Manager Community Relations

There’s No Us Without U. Care with Us, for Today and Tomorrow

There's no life without water, and at Urban Utilities, we live and breathe this every single day. It's why our people are so passionate about what we do and how we do it. And it's why we need people like YOU. Come shape our future with us and make a real and lasting impact across our teams.

Your opportunity:
Aligned to Urban Utilities’ corporate strategy and core operations, the People and External Relations group is a key enabling function in our business, responsible for driving performance and achievement of the organisation’s objectives through the delivery of effective engagement, partnerships and relationships with our people and key external stakeholders.

Reporting to the Head of Stakeholder Relations, the Manager, Community Relations is responsible for leading engagement and relationship management activities with members and representatives of the communities in which Urban Utilities operates and who we service across our shareholding Councils in Brisbane, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim and Somerset. In accordance, you will also be responsible for leading the engagement, relationship management and effective partnerships with Urban Utilities’ capital delivery partners and operational maintenance representatives, in support of the delivery of associated capital programs and infrastructure maintenance activities.

The Manager, Community Relations, together with a team of dedicated and experienced engagement, relationship management and partnership professionals, plays an important role in supporting the achievement of Urban Utilities’ immediate activities, long-term strategic goals and critical outcomes by ensuring alignment with and advancement of the interests of Urban Utilities’ customers and communities through effectively leading the design, development, delivery and management of communications and engagement activities for high-visibility, high-profile and high-risk activities effecting communities within Urban Utilities’ service region.

In this critical leadership role within the Stakeholder Relations function, the Manager, Community Relations is required to effectively balance responsibilities for developing and delivering the Community Relations strategy and program, along with leading the Community Relations team who are responsible for supporting the day-to-day requirements of Urban Utilities’ capital infrastructure projects and maintenance activities.

Your key responsibilities will include, but not be limited to:
- Leadership - lead the Community Relations function and team to perform their roles and achieve the required outcomes and results, by ensuring all team members are equipped, enabled and empowered, and by creating a positive working environment for all;- Internal Partnerships - partner with a range of internal stakeholders to collaborate on the development and implementation of strategies, programs, activities and solutions relevant to the delivery of Urban Utilities’ capital infrastructure and maintenance programs/activities;- Stakeholder Partnerships - lead effective engagement, communication and relationship management activities with Community members and representatives, including First Nations stakeholders, to support the delivery of capital infrastructure projects and operational maintenance programs/activities;- Brand & Reputation - lead activities to protect and enhance the Urban Utilities brand and our reputation as a reliable, trusted and progressive provider of water and wastewater services; and- Customer/Community Advocacy - seek to understand and advocate for issues on behalf of and in the best interests of Urban Utilities’ Customers and Community members and representatives.

Please note, this position may also require on-call duties outside of standard working hours due to the critical nature of the role.

About you:
If you’re passionate about what you do and are ready to join an organisation that has a genuine impact on the communities we serve, we’d love to hear from you. Ideally you will have:
- Tertiary qualifications in Communications, Community/Public Relations, Community/Urban Planning, or other relevant discipline/s;- IAP2 Certification (highly regarded);- Experience in water, utilities, public sector and/or other service-based industries (highly regarded);- Proven experience in building effective working relationships and influencing a diverse set of stakeholders; and- Proven experience leading operational teams and partnering with leaders across multiple functions.

Why Urban Utilities?

At Urban Utilities, the work we do is more than just about the bottom line. We're a leading provider of world-class drinking water and wastewater services to the vibrant communities of Brisbane, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Somerset, and Scenic Rim. As we continue to grow, we're committed to planning ahead and shaping a sustainable future around water for generations to come.