MELBOURNE WATER POSITION DESCRIPTION

(Strategic Government Policy Manager, Customer and Strategy Group)

REPORTS TO: DIRECT REPORTS:

Strategic Government Policy Manager Up to 2 Direct Reports (dependent on resourcing
requirements)

THIS ROLE EXISTS TO: (PURPOSE)

This role exists to work with Melbourne Water to develop, influence and implement strategic policy
positions for Melbourne Water. The position will manage all external policy and legislative review
processes with the potential to impact Melbourne Water. This includes preparing submissions to
policy review processes, developing position papers on potential policy changes, and representing
Melbourne Water at relevant forums to positively influence outcomes.
Key objectives of the role are:
 Develop and implement strategic policy positions for Melbourne Water
 Manage Melbourne Water’s position on policy and legislative change at both a state and national
level.
 Liaise across the business to identify key issues required to be addressed in policy and
legislative review processes.
 Identify key government policy reform opportunities (impediments and enabling policy) that
would result in significant benefit to our customers and community
 Develop submissions, position papers and business cases to advocate or respond to potential
government policy changes.
 Support strategic projects within the business and advise on external policy risks.
 Enhance the reputation of Melbourne Water
 Manage strategic government and customer stakeholder relationships and to build on Melbourne
Water’s leadership in the water sector
The Strategic Government Policy Manager will:

 Form deep and trusting relationships within Government

 Engage with relevant internal groups including the board to enable clarity of policy positions on
key Government priorities.
 Collaboratively develop policy positions and co-ordinate the communication and dissemination
of the policy position.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:
Accountable for identifying key government policy reform opportunities and risks for Melbourne
Water, co-ordinating aligned policy positions within Melbourne Water and liaising and responding to
government and key stakeholders in relation to policy review and reform. This includes:
 Alignment of strategic policy reform positions:
o Co-ordinate, communicate and develop Melbourne Water strategic position on key
policy reform across relevant Melbourne Water areas
o Identify risks and opportunities of Government policy reform for Melbourne Water
o Monitor alignment between Government policy and Melbourne Water’s Strategic
Direction
o Advice to Board, Leadership Team and Senior Management on Melbourne Water’s
strategic position on key policy reform with supporting evidence

 Government advocacy within Melbourne Water:

o Co-ordinate and communicate Government insight across Melbourne Water
o Advice to Board, Leadership Team and Senior Management on how to enhance
Melbourne Water’s relationship with Government and manage reputational risks

Job Level: Hay 16

Assessed by: P&C
Date: April 2018
MELBOURNE WATER POSITION DESCRIPTION
(Strategic Government Policy Manager, Customer and Strategy Group)

 Strengthened key strategic relationships:

o Work with government, customers and other key stakeholders to ensure their
perspectives and objectives are understood and considered when forming Melbourne
Water policy positions
o Work with all relevant Melbourne Water stakeholders to ensure their perspectives and
objectives are understood and policy positions are agreed and aligned with strategic
priorities
o Clarify and ensure consistency of messages regarding policy positions provided to
stakeholders from Melbourne Water
o Ensure Melbourne Water maintains strong and trusting relationships with Government
representatives
o Build strong relationships with key Government decision makers and influencers
o Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, providing expert
advice/guidance as required
o Develop deep knowledge and trust within the Government segment
 Group leadership
o Be a role model to Customer and Strategy Group and the rest of the business
o Delivery of relevant elements of the Customer and Strategy Business Plan

KEY RESPONSIBILIITES KPIs

Lead and Develop People
 Effectively lead and develop the supporting roles across the  All employees have a
business ensuring optimum employee performance including; development plan
o Establish and support an open and honest working  % development plan actions
environment for employees fostering collaboration and completed
teamwork  Employee engagement
o Building knowledge and capability to deliver on survey results
priorities  Culture survey results
o Promote safety and wellbeing for all employees  360 feedback results
o Role model MW leadership capabilities and constructive  Deliver Safety Improvement
behaviour Plan

Government Policy
 Develop, influence and implement policy positions which  Development of policy
reflect Melbourne Water as a thought leader in the water positions and buy in from
sector Board and senior leadership
 Develop business cases and evidence to support Melbourne
Water’s position and influence other stakeholders
 Engage the business in the strategic priorities in relation to
government policy and the strategic direction of the
organisation
 Manage Melbourne Water’s position on policy and legislative
change at both a state and national level.
 Identify key government policy reform opportunities
(impediments and enabling policy) that would result in
significant benefit to our customers and community
 Develop submissions, position papers and business cases to
advocate or respond to potential government policy changes.
 Identify and manage risks and opportunities associated with
implementing business strategies and plans
 Understand financial implications of decisions

Job Level: Hay 16

Assessed by: P&C
Date: April 2018
MELBOURNE WATER POSITION DESCRIPTION
(Strategic Government Policy Manager, Customer and Strategy Group)

Relationship Management
 Engage with multiple and diverse stakeholders, internal and  Reputation survey results
external to the business to ensure the reputation of the and associated targets
business is enhanced
 Build trusting relationships with customers and stakeholders
to support the achievement of the Strategic Direction and
aligned policy positions
 Represent MW in relevant forums to positively influence
outcomes.

Performance
 See key accountabilities  Reputation and customer
satisfaction targets achieved

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

 Advanced stakeholder communication and engagement skills, adapted to a customer centric

approach
 Proven experience in effectively leading others to deliver program priorities and targets
 Capacity to continuously improve our processes and services to build customer and stakeholder
relationships
 Demonstrated ability to identify, innovate and unlock value for our customers
 Proven judgment working in a corporate environment with complex issues, programs and
stakeholders
 Capability to influence and lead external and internal stakeholders
 Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong customer relationships
 Competent in advocacy and facilitation
 Extensive experience working in government roles or roles associated with government
 Extensive experience in the water industry and highly developed networks
 A strong understanding of political, policy and/ or regulatory processes
 Ability to influence and advocate on an issue in a non-partisan manner

KEY RELATIONSHIPS
Internal
All MW business groups in delivering on customer priorities and relationship management.
External
A wide range of external stakeholders, including all levels of government, Retailers, Councils,
Community groups, Developers and other stakeholders.

SALARY RANGE:
Senior Manager – Hay 16

OTHER COMMENTS
Job Level: Hay 16
Assessed by: P&C
Date: April 2018
MELBOURNE WATER POSITION DESCRIPTION
(Strategic Government Policy Manager, Customer and Strategy Group)

This role requires the following :

 Knowledge of government policy development processes
 Demonstrated and proven experience gained through a senior management position
 Criminal Records Check if required
Location: 990 La Trobe Street, Melbourne 3008

Job Level: Hay 16

Assessed by: P&C
Date: April 2018