Program Manager

$120 - $150K + super (or pro rata) depending on experience
Full-time or part time will be considered
Location Negotiable
Term 12 months - Secondments or direct employment will be considered

About the Role
This is a unique opportunity to work in a truly independent organisation to create systemic change.

This newly created role will be working at the interface between people and policy, applying strategic and practical skills to the inclusion of concepts such as fairness perspectives and community governance in water policy and planning. You will support
Governments and communities to consider and test processes for reaching policy decisions on challenging and contested water issues, leading to improved and more enduring ways of working.

Your role will provide advice and capacity support on the incorporation of people values and perspectives into the design of policy processes, and the ways people are organised, and have access to, information and deliberative opportunities. You will also
undertake a range of activities that will assist long term system change in policy and planning processes including producing support materials, delivering pilots and producing case studies.

You will also be available to support or lead a range of Watertrust initiatives that demonstrate ways to achieve inclusive policy dialogues to reach enduring solutions.

About Watertrust

Helping Australians work together for fairer and better water outcomes. Established in 2021, Watertrust Australia is a philanthropically funded not-for-profit with a unique approach to building trust, fostering collaboration, and finding common ground on water and catchment policy. We support decision-making processes that consider environmental, cultural, economic, and social values to deliver practical, broadly supported solutions. To achieve this, we use deliberative methods, convene inclusive
policy dialogues, and synthesise evidence while engaging closely with institutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day management and delivery of active initiatives, including planning, delivery, monitoring and reporting with the support of relevant Principals and the Watertrust team.
• Facilitate consultation, capacity building and structured, analytical, and deliberative processes that support policy decision-making and bring diverse interests towards workable outcomes.
• Plan and build stakeholder engagement, maintaining trust and participation across a diverse range of interests while tracking and managing these relationships.
• Research and synthesise information on water-related issues to support initiatives with accessible, accurate, and relevant insights.
• Monitor performance, and track initiative impact, and share learnings with our board, funders, and community.
• Contribute to team and organisational processes, including planning, logistics for key events, strategic communications, and initiative and organisational evaluation.

What You Bring

• Relevant qualifications at a higher degree level, ideally aligned with your experience in water or environmental decision-making, or a proven track record of 5+ years in project management and delivery.
• Strategic experience in developing policy and plans with governments and communities, in an NRM context including the application of futures thinking and resilience framings and deliberative decision making.
• Skilled in working collaboratively with diverse stakeholders in complex water and environmental contexts, building trust, and delivering results.
• Skills to maintain independence and neutrality in contested policy environments, separating personal views from Watertrust’s role as a neutral, trusted broker.
• Comfortable working independently while contributing effectively to diverse teams, showing initiative and sound judgement with minimal supervision.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage clearly and persuasively with a wide range of audiences.

Who You Are

Grounded. Thoughtful. Trusted. Strategic. Unflappable under pressure. You excel at steering projects to completion and working in innovative ways to shift the system. You bring people together, cut through complexity, and drive progress towards meaningful
impact.

What's in it for you

• A strong sense of purpose in your work. You will shape how decisions are made on catchment and water policy, from local communities to the national level.
• The role can work from home or if you are based in Canberra - enjoy free on-site parking and work in beautiful, light-filled offices in Acton.
• Generous leave, including paid shutdown days to help you fully switch off.
• Access to not-for-profit salary packaging benefits to help lower your taxable income and increase your take-home pay.
If you’re driven by systemic change and eager to join a passionate, purpose-driven team dedicated to fairer and better water outcomes, we’d love to hear from you.

How to Apply

To apply for the role at Watertrust Australia, please email your CV along with a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) addressing your experience relevant to the key responsibilities and personal criteria to jobs@watertrustaustralia.org.au. Applications
close midnight Sunday 23rd November.

If you have any enquiries prior to submitting an application, please call Chris Cumming at 0429 990 604.

Watertrust Australia is dedicated to providing equal opportunities to all Australians, regardless of gender, race, culture, religion, age, sexual orientation, or ability. We value diverse perspectives and strive to create a culture of respect, learning, and inclusion.

We warmly welcome your application or expression of interest to join our team.