Emergency & Operational Resilience 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

We're seeking an experienced Resilience and Emergency Manager to lead our approach to emergency management, resilience, business continuity, risk and physical security across Service Delivery. This is a critical leadership role that will help ensure South East Water can continue providing safe and reliable water, wastewater and recycled water services during emergencies and major disruptions. 

Reporting to the Group Manager Operational Planning & Performance, you will lead South East Water's emergency management, ensuring we are prepared to prevent, respond to and recover from operational disruptions and emergency events. 

Key responsibilities include: 

• Leading South East Water's emergency management planning, preparedness and response.  
• Coordinating emergency training, exercises and incident management capability development. 
• Supporting incident response activities and providing expert advice during emergency events. 
• Managing Service Delivery business continuity and operational risk frameworks. 
• Overseeing resilience planning, threat assessments and scenario-based exercises. 
• Leading reporting and continuous improvement activities. 
• Managing physical security strategy and governance for critical infrastructure assets. 
• Building strong partnerships with government agencies, emergency services, regulators and industry stakeholders. 
• Driving a culture of preparedness, resilience and continuous improvement.

Who are you?

You are a strategic and collaborative leader with significant experience in emergency management, resilience or critical infrastructure environments. You thrive in complex and high-pressure situations and have the ability to influence outcomes across diverse stakeholder groups. 

You will bring: 

• AIIMS, ICS or equivalent incident management accreditation. 
• Proven experience in emergency management within critical infrastructure, essential services or public sector environments. 
• Qualifications and experience in emergency management, resilience, security, risk management or public safety. 
• Experience within the Victorian water sector or other essential service industries. 
• Familiarity with frameworks including ISO 22301, ISO 31000 and critical infrastructure security requirements. 
• Strong understanding of Victoria's emergency management arrangements and emergency response frameworks. 
• Knowledge of security, critical infrastructure protection and incident management practices. 
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement skills with experience working alongside emergency services, government agencies and industry partners. 
• Strong leadership, communication and decision-making capabilities. 
• The ability to remain calm, pragmatic and solution-focused during emergency situations. 
• Experience developing and implementing resilience and preparedness programs. 

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, 3rd November 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. 

South East Water operates a 24/7 service environment. Whilst this role does not involve after-hours rostered duty, all employees may be required to provide out of hours support from time to time as required. 

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