Position Description: Senior Manager Research
Position Number(s)
006430
Manager’s Role Title
General Manager Business Services
Business Group
Business Services
Manager Once Removed
Chief Executive
Level of Work
III SA Water Hierarchy Level
Direct Report’s Role
Title(s)
 Various research manager positions (TBA)
1.1 Purpose (Unique value add)
Lead a research team that facilitates the identification and prioritisation of complex long term technical water, wastewater environment and asset problems
and opportunities and prioritise and project manage the research into alternative solutions that can be implemented to improve business and customer
outcomes.
1.2 Objectives
The objectives (maximum 6) of this role are to:
 Develop and lead a high performing, outcome focussed team that builds effective and solution focused relationships with the business.
 Ensure longer term and complex technical problems and opportunities are identified and prioritised in the business. Develop the appropriate balance of
research investment across technical areas and risk profiles to improve SA Water customer outcomes for the future.
 Deliver a research program that is innovative, solution focussed and considers the various costs, benefits, risks and alternative and complementary
delivery methods including: internal technical expertise teams; external delivery methods such as research providers; benchmarking and targeted
consulting to learn from others; external grant funding opportunities; syndication of research activities with utilities; engagement with Universities
including student projects.
 Maintain key relationships internally to influence business sponsors to ensure identified solutions are implemented and foster external networks with
research partners; ensure intellectual property is appropriately managed and commercialised where it will improve customer outcomes.
1.3 Shared Organisational Goals
As a member of the Senior Leadership Group you are collectively accountable for delivering our goals and objectives.
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Position Description: Senior Manager Research
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1.4 Key Accountabilities
Select relevant objectives from section 1.3 of this PD: Our Strategy 2016-2024 (also available on the AquaNet) and add them to the table as key
accountabilities.
The key accountabilities (minimum 4 and maximum 6, including the mandatory ones) of this role are:
Key Accountabilities
Output/Measures
Mandatory accountability:
 As a Senior Leader, work collaboratively towards achieving the Shared Organisational Goals in section 1.3 of this
Position Description.
Lead the organisation to deliver organisation’s goals
 Ensure consistency across the business unit(s) and integrate the work of teams to deliver a culture of service
excellence.
 Ensure the quality of management for staff-once-removed, enabling systemic trust and fairness.
 Build capability for future roles.
Mandatory accountability:
Build and lead an effective team that works
collaboratively toward achieving the organisation’s
goals
 Build and maintain a strong, constructive working relationship with their staff, focussed on achieving business
goals and enabling their staff to work safely to their full potential.
 Set effective baseline conditions for productive work by completing important people management processes of
selection, induction, assessment and recognition of performance.
 Ensure business plans are developed to achieve strategic priorities and performance goals of team members are
aligned, ensuring accountabilities and authorities are clear and that direct reports have the authorities needed
to be able to achieve their work.
 Hold quality conversations providing relevant and timely feedback and invest in the development of our people
to build team capability.
 Ensure the team works collaboratively to leverage the collective capability, make better decisions and move
forward with commitment.
 Identify and implement opportunities for continuous improvement to build a culture of service excellence.
Mandatory accountability:
Put safety above all else
Research planning and alignment
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 Be aware of and apply roles and responsibilities in accordance with WHS Roles and Responsibilities Procedure.
 Take responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of yourself and others including your own fitness for work (e.g.
under the influence of drugs, alcohol and/or fatigue).
 Ensure the research program is aligned with the business priorities for the future, is balanced across time
horizons, outcome-focussed and delivers benefits and improvements.
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Position Description: Senior Manager Research
SA Water
Key Accountabilities
Output/Measures
Research program management
 Ensure research project formulation, management and implementation strategies deliver optimal benefits to SA
Water and its customers.
 Ensure research is focussed on innovative problem solving and develops solutions that can be implemented in
the business and/or commercialised.
 Manage a focussed research program that allows the business to deliver as many research outcomes as possible
within the allocated investment profile.
Intellectual property management
 Ensure Intellectual Property is managed and where appropriate is developed, implemented, commercialised
and protected to maximise the benefits to SA Water customers.
1.5 Lead Behaviours
Uphold SA Water’s Values:
 Put safety above all else
 Act in the best interests of customer and the community
 Seek and apply better ways
 Respect our people
 Be trustworthy
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Position Description: Senior Manager Research
LEAD Behaviours
L ead our Future
E mpower our
People
A dd Value for
our Customers
D eliver on the
Promise
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Behavioural Description
Embeds Strategic
Direction and
Thinking
Takes a broad perspective, building strategies and linking them to business plans and the Outcomes for Success. Demonstrates a
strong knowledge of external activity and market trends. Understands and effectively communicates the key business objectives;
makes balanced and sustainable decisions to deliver Outcomes for Success in the medium and longer term.
Leads Change and
Improvement
Leads and influences the organisation to embrace sustainable change. Proactively leverage opportunities and identifies trends
presented through ambiguous situations, applying innovative thinking. Be visible in constructively challenging the status quo to
create better outcomes for internal/external customers. Supports reasonable risk taking through informed judgement.
Communicates
with Influence
Inspires others through clear and compelling communications. Credible, easy to understand and informative. Engages in
constructive, open and honest two-way dialogue, debates at the table, not afterwards. Is a supportive listener.
Builds Engaged
Teams
Values people. Creates a trusting environment where people are safe, engaged and encouraged to achieve through
empowerment, development and a focus on creating a strong manager-employee relationship. Takes accountability for building a
workforce with diverse leadership and functional capabilities. Strengthen SA Water’s reputation as a South Australian employer of
choice.
Customer Service
Excellence
Make it easy for our customer/community by proactively anticipating internal and external needs - collaborating to build valued
and trusted relationships through the delivery of high quality service.
Collaborates for
Success
Leads teams within and across groups ensuring performance is guided by what will achieve our Outcomes for Success. Create an
environment where cross team working is effective both internally and externally. Coordinates, links and prioritises the most
critical efforts to ensure resources and expertise are shared. Treat people with respect at all times.
Empowers Self
Acts with integrity. Pursue self-awareness; understands and communicates own strengths and limitations and is focused on selfdevelopment. Shows energy and resilience. Maintain a positive outlook when faced with challenging situations. Be authentic,
approachable, open and honest.
Achieves Results
Achievement focused. Takes personal accountability for achieving individual and shared outcomes. Adjusts actions to respond and
capitalise on changing circumstances. Use clear principles and measures to make decisions and track progress.
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Position Description: Senior Manager Research
SA Water
1.6 Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Foundation Knowledge, Skills, Experience and Qualifications
Essential or Desirable
Tertiary qualifications in an appropriate Science, Engineering or Management discipline
Essential
Detailed knowledge of water industry processes, water quality, environmental, asset management, water resource and sustainability issues
Essential
Experience or ability in leading and inspiring technical teams that work together to deliver world class outcomes
Essential
Stakeholder relationship and influence including selling complex ideas
Essential
Demonstrated ability to deliver a complex and innovative program of work
Essential
Knowledge/experience of engineering principles
Desirable
1.7 Key Stakeholder Relationships
 SLT, Chief Executive and Level 3 Managers
 Partnering organisations including other water utilities and universities (local & international)
 State Government agencies
 Research funding agencies
 Water Research Australia, Goyder Institute
 National and international industry groups and committees
 Alliance partners
1.8 Special Conditions
 Flexible hours and some after hours as required, some intra and interstate travel
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