Associate Director - Commercial & Transaction Advisory (Water)

Future Water & Environment Business Unit Lead

?Melbourne or Sydney or Brisbane base | National remit

About us

Ontoit is an established, independent consulting practice with a strong track record across Australia’s infrastructure sector. We advise governments, financiers, infrastructure operators and developers across the project and asset lifecycle. With a growing pipeline of water and workplace work across the eastern states, we are investing in the next generation of leadership for our Water & Environment advisory practice.

The chance

This is a senior growth and delivery role for an experienced infrastructure advisory professional who wants to help build a market-facing practice and progress into business unit leadership. Working directly with the National Water Sector Lead and Partners, you will lead major client engagements, deepen strategic client relationships, secure new work and develop a high-performing advisory team. The role combines hands-on commercial and transaction advisory with a progressive, performance-based pathway to assume broader leadership of the Water & Environment business unit.

You will be comfortable operating across client-side and contractor-side environments and advising asset owners on complex projects from procurement and transaction strategy through delivery and operations.

Key responsibilities

Practice growth and leadership

- Help shape and execute the growth strategy for the Water & Environment advisory practice.
- Build a sustainable pipeline of consulting engagements and lead pursuits from prospect identification through proposal, negotiation and close.
- Work with the Partners to progressively assume responsibility for business unit planning, performance, resourcing and quality.
- Recruit, mentor and develop commercial and transaction advisory capability within the team.
- Contribute to sector visibility through industry relationships, market insights and thought leadership.





Client and market leadership

- Build and maintain trusted relationships with executives across water utilities, government agencies, infrastructure operators, delivery partners and contractors.
- Act as a senior adviser to clients on commercial strategy, procurement, transaction structuring, contracting and delivery risk.
- Identify emerging client needs and translate them into practical advisory services and long-term account opportunities.

Engagement delivery

- Lead complex commercial and transaction advisory engagements across the water infrastructure lifecycle.
- Advise on procurement and delivery strategy, transaction management, contract and risk management, commercial frameworks, cost forecasting, budgeting and financial reporting.
- Support client-side and contractor-side engagements, including tender and bid strategy, pricing, risk allocation, negotiation and governance.
- Lead negotiations with clients, contractors, subcontractors and supply chain partners.
- Maintain high standards of engagement governance, commercial performance and client outcomes.

About you

You are an experienced infrastructure advisory leader who combines market credibility and commercial judgement with a willingness to remain hands-on in delivery. You are motivated by the opportunity to build a practice, develop people and progressively take on broader business leadership.

Essential experience

- Substantial experience in infrastructure advisory, commercial, transactions or major project delivery roles.
- Demonstrated success leading and winning consulting engagements, including account development,



proposals and commercial negotiations.
- Strong experience advising asset owners, government utilities, infrastructure operators and/or contractors.
- Ability to structure and advise complex projects from procurement through delivery and operations.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and developing senior client relationships.
- Strong commercial acumen across risk allocation, contracts, claims, negotiations, governance and financial performance.
- Clear, credible communication and the ability to influence senior stakeholders.
- Relevant technical, commercial, legal, financial or related qualifications.

Highly regarded

- Established relationships and market profile across the Australian water sector.
- Experience across delivery models such as Alliance, BOOT, BOO, DBOM, D&C;, O&M; and Partnering.
- Experience building a service line, team, client account or business unit within a consulting environment.

What we offer

- A genuine opportunity to help shape, grow and progressively lead Ontoit’s Water & Setting advisory practice.
- Direct sponsorship and mentoring from the Partners, with a clear performance-based pathway to broader business unit leadership.
- A visible role leading high-profile, complex water infrastructure engagements.
- An established project pipeline, client frameworks and repeat work from which to grow the practice.
- Influence over strategy, service development, recruitment and team capability.
- A collaborative, performance-driven culture within a growing independent business.
- A competitive remuneration package aligned with the scope and experience of the successful candidate.

How to apply

Please submit your CV and a brief cover note outlining your water and infrastructure experience, track record in winning and leading advisory engagements, and interest in building a practice. Applicants must have the right to work in Australia.

No recruiters please.

📌 Associate Director - Commercial and Transaction Advisory (Water) (Sydney)
🏢 Ontoit
📍 Sydney