Company Description

Come grow with us.

Balancing the world’s need for safe, reliable water with protecting this critical natural resource for the future requires a deep understanding of interconnected systems.

We work with clients across the entire project life cycle — from initial planning studies through final construction and operations and maintenance services — on both traditional and alternative project-delivery options (design-build, public-private partnerships and financing).

With a robust design and construction division, AECOM offers a unique perspective on designing projects that are fully constructible.

Everyone belongs at AECOM

We’re committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging - because excellent ideas come from diverse perspectives. AECOM is proud to be a Fortune 500 Most Admired Company , a WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality , # Work180 Equitable Workplace Awards 2025 Winner and an AWEI Bronze Tier LGBTQ+ Inclusive Employer .

Job Description

Due to significant contract awards within our ANZ Water business, we are expanding our Water Infrastructure Team in Melbourne, VIC and are hiring a Director - Water Source Planner to deliver strategic, high-impact advice on catchment planning, water security and system resilience. This specialist role suits an autonomous consultant who thrives on complex problem-solving and collaborating with peers across our global network.

As Water Source Planner, you will:

- Lead catchment planning and water source strategy assignments that inform long-term investment and resilience decisions for clients.




- Apply hydraulic modelling and planning expertise to assess supply options, reservoir operations and system performance under varied scenarios (e.g., climate change and drought).
- Work independently with support from our global technical community to develop robust, client-ready insights and master planning deliverables.
- Focus on strategic advice and master planning, major project delivery experience is not required.
- Develop water source and catchment strategies, including options assessment, staging, and risk-based decision frameworks.
- Undertake catchment and hydraulic modelling to evaluate system behaviour, constraints and opportunities across reservoirs, headworks and transfer systems.
- Analyse scenarios (demand growth, climate variability, drought, water quality) and advise on resilience uplift, reliability, and level-of-service targets.
- Prepare clear, defensible master plans, concept strategies, and investment roadmaps for client decision-makers.
- Engage with stakeholders to align technical recommendations with policy, regulatory, environmental and community outcomes.
- Collaborate with global specialists to bring best-practice methods, benchmarks and tools to local challenges.

Qualifications

Here’s what we’re looking for:

- A degree (or equivalent) in Engineering, Environmental Science,



Water Resources, Hydrology, or a related field.
- Demonstrated experience in catchment planning, water source strategy and/or water security assessments.
- Proven hydraulic modelling capability applied to catchments, reservoirs and distribution interfaces.
- Strong planning skill set: demand forecasting, options screening, multi-criteria assessment, and program staging.
- Understanding of how reservoirs and headworks operate within integrated water supply systems.
- Experience assessing climate change and drought scenarios to inform resilient, adaptive pathways.
- Consultancy background with the ability to work autonomously, interface with clients, and produce high-quality strategic deliverables.
- Proficiency with industry-standard tools for catchment and hydraulic modelling; we remain flexible on specific platforms and value transferable skills.
- Chartered or working toward chartership with a relevant professional institution is advantageous.
- A proven ability to deliver clear, evidence-based reports, strategies and presentations for senior stakeholders.
- Hands-on experience contributing to water and wastewater planning, source strategy, or master planning projects.

Additional Information

Why you’ll love working with us

- Flexible work arrangements, including alternative start/finish times, part-time, job-sharing and hybrid work options
- Purchase up to 6 weeks additional annual leave per year
- Volunteer and representation leave
- Flex public holidays – swap Easter or other holidays for ones that suit you better

Ready to push

📌 Director, Water Source (Melbourne)
🏢 Aecom
📍 Melbourne