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Commercial Manager, Growth
- 501453
- Adelaide, SA
- Growth Central
- Growth
- Ongoing- Full Time
- Closing at: Jul 2 2025 - 23:55 ACST
About SA Water
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.
We are driven by our values; we value our people, we do work that matters, we keep it real, we know that our work has impact, and we are future focussed. Staying true to our values ensures that we consistently deliver positive outcomes for all South Australians.
Join Our Growth Group!
With the establishment of our new Growth group, we have exciting and unique opportunities. These roles have been created to make a step change, supporting the South Australian Government’s growth ambitions and proactively preparing for the scale and complexities of anticipated future demands. This group will provide a single point of accountability for growth and dedicated oversight, focus and responsibility.
About the Job
Forming part of the newly created Growth Business Group, and reporting into the Senior Manager, Growth Central, the Commercial Manager, will lead commercial negotiations for multi-million-dollar development agreements and contract arrangements supporting the Growth Group, and ensure management of reputational, brand, risk, financial value and performance outcomes for the business.
About the Person
The ideal person for this Commercial Manger role is a highly skilled and strategic professional with strong expertise in leading and delivering complex commercial and land development agreements. They will bring expertise in commercial negotiations, contract management, risk management and dispute resolution, with a proven ability to achieve positive outcomes in high-value, high-risk environments. This person thrives on collaboration, building strong relationships with key stakeholders including internal teams, senior leaders, government agencies and land developers. They possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence, lead change, and work autonomously while ensuring alignment with organisational objectives.
A qualification in commerce or a related discipline, combined with a deep understanding of commercial frameworks and governance, rounds out their profile.
Your responsibilities for this opportunity
- Lead and implement short, medium and long term commercial and contract administration strategies for multi-national land developers that maximise outcomes for SA Water.
- Lead preparation and implementation of annual commercial management plans and delivery plans. This includes development and documentation of all relevant processes and templates in a document management system.
- Monitor industry trends in commercial and contract management as it relates to land developments and implement new approaches to drive improvement in SA Water’s commercial and contract management approach.
- Ensure that all contractual clauses in Development Agreements are reviewed regularly and working effectively to generate the greatest value and manage risk for SA Water (e.g. clauses for developers building their own water and wastewater infrastructure).
- Using global best practice for negotiation strategy selection, preparation and execution, act as the lead negotiator as required on complex contract negotiations and disputes
- Liaise with the Crown Solicitors Office on contractual matters, and support SA Water Account Managers in contractual conversations and negotiations with Land Developers.
Your success in this role will come from:
- Formal qualifications in Commercial or other relevant Qualifications i.e. MCIPS or equivalent experience.
- Extensive experience in leading and delivering commercial requirements for significant projects and works.
- Extensive experience in commercial and contract management in land developments.
- Extensive experience in taking the lead role in complex, high value commercial negotiations and disputes.
- Extensive experience in the development, implementation and monitoring of commercial assurance frameworks.
- Highly developed interpersonal and relationship building skills, with change management.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work autonomously.
- Strong analytical skills.
Our Growth Group Behaviours:
Our Growth group behaviours are deeply grounded in our SA Water values and are brought to life through our commitment to building a robust, future-focused and fun culture. We are building this together by:
- Fostering a culture of curiosity, collaboration and action.
- Encouraging bold ideas, celebrating continuous improvement and integrating timely progress into everything we do.
- Making decisions efficiently and with purpose to deliver meaningful impact, embracing progress over perfection.
- Championing transformation at all levels by breaking down barriers, balancing risk with opportunity, driving change readiness and enabling teams to shape the future.
- Leading with accountability, authenticity and integrity through being vulnerable, actively listening, embracing feedback and acting with transparency.
Our Industry is like no other. Dive into the wonderful world of water and explore the boundless opportunities. Learn more about the water industry at careersinwater.com.au.
Further information can be found in the attached PD –Commercial Manager Growth
To apply, click 'Apply'. Please submit and complete the application form, upload a cover letter and current resume. For enquiries, please contact Steph Haines from the Talent Acquisition team steph.haines@sawater.com.au
Applications close 11:55pm, Wednesday 2 July 2025.
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.
Please note: We request that recruitment agencies do not submit candidates for this position, as they will not be accepted.
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