Project officer

Who we are
The Inspector–General of Water Compliance (Inspector–General) is an independent statutory role and an identified integrity agency, supported by staff provided by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment & Water (the Department).

Inspector–General’s vision: Water management and use within the Murray-Darling Basin is lawful, transparent, and accountable, and the Australian public is confident in the integrity of Basin Plan delivery.

Inspector–General’s purpose: The Inspector–General ensures various government bodies, water managers and users in the Murray-Darling Basin (the Basin) comply with their obligations under the Water Act 2007 (Cth) (Water Act) and the Basin Plan 2012 (Cth) (Basin Plan) and drives governments and water managers to uphold high standards of integrity and performance.

The Inspector–General’s role includes overseeing the performance of government agencies in the management of Basin water resources, as well as ensuring compliance with various commitments under legislation.

The Inspector–General currently has offices located in Adelaide, Albury, Brisbane, Canberra, Dubbo, Goondiwindi, Mildura and Sydney. The Department also has a state office in Melbourne. The Inspector–General can support regional relocation to one of our Basin communities.

Role Highlights

You will work within an independent integrity agency in a complex legislative environment and undertake work that is moderately complex in nature.
You will exercise both initiative and judgment in the interpretation of regulatory policy and in the application of procedures and frameworks.
You will provide technical, professional, and/or regulatory policy advice in relation to moderately complex problems and may participate in strategic planning, program and project management.
Your work may involve management responsibilities requiring the setting of priorities and managing workflows.
Flexible working arrangements are available at all levels.

Work Area
The Compliance Monitoring Team leads the delivery of a range of programs and projects to inform the Inspector–General’s monitoring and decision-making responsibilities under the Water Act 2007 (Cth) and Basin Plan. The Team is responsible for leading and managing:

Water Resource Plan compliance.
Sustainable Diversion Limit compliance.
Compliance issues and risk assessment.
Compliance audits.
Data and information analysis demonstrating the level of compliance with the Basin Plan and water management arrangements in each state and territory.
Compliance and enforcement guidelines and frameworks.
Knowledge Collaboration Strategy to provide the most up-to-date and accurate knowledge, data, and evidence available for making informed compliance decisions.

The Job
Project Officer supports the Compliance Monitoring team’s core responsibility of monitoring and assessing compliance with designated compliance provisions in the Water Act, Basin Plan, and water resource plans by Basin states.

Key Accountabilities Supporting their supervisor or project managers of Compliance Monitoring team in compliance monitoring activities, which may include:

Water Resource Plan compliance monitoring.
Analysis of Basin Plan compliance reporting.
Provide technical advice regarding water management and compliance issues.
Assist in planning, project management and policy development.
Developing and maintaining collaborative and productive internal and external working relationships.
Ensuring assigned tasks are delivered on time, within budget and to an expected standard in relation to quality, deliverables, and outcomes.
Show initiative, exercising sound decision making and judgment in interpreting and applying legislation, practices, and procedures, and providing policy and regulatory advice.

What we are looking for
Knowledge and experience
The successful applicant should be able to demonstrate a range of the following:

Knowledge of water legislation: Familiarity with relevant water management legislation and regulatory frameworks, including basic compliance monitoring principles.
Natural resources management experience: Some experience in projects related to natural resource management, particularly in water resource and environmental protection.
Project management skills: Ability to plan and execute basic projects, ensuring tasks are completed on time and within scope.
Data analysis and reporting: Skills in basic data analysis and reporting to support compliance assessments and inform project outcomes.
Stakeholder communication: Experience in engaging with stakeholders, including government agencies and community groups, to facilitate communication and collaboration.
Writing skills: Competence in writing clear and concise documents for various audiences, including project updates, reports, and correspondence.
Experience working in an agile agency environment, with the capacity to manage high priority work programs and navigate change effectively.

Skills and capabilities
The successful candidate will be able to:

Apply analytical and problem-solving skills to deliver projects within set timeframes, and the ability to seek out and identify relevant information and advice where required to achieve this.
Support the delivery of outcomes in line with the objectives of the Inspector General’s Annual Work Plan.
Manage time effectively to meet deadlines and ensure timely completion of project tasks.
Have the willingness to work collaboratively within a team, contributing to a positive team culture and supporting colleagues.
Prioritise tasks based on urgency and importance to maintain focus on key project deliverables.
Stay organised, keeping track of project activities and documentation to ensure efficient workflow.
Effectively coping with change and handling uncertainty.
Work within a geographically dispersed and/or regional team.

Eligibility
Citizenship – To be eligible for employment with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water you must be an Australian citizen.

Security Clearance – This position requires a Baseline Vetting security clearance. You will be required to obtain and maintain a clearance at this level.

Pre-employment Check – Your suitability for employment will be assessed through a pre-employment screening process. This process includes a requirement to undergo and satisfy a National Police Check, referee checks, character clearance and where required a pre-employment medical assessment, specified mandatory qualification(s) validation and a probation period of 6 months.

Divers License – The successful applicant must: Hold and maintain a valid Australian motor vehicle drivers’ licence

For additional information, please read the Job Description below.

Candidate Information Pack (Docx)

Candidate Information Pack (PDF)

Job Description