Job Description

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

The Traditional Owner Partnerships Officer plays a key role in strengthening Melbourne Water’s relationships with Traditional Owner organisations and supporting the delivery of partnership priorities across the Port Phillip and Western Port region. Working within the Aboriginal Engagement team, this role leads the coordination, co-design and implementation of activities aligned to formal Partnership Agreements, Melbourne Water’s Walking Country Together goal, and the Australian Government’s Regional Delivery Partners Program.

This fixed term role until April 2029 is responsible for driving Traditional Owner participation in natural resource management, environmental and agricultural project services, including reviewing and implementing the First Nations Participation Plan and supporting cultural brokering requirements.

• Coordinate and lead the review/renewal and implementation of the First Nations Participation Plan for the Regional Delivery Partners Program ensuring Melbourne Water meets our contractual obligations for First Nations Participation and Cultural Brokering as a Regional Delivery Partner to the Australian Government.
• Support and advise the Regional Delivery Partners Internal Working Group team to facilitate participation of Traditional Owners in the delivery of Regional Capacity Services, Project Design and Project Services in the Port Phillip and Western Port region.
• Lead Partnership Agreement development and/or implementation between Melbourne Water and Traditional Owner organisations as required.
• Develop and drive the establishment of project plan for On Country joint management with Traditional Owners.
• Lead collaborative activities with, and seek feedback from, First Peoples organisations within the Port Phillip and Western Port region.
• The role will also contribute to cultural safety initiatives and represent Melbourne Water professionally across a range of community, government and stakeholder forums.

For more information, please refer to the attached

About you:

Success in this position will require strong relationship-building, stakeholder engagement, communication and project management skills, along with demonstrated experience working with Traditional Owner partnerships in a natural resource, waterway or catchment management context.

• Demonstrated understanding and experience in Traditional Owner partnerships within a natural resource and/or water/waterway management context.
• High-level inter-personal skills (presentation, consultation and negotiation) to work effectively with a range of partners including Traditional Owners, community groups, colleagues and senior management.
• The proven ability to collaboratively and cooperatively solve problems, negotiate innovative solutions to difficult tasks, and to develop and improve effective relationships and partnerships with a range of stakeholders to achieve outcomes.
• High level of communication skills suited to traditional and modern communication channels including written reports, websites, traditional media and social media.
• A high degree of self-motivation, autonomy, innovation and leadership.
• Exceptional customer service standards with the ability to negotiate with the community on behalf of the organisation.

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 passionate 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: Wednesday 29th July 2026 at 11:55pm AEST

This role is an Identified Aboriginal & Torres Strait Island Position and requires: an understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples an ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.