of you, your colleagues, and the public.

WaterNSW is committed to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, Veterans, and people from all backgrounds to apply. We celebrate the unique perspectives, knowledge and lived experience you bring and are committed to ensuring an inclusive, supportive and respectful workplace for everyone.

Find out more at waternsw.com.au

For more information, please reach out to: [email protected]

Please note applications for this position will close on Friday 28th August at 11.59 pm.

You must have full work rights in Australia to qualify for all positions at WaterNSW. 

We are a 2026 Circle Back Initiative Employer – we commit to respond to every applicant.

Privacy and collection of your personal information
If you apply for a position via our website or [email protected], WaterNSW may collect your personal information. Please visit WaterNSW’s Privacy Page to view the Careers Collection Notice for more information about how WaterNSW collects, uses, and discloses your personal information.