Climate Change Risk Business Partner

About the Company

SA Water is a successful, modern water utility wholly owned by the Government of South Australia. We employ more than 1,700 people across a broad range of disciplines who operate more than $14 billion worth of infrastructure to deliver essential water and sewerage services to more than 1.8 million South Australians.

We operate in a geographically and climatically diverse service area, with sites and locations from Ceduna through to Port Augusta, the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, across to the Riverland, down to Mount Gambier, and most places in between.

Our strength and expertise have been shaped by our history. For more than 165 years, South Australians have depended on us to innovate and deliver efficient and sustainable water services. With nationally and internationally recognised industry expertise, we’re focused on understanding and meeting our customers’ expectations.

As well as safely delivering smart and reliable services for our customers of today, we innovate to shape the water solutions of the future that will support thriving economies and healthy communities.

About the role

This is a rare opportunity to help embed climate resilience into one of South Australia's most essential services. As Climate Change Risk Business Partner, you will apply your climate expertise to interpret and use complex data, supporting risk-based decision-making and SA Water’s long-term ability to deliver reliable services in a changing climate.

You will contribute to the rollout of our new Climate Change Risk Framework, lead climate risk scans and assessments, and work closely with teams across the business to integrate climate considerations into risk practices. With a major enterprise risk transformation underway, this is an exciting time to join the team and help shape the policies, frameworks, and systems that will guide our response to climate challenges now and into the future.

About you

You are a trusted advisor with deep expertise in climate change and a collaborative approach that brings people together. You interpret complex climate data with clarity, turning insights into practical actions that strengthen decision-making. With strong communication and influencing skills, you lead meaningful conversations, engage stakeholders across the business, and help build climate risk awareness and capability through thoughtful, cross-functional collaboration.

About Business Insights and Excellence

The Business Insights and Excellence group drives operational excellence by enabling best business practices, economic pricing, supply chain management, and performance optimisation to support the broader business and partners in delivering reliable, cost-effective, sustainable, and future-focused outcomes.

Key responsibilities will include:

- Facilitate risk programs and provide expert advice on climate change risk and readiness
- Lead climate-related risk management activities aligned with the Enterprise Risk Management Framework and Climate Change Risk Framework
- Partner with risk owners to identify and assess physical, transition, and liability climate risks
- Collaborate with the business to undertake environmental scanning to identify and respond to emerging climate change risks
- Act as the liaison between the business and project teams to integrate climate risk considerations
- Lead risk discussions and deliver clear climate risk analysis and reporting to management and the Board
- Develop and report KPIs tracking climate risk maturity per Climate Ready Government and TCFD standards
- Drive continuous improvement by building risk capability through coaching, training, and community engagement
- Work cross-functionally with Environment, Sustainability, Asset Management, and Capital Projects to enhance risk practices

Your success in this role will come from:

- Tertiary qualification in science, sustainability, engineering, law, policy, risk management or related discipline, or equivalent experience
- Understanding of climate change risk and ability to interpret and apply climate-related data sources
- Intermediate to advanced proficiency in GRC software applications and Excel
- Strong communication and influencing skills to engage diverse stakeholders
- Collaborative style and ability to work across governance, assurance, and infrastructure teams
- Understanding of asset management and infrastructure projects (desirable)
- Risk Management Certification (desirable)

This opportunity is a 2-year maximum term contract.

Further information can be found in the attached PD –PD_Risk Business Partner (Climate Change).docx

To apply, click 'Apply'. Please submit and complete the application form, upload a cover letter and current resume. For enquiries, please contact Chantelle Romeo from the Talent Acquisition teamchantelle.romeo@sawater.com.au

Applications close Thursday 16 October at 4pm.

A great customer experience is best achieved by having a diverse and inclusive team that reflects the community we serve. Applications are encouraged from everyone, including people living with disability, job seekers of all ages, members of the LGBTIQA+ community, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and people from culturally diverse backgrounds.

Our Industry is like no other. Dive into the wonderful world of water and explore the boundless opportunities. Learn more about the water industry atcareersinwater.com.au.

Please note: We request that recruitment agencies do not submit candidates for this position, as they will not be accepted.

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