DSpecialist Sustainability Governance & Reporting

Who we are

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

As caretakers for Melbourne’s water cycle, 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, run through a backyard sprinkler, 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.

If you value making it count, diving in with curiosity, and doing what’s right, you're in the right place.

 

About the Role 

Reporting to the Senior Manager Sustainable & Resilient Futures, this is a pivotal role within the Service Futures portfolio. As the Specialist for Sustainability Governance & Reporting you will be responsible for leading the organisation's efforts to integrate climate and sustainability reporting into core business operations. This role is responsible for developing and cascading sustainability reporting frameworks and leading cross-business governance to ensure transparency, accountability, and measurable progress towards emissions targets and climate and sustainability goals.

•           Lead the alignment of governance structures for climate and sustainability with regulatory frameworks and government policy providing transparency of progress towards net zero commitments and Melbourne Water’s decarbonisation goal. 

•           Lead the development and embedding of ESG reporting framework/s into business decision making, aligning carbon reduction efforts with net zero commitments to drive transparency and accountability in carbon forecasting, measurement, and reporting.

•           Lead development of the Climate and Sustainability sections of the Annual Report and Corporate Plan in compliance with Government reporting frameworks and disclosure requirements. 

•           Influence internal and external stakeholders to enhance the value of external reporting processes. 

•           Track and measure the sustainability reporting initiatives and identify gaps to improve Melbourne Water performance as an organisation. 

•           Monitor regulatory developments, reporting standards and emerging best practices to ensure the organisation remains ahead of compliance requirements.

•           Working collaboratively with the broader business to prepare for evolving sustainability standards, including Taskforce on Nature-Related Financial Disclosures (TNFD). 

 

About you:

•           Tertiary qualification in sustainability, climate change, governance, or related field. Postgraduate qualifications in a related field are highly regarded.

•           Extensive experience in strategic business performance and climate or emissions related reporting across multidisciplinary teams. 

•           Demonstrated experience in Annual Report preparation and/or other Governance Reporting

•           Demonstrated exceptional interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.

•           Strong knowledge of sustainability concepts, frameworks, and reporting guidelines.

•           Strong knowledge of climate policy & legislation and policy relevant to climate change mitigation particularly in relation to the water sector 

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, 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 passionate about public resources, community, and the environment, we'd love to receive your application and learn if you could be a great fit. 

 

For more information, please review the Role Mandate below.

How to Apply

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

Closing date: Sunday 4^th May 2025 at 11:55pm AESTs

Role Mandate - Position: Specialist Sustainability Governance & Reporting

Reports to: Senior Manager Sustainable & Resilient Futures 

Group: 3 

Division Service Futures 

Span of Control

Direct Reports: 0 

Indirect Reports: 0 

Grade: 16 

Role Purpose 

The Specialist Sustainability Governance & Reporting is accountable to the Senior Manager Sustainable & Resilient Futures for leading the organisation's efforts to integrate climate and sustainability reporting into core business operations.

This role is responsible for developing and cascading sustainability reporting frameworks and leading cross-business governance to ensure transparency, accountability, and measurable progress towards emissions targets and climate and sustainability goals. This role is also responsible for leading the development of the climate 

and sustainability sections of the Annual Report and Corporate Plan in compliance with Government reporting frameworks and emerging expectations. 

Measures of Success

Time focus (see more details below)

5% Influencer

5% Strategist 

45% Contributor

45% Driver 

Key Individual Accountabilities 

• Lead the alignment of governance structures for climate and sustainability with regulatory frameworks and government policy providing 

transparency of progress towards net zero commitments and Melbourne Water’s decarbonisation goal. 

• Lead the development and embedding of ESG reporting framework/s into business decision making; aligning carbon reduction efforts with 

net zero commitments to drive transparency and accountability in carbon forecasting, measurement and reporting 

• Lead development of the Climate and Sustainability sections of the Annual Report and Corporate Plan in compliance with Government 

reporting frameworks and disclosure requirements. 

• Influence internal and external stakeholders to enhance the value of external reporting processes. 

• Track and measure the sustainability reporting initiatives and identify gaps to improve Melbourne Water performance as an organisation 

• Monitor regulatory developments, reporting standards and emerging best practices to ensure the organisation remains ahead of compliance 

requirements 

• Working collaboratively with the broader business to prepare for evolving sustainability standards, including Taskforce on Nature-Related Financial Disclosures (TNFD). 

Qualifications & Experience 

• Tertiary qualification in sustainability, climate 

change, governance or related field. 

Postgraduate qualifications in a related field are 

highly regarded 

• Significant experience in strategic business 

performance and climate or emissions related 

reporting across multidisciplinary teams. 

• Demonstrated experience in Annual Report 

preparation and/or other Governance Reporting 

• Demonstrated exceptional interpersonal, verbal 

and written communication skills. 

Key shared accountabilities 

• Our People: Engagement Scores, NNWW, role model MW values & behaviours 

• Financial Sustainability: Overall MW Budget and Business plan (where applicable) 

• Customer and Community: Divisions internal NPS score as a service; Overall MW Customer Satisfaction and Reputation Scores (where applicable) 

• Safety Leadership: Safety Scores from C&E survey 

• Vision and Purpose: Communicates and inspires a shared Team vision and strategic direction 

• Risk: Ensures proactive oversight, governance and assessment of risk management consistent with the Risk Management framework. 

Technical capability 

•  Strong knowledge of sustainability concepts, 

frameworks, and reporting guidelines. 

•  Strong knowledge of climate policy & legislation 

and policy relevant to climate change mitigation 

particularly in relation to the water sector 

• Excellent analytical skills and experience in 

defining, tracking and improving ESG 

performance indicators across business 

operations 

• Ability to work across the business and with 

external stakeholders to lead change through 

both formal and informal governance structures 

• Expertise in managing cross functional working 

groups to embed sustainability initiatives. 

Decision Rights – owns 

• Manage own budgets and contracts 

• Maintain a strong working relationship between peers across 

Melbourne Water and stakeholders 

• Continuous improvement annual climate and sustainability 

reporting 

• Governance across business to ensure accountability and 

transparency progress on climate and sustainability goals 

Decision Rights - influences 

• Value of reporting metrics and insights 

• ESG metrics and targets 

• Enterprise Reporting strategy 

• Embedding a Safety culture across the organisation 

Time Focus (Further detail)

Influencer:

• Influence change across your team and the organisation to accelerate strategy execution, mindset change and accountability.
• Build strategic relationships across the organisation and relevant external markets (peers, partners, govt.).
• Support business leadership

Strategist: 

• Position your team and the organisation for the future (Future Focus), using foresight for innovation

Contributor:

• Contribute to achieving team and business goals

Driver:

• Focus on efficient operation of business, ensuring risk, compliance and customer outcomes are delivered.
• Driving operational effectiveness, process improvement, achieving capital spend targets, and ensure consistent audit outcomes

 

 

 

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