Principal Engineer Water & Wastewater Treatment Operations

• Contract (4-year fixed term)
• Location – Proserpine
• $130,000 - $150,000 per annum

The Whitsunday Regional Council is situated at the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. The region encompasses the 74 tropical Whitsunday Islands, the coastal towns of Cannonvale, Airlie Beach, Jubilee Pocket, Shute Harbour and Bowen along with the rural towns of Proserpine and Collinsville. The Whitsunday region offers a dynamic environment and is perfectly placed to live, work, play and invest.

Your opportunity:

Whitsunday Regional Council is seeking an experienced and motivated Principal Engineer - Water and Wastewater Treatment Operations to lead and optimise water and wastewater treatment operations across the region. This role plays a critical part in ensuring safe, compliant, and efficient treatment services while driving continuous improvement and supporting sustainable community growth.

About the Role

Reporting to directly to Chief Operating Officer Whitsunday Water, you will manage and optimise the operation, control, and performance of water and wastewater treatment plants. You will provide technical and operational leadership across chemical, physical, and biological treatment processes, ensuring compliance with legislation, delivery of strategic objectives, and achievement of financial and safety targets.

You will also contribute to capital works, contract management, workforce development, and long-term treatment planning while fostering a strong safety and continuous improvement culture.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Manage and optimise water and wastewater treatment plant operations to ensure efficiency, compliance, and service delivery outcomes
2. Coordinate planning, monitoring, reporting, and performance analysis across treatment facilities 
3. Lead the development, review, and continual improvement of the Water and Wastewater Treatment, and Recycled Water Strategies
4. Provide engineering oversight (including RPEQ advice where required) and technical recommendations outside prescriptive standards
5. Assist with planning and prioritisation of short-, medium-, and long-term treatment programs
6. Undertake project management for treatment plant capital works and maintenance projects
7. Manage and review commercial operational service contracts
8. Monitor treatment processes to ensure compliance with regulatory and operational standards
9. Support and guide treatment plant operational staff on process variables and best practices10. Promote and lead a strong safety culture aligned with the organisation’s Safety Action Plan
10. Build strong relationships with government agencies, industry bodies, and commercial partners

About you:

You will bring strong technical expertise in water and wastewater treatment operations, along with proven experience in operational management, compliance, and optimisation. You are a collaborative leader with strong communication skills and a commitment to safety, innovation, and service excellence.

Your skills and experience:

Essential

1. A degree in engineering or other relevant discipline from a recognised university is preferred and/or qualification acceptable for membership of the Institution of Engineers Australia.
2. Ability and experience in the operation of complex, modern water and wastewater treatment plants.
3. Ability to effectively diagnose and rectify plant process problems.
4. Excellent oral and written communication skills to provide technical argument/advice for decision making processes.
5. Advanced computer skills.
6. High level skills in co-ordination, problem solving, team work and liaison.
7. A thorough understanding of the science, engineering and management concepts associated with water and wastewater treatment.
8. Comprehensive knowledge, or the ability to rapidly acquire a comprehensive knowledge of relevant water industry legislation and state guidelines, council policies, local laws, quality assurance procedures, standard work procedures & risk management.
9. Must possess and maintain a current Queensland “C” Class motor vehicle driver’s licence.
10. General Construction Industry card (White card)

Desirable

1. Previous experience is expected in the water industry with experience in treatment operations/ management an advantage.
2. RPEQ accreditation or the willingness to obtain.

Come and join us for this unique opportunity while shaping best-practice systems in a growing regional Council. Apply today!

Join the team:

To view the position description please click on the job attachments tab above. To apply, click the ‘Apply’ button above. For any further information regarding this role, please contact a member of our Human Resources Operations team on (07) 4945 0694.

Council is committed to providing a healthy work environment for individuals working, visiting or conducting business at Council workplaces and is transitioning to a Smoke Free Workplace.

Council practices Equal Employment Opportunities and Workplace Health and Safety Principles.