Strategic Manager - Materials, Inventory & Asset Operations …, Adelaide

About the Company 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. About the job Reporting to the Senior Manager Integrated Planning and Demand Management, this role is responsible for leading, managing and optimising materials, inventory, fleet-related assets, facilities, operational equipment and logistics to support Operations and Maintenance across a geographically dispersed environment. The position provides both strategic and operational leadership across B store inventory, critical asset spares, fleet and plant standardisation, operational equipment lifecycle, chemical holdings and minor assets. The focus is on ensuring safe, reliable, compliant and cost-effective service delivery, supported by strong governance, system integrity and continuous improvement. About Operations and Maintenance The Operations & Maintenance team oversees the management of our water, wastewater and River Murray activities and conducts operational control activities for a secure water supply. The team is responsible for both planned and unplanned maintenance activities, integrating corrective, preventive, predictive, and precision maintenance strategies. They aim to meet availability, performance, cost, and risk targets by leveraging technical asset maintenance and reliability expertise. Operations & Maintenance strives to deliver smart and reliable services to customers while enhancing overall operational efficiency. In addition, your responsibilities will include:
- Lead, coach and develop a high-performing team across materials, inventory and asset functions
- Provide visible safety leadership and ensure safe systems of work across stores, logistics, fleet, plant and facilities
- Lead and optimise the end-to-end management of materials, inventory and logistics to support Operations and Maintenance
- Ensure effective governance, compliance, safety and system integrity across inventory, assets and operational equipment
- Drive fleet and plant standardisation initiatives in collaboration with key stakeholders
- Oversee critical spares and chemical holdings to ensure availability, safety and regulatory compliance
- Manage operational equipment lifecycle, including planning, replacement and disposal activities
- Coordinate maintenance of facilities, depots, workshops and logistics infrastructure
- Manage budgets, procurement activities and financial controls in line with organisational requirements
- Build strong, collaborative relationships across Operations, Asset Management, Procurement, Finance and external suppliers
- Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency, cost effectiveness and service delivery Your success in this role will come from:
- Demonstrated leadership experience within materials, inventory, logistics, fleet or asset management environments
- Strong understanding of B stores, critical spares and operational equipment management
- Proven ability to balance strategic thinking with operational execution in complex, geographically dispersed environments
- Experience working with enterprise systems (e.g. Ellipse, Plant Assessor or similar) to support data-driven decision making
- A strong focus on safety, risk management and regulatory compliance
- Financial acumen, including experience managing budgets, procurement and governance frameworks
- Highly developed stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to influence across multiple business areas
- A continuous improvement mindset, with exposure to Lean, 5S or similar methodologies (desirable) Further information can be found in the attached PD-Manager Operations & Maintenance Materials and Assets To apply, click 'Apply'. Please submit and complete the application form, upload a cover letter and current resume. For enquiries, please contact Chantelle Romeo from the Talent Acquisition team Applications close 4pm, 8 June 2026. A excellent 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. 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 . Please note: We request that recruitment agencies do not submit candidates for this position, as they will not be accepted. #J-18808-Ljbffr Apply on Kit Job: kitjobau.com/job/3rovjj