Head of Digital Foundations

Job Description
We are unique
Join our organisation and experience a culture that fosters camaraderie and personal growth, serving and connecting the regional communities of NSW and southern QLD. Enjoy work-life balance and training and development opportunities across a diverse range of career pathways.

This permanent position is open to all Essential Energy permanent, fixed term and casual employees. This role can be based anywhere within Essential Energy's operational footprint .

About The Role
As the Head of Digital Foundations, you will be at the forefront of Essential Energy's digital transformation, leading a large and diverse team to deliver robust, secure, and innovative network, hosting, and telecommunications solutions. This is a strategic leadership role where you'll bridge the gap between traditional operational technology (OT) and future-focused digital teams, ensuring our foundational platforms enable the business to thrive. You'll be responsible for driving best practices, fostering collaboration, and creating the conditions for innovation, all while navigating a high-risk environment and aligning your team with Essential Energy's values and behaviours.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Leading the strategy, design, and delivery of network, hosting, telecommunications, and distributed OT systems across cloud and on-premises environments.
• Driving the convergence of IT and OT, balancing the needs of long-standing operational teams with those of emerging technology and digital groups.
• Overseeing compliance, risk management, and business continuity planning for critical infrastructure services.
• Championing best practices in service management, automation, monitoring, and continuous improvement.
• Building the foundational blocks for innovation, ensuring the team earns the right to help Essential Energy be the best it can be.

About You
You are a forward-thinking, strategic leader with deep expertise in digital infrastructure. You understand both the legacy systems and the future of technology, and you know how to bring people together to achieve great things. You're not expected to be hands-on with the technology, but you have strong technical acumen and the ability to think critically and strategically. You thrive in high-risk environments, are sensitive to the needs of both traditional and digital teams, and are committed to open, honest, and transparent leadership.

You'll Bring

• You'll bring forward-thinking, innovative leadership that drives rapid progress while ensuring our technology and operational foundations remain strong, secure, and built to scale.
• Current leadership experience in network, hosting, or infrastructure domains, with a strategic lens and strong technical understanding.
• The ability to unite and inspire a large team, navigating challenges and aligning with Essential Energy's values and behaviours.
• Ability to connect traditional OT environments with modern digital teams, balancing respect for legacy systems with a strong drive for innovation
• Exceptional communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills, with a transparent and open leadership style.
• Utilities sector experience is desirable, complemented by a proven track record in leading high-risk, regulated environments with strong infrastructure, compliance, and governance expertise

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor Degree in Information Technology, Computer Science or demonstrated capability through past employment experience and/or relevant qualifications.

Why Essential Energy
We offer competitive remuneration commensurate with skills and experience.

Essential Energy provides employees with a broad range of employee benefits including 26 weeks paid parental leave, learning and development opportunities, and Health and Wellbeing programs including fitness passport. For more information on our benefits, please visit the employee benefits page .

We are proud to be recognised as a
WORK180 Endorsed Employer for All Women
.
As a pivotal player in the future energy industry, our organisation takes a future horizon perspective and isn't afraid to make decisions for the long term.

Our people do the same, knowing that their perspective, effort and achievements are critical to the success of our whole organisation.

We offer a diverse range of opportunities in a future-focused environment where you can build a career and invest in your own future wherever you live.

For further information please contact
Rachel Cahill –
General Manager Digital Operations
on

Applications close on
Sunday 2 November 2025 at 11:55pm.
Passionate people. Global thinking. Regional heart.
Building a better energy future.
Essential Energy is committed to building a culturally diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourages applicants to apply regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.
As an organisation, our aim is to champion inclusivity in the workplace and celebrate the difference in all our employees.
At Essential Energy, we are committed to supporting adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, as well as during employment. We actively support and encourage people with disability to apply to Essential Energy (including alternate formats of application forms or alternate ways for accessibility). To discuss adjustment requirements, please contact

or call us on