Who we are The Environmental Water Division supports the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH). The CEWH is an independent statutory position established under the Water Act 2007. The CEWH is responsible for managing Commonwealth water for the environment to protect and improve the health of rivers, floodplains and wetlands within the Murray–Darling Basin and is supported by staff from the department.

The CEWH and their staff work closely with other government agencies, First Nations, community and industry groups, local landholders and scientists to plan and manage the use (delivery, carryover or trade) of water to the workplace.

The Environmental Water Trade and Recovery Branch provides the commercial, economic and operational functions that underpin the Commonwealth's $12 billion environmental water portfolio and water recovery activities in the Murray–Darling Basin. The Branch is responsible for optimising the Commonwealth’s environmental water portfolio, administering water recovery programs, leading water market and trading activities (including the development of trading strategies, mechanisms and frameworks), providing water valuation and acquisition expertise, and maintaining relevant probity, governance and assurance systems . The Branch brings together multidisciplinary expertise in water markets, portfolio management, economics, procurement, valuation and data management to support delivery of the Basin Plan and broader Government water reform objectives.

For more information about us please visit our website.

The job The role leads a branch responsible for optimising the Commonwealth's environmental water portfolio and delivering water recovery initiatives across the Murray–Darling Basin. The role provides strategic leadership across environmental water portfolio optimisation, water markets and trading, water recovery programs, valuations, governance, financial management and reporting to support Government priorities and Basin Plan outcomes.

Key responsibilities include

- Providing strategic advice to the CEWH on water markets (entitlement and allocation markets), water entitlement and allocation value, acquisition and disposal opportunities, market trends and commercial risks.
- Supporting analysis of the economic and market impacts of Basin reform measures and water trade programs.
- Building and maintaining relationships with state governments, Basin stakeholders, industry, water market participants and regulatory bodies.




- Supporting the coordination of water science policy and hydrological modelling policy.
- Supporting the translation of economic, scientific and market intelligence into policy, investment and operational decision-making.
- Overseeing the development and implementation of the Commonwealth Environmental Water Trading Framework, strategy and trading activities.
- Leading water recovery programs as required under the Basin Plan.
- Ensuring effective governance, assurance, probity, contract management and risk management.
- Leading a branch where staff are supported in a culture of collaboration, inclusion, integrity and high performance and ensuring effective collaboration across the Water Group.
- Contributing to strong relationships with external stakeholders, including regular public implementation updates and presentations at stakeholder forums.

What we are looking for

Your roles and responsibilities will be aligned to the SES Band 1 Work Level Standards and the Secretaries’ Charter of Leadership Behaviours.

To be successful for this role you will need to possess some or all of the following:

- Demonstrated understanding of water market or other relevant regulated market operations (such as asset and/or commodity or spot markets) and trading frameworks.
- Experience providing strategic advice on market or portfolio decisions in a complex operating environment.
- Ability to interpret complex economic, market and scientific evidence and translate it into practical policy, program and operational outcomes.
- Ability to lead teams to provide robust socio-economic or market analysis that informs government decision-making.
- A good understanding of strategic external and internal communications, including working with ministers’ offices and media management.
- Experience designing and leading complex procurement, acquisition, investment or market-based programs.
- A proven reputation for relationship building across government, industry, researchers and market participants, with a demonstrated ability to influence outcomes through collaboration and engagement.




- Experience operating in politically sensitive environments involving significant stakeholder interest and public scrutiny.
- Proven ability to achieve organisational outcomes, build capability and manage risk to ensure government objectives are achieved.
- Ability to evaluate ongoing branch and project performance and develop capability in teams to consistently deliver quality outcomes.
- Ability to deliver socio-economic advice on water recovery programs and associated community adjustment programs.
- Ability to scope, commission, interpret and communicate complex economic evidence from multiple sources.
- Ability to engage other parts of the business to assist in the overall delivery of Agency goals while maintaining alignment to the broader strategic environment across Government.
- Innovative, consultative, resilient and personally accountable for the quality of advice, products, service and strategies.
- Ability to maintain a strong understanding of potential reputational risks and think critically to manage and minimise risks.
- Self-awareness, cultural competence and ability to foster respect and inclusion in the workplace.
- Ability to promote and apply the APS Values, Code of Conduct and Agency values and behaviours while building high performing teams who are dedicated to achieving quality outcomes.
- Ability to demonstrate stewardship by ensuring the high performance and sustainability of the APS, harnessing experience, diversity and resources to deliver common objectives.

Eligibility and other requirements

Mandatory qualifications - the successful candidate must hold relevant tertiary qualifications – for example in science, economics, commerce, finance, public policy or a related disciplines. Relevant Postgraduate qualifications will also be highly regarded.

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 Negative Vetting Level 1 security clearance. You will be required to obtain and maintain a clearance at this level.

Pre-employment checks - 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.

📌 Branch Head, Environmental Water Trade and Recovery (Australia)
🏢 Dcceew
📍 Australia