Program Lead - Net Zero and Climate Change

 Purpose-Driven Team: Join a passionate team committed to making Sydney Water more sustainable and climate-resilient.

Impactful Projects: Lead key programs like the Climate Change Adaptation and Net Zero Carbon Plans, shaping Sydney Water’s long-term strategy.

Sydney Water is recruiting a Program Lead to join our dynamic System Planning and Land Acquisition team. We are looking for a passionate and dedicated professional to lead the Net Zero and Climate Change Adaption (NZ & CCA) team to drive Sydney Water’s climate resilience and sustainability goals. As leader of the team, you will collaborate across the enterprise including Strategy, Infrastructure Delivery and Finance teams to lead policy development, provide end to end governance for implementation of the policies and objectives, setting the objectives and measures to achieve the Enterprise targets. You will be integral in leading the team who will be working across our planning team to lead the implementation of our best-practice climate change adaptation and decarbonisation strategies across high-impact projects.

You work in a collaborative, forward-thinking environment where we embrace innovation and sustainability, enabling you to make a direct impact on the resilience of our community and the long-term environmental health of our region.

The NZ and CCA team will focus on integrating climate resilience strategies into our asset management and planning processes as well as work towards achieving Sydney Water’s net-zero targets, focusing on decarbonisation across our operations.

Responsibilities:

• Manage and mentor your direct reports of NZ & CCA specialists
• Upskill the organisation in NZ & CCA
• Co-design and develop climate risk assessment programs that align with Sydney Water's existing planning initiatives.
• Provide climate change adaptation expertise throughout various stages of projects.
• Collaborate with the Strategy & Sustainability team to inform future work and research for enterprise-wide climate risk management.
• Ensure that planning artifacts are developed with adaptive capacity and climate thresholds to manage climate risks.
• Develop and implement programs to support Sydney Water’s decarbonisation efforts across our investment portfolio.
• Provide net-zero expertise throughout the asset creation lifecycle.
• Collaborate with Strategy & Sustainability, Finance, Investment Management, and Water, Environment and Infrastructure Performance to ensure alignment with Sydney Water’s Net Zero Carbon Plan and integrate carbon reduction valuation into decision-making frameworks.
• Support the development of strategies and frameworks for achieving our Net Zero targets.

Experience and Qualifications:

• Tertiary qualifications in Environmental Science, Sustainability, Engineering, or a related field.
• Proven experience in net zero, climate change adaptation or sustainability.
• Strong background in integrating climate and environmental considerations into asset and system planning processes.
• Experience working on large-scale environmental programs or projects with a focus on decarbonisation and/or climate resilience.
• Ability to collaborate across teams and departments, with strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Experience with risk assessments, especially in relation to climate change and environmental impacts.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the capability to prioritize projects based on environmental risk.
• Familiarity with industry standards and regulations related to climate change and net-zero targets.

Essential Requirements:

• A strong understanding of climate change risks and net-zero emission strategies applicable to water and wastewater system, treatment and process planning.
• Ability to work with diverse teams and navigate complex stakeholder environments.
• High level of proficiency in using data-driven approaches to inform decision-making.
• A demonstrated commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.
• You must be an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident at the time of submitting your application to be considered for this role. 

Dive into Our Great Benefits: 

• Competitive Remuneration: We’ll ensure that your skills and contributions are valued and rewarded appropriately. 
• Hybrid Work Environment: We offer a hybrid work model that balances remote work and office collaboration, supporting our team's productivity and well-being. 
• Continuous Professional Growth: We will invest in your career with leadership and development programs to propel your success. 
• 24/7 Wellbeing Support: Access for you and your family to free and confidential mental health and general health support through our EAP portal. 
• Discounted Private Health Insurance: Unlock affordable access to top-tier health coverage with our discounted insurance plans. 
• Family First: Prioritise your family with up to 18 weeks of fully paid parental leave and a childcare allowance. 
• Fitness Passport: Achieve your physical fitness goals using our Fitness Passport, granting you access to a multitude of gyms and pools across NSW. 
• Novated Leasing: Get in the driver's seat of your financial future with our novated lease options. 

Closing Date: 31st August 2025 at 11.59pm

Please note as part of the application process, you will be asked to undergo background checks which includes a criminal history check.

Please advise if you require any adjustments to actively participate in the application and recruitment process. 

For any further information please contact marc.evans2@sydneywater.com.au

Working at Sydney Water

At Sydney Water, we are passionate about making a difference to the lives of our customers and communities. We have a proud heritage and progressive future providing world class drinking water and services that are vital to our customers’ quality of life and safeguarding Sydney’s future. We see the world is changing, so we are changing too. 

Our vision is to create better lives through world-class services, and we believe that starts with our people. Our people and their jobs are as diverse as the communities we serve. Our diverse skills, mindsets and backgrounds work together on exciting and challenging projects that make a difference and help ensure Sydney remains one of the most iconic and liveable cities in the world. 

We welcome and encourage applications from diverse backgrounds, including First Nations people, LGBTQIA+, people with disability, people with caring responsibilities, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and veterans. 

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

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