Who we are

In Melbourne, water is essential to our way of life.

As caretakers for Melbourne’s water cycle, and our catchments. We care for water, life, and land throughout Melbourne: both its people and its biodiversity.

Each time you drink from the tap, flush a toilet, or kayak down the Yarra we’re there. Primed and ready, quietly delivering some of the world’s cleanest water for over five million residents and wildlife that call Melbourne home, just as we have for over 130 years.

About the Role

In this contract  opportunity until June 2028, lead transformational collaboration across the Maribyrnong Catchment, supporting Traditional Owners leadership and self determination and bringing together government agencies, local councils, community groups and industry partners to deliver meaningful environmental, social and community outcomes. The Maribyrnong Catchment is a complex and dynamic ecosystem that encompasses land, waterways, communities, culture and several layers of governance and is under severe pressure, making this a role with genuine purpose and impact.

As the Maribyrnong Catchment Collaboration Lead, you will be at the forefront of building partnerships, influencing strategic outcomes and driving collective action to address some of the region's key integrated catchment challenges. You'll have the opportunity to connect diverse stakeholders, align priorities and turn ambitious ideas into lasting results for the catchment and the communities that depend on it.

• Facilitate and coordinate the collaboration group, its governance, budget and co-delivery of the strategic plan
• Work with partners to advocate for the Maribyrnong catchment
• Build and sustain relationships with, and seek participation of, a diverse range of stakeholders across the catchment
• Assist coordination of catchment-wide projects and enable outcomes
• Work with Subject-Matter Experts to plan and act strategically for an integrated approach to catchment management
• Prepare monitoring, evaluation and communication of key issues, learnings and progress, the results of which may be provided to external groups
• Increase visibility of the Maribyrnong and its catchment
• Work closely with key strategic projects underway in the Maribyrnong catchment including the Maribyrnong Flood Mitigation study

For more information, please refer to the attached  Position Description

About you:

• Lived experience or extensive understanding of First Peoples and their living culture
• Lived experience or understanding of natural resource / waterways management and/or integrated catchment management issues Lived or demonstrated experience in partnership development and working collaboratively with First Nation sovereign partners and a wide range of agency, community and other stakeholders
• Demonstrated understanding and experience in Traditional Owner partnerships within a natural resource and/or water/waterway management context.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills, together with high level verbal and written communication skills in sensitive or complex circumstances​.
• Demonstrated project management skills, including the ability to lead and manage projects, programs, people and resources to achieve a broad range of outcomes.
• Ability to formulate creative and innovative approaches in complex problem solving and generate outcomes to meet strategic direction.
• Strong relationship and network building capacity/capability.
• Ability to inspire and drive action through role modelling of values, mind-sets and habits to bring to life a desired collaborative culture

Why join us:

At Melbourne Water, we care deeply about water and the life it sustains. 

Our team is inspired by passion and purpose, with an unwavering commitment to safety. We are on a mission to protect every Melburnian’s way of life, one drop at a time.

We don’t just talk about flexible working - we live it. Our culture of purpose, safety, results, and learning flows through everything we do. We're dedicated to doing what's right, and this commitment extends to the meaningful work we do in a supportive and inclusive culture that encourages you to make the most of your talents.

Our long-standing commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging means that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTIQ+ individuals, Neurodivergent Individuals, people living with disability, mature age and young jobseekers from all cultures can apply with confidence knowing they are safe, affirmed, and celebrated.

If you’re curious, action-orientated, outcomes-focused, and enthusiastic about public resources, community, and the environment, we'd love to receive your application and learn if you could be a great fit. 

How to Apply

Click the 'Apply Now' button below and complete our online application form.

Closing date: Monday 12^th October 2026 @ 11:55am AEST

This is a designated role under the Equal Opportunity Act 2010, where the role is specifically intended to be filled by a person with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage.