Senior Economist - [Archived Advertisement]

Senior Economist

Who we are

In Melbourne, water is essential to our way of life.

As caretakers for Melbourne’s water cycle, we care for water, life and land throughout Melbourne: both its people and its biodiversity.

Each time you drink from the tap, flush a toilet, run through a backyard sprinkler, or kayak down the Yarra—we’re there. Primed and ready, quietly delivering some of the world’s cleanest water for over five million residents and wildlife that call Melbourne home —just as we have for over 130 years.

If you value making it count, diving in with curiosity, and doing what’s right, you're in the right place.

About the Role

Reporting to the Senior Manager – Pricing and Regulation, this is a pivotal new role required to support Melbourne Water’s 2026 price submission process. As the Senior Economist, you will play a critical role in conducting economic analysis, developing regulatory and pricing strategies and providing an advisory role to the business.

In doing so, this role supports the efficient use of resources by Melbourne Water and its customers and enables sufficient regulated revenue to achieve Melbourne Water’s business and customer service goals. Working with the business and key stakeholders in a collaborative manner, this role requires an elevated level of autonomy, technical and personal leadership.

Some of the key accountabilities include:

• Provide timely and insightful economic and regulatory advice to the business and key stakeholders
• Develop economic analyses, models, and inputs into the price submission
• Work with teams across Melbourne Water including Finance, Service Futures, Service and Asset Lifecycle and Service Delivery to seamlessly coordinate a high-quality review of our price submission and supporting documentation
• Develop pricing and regulatory strategies for Melbourne Water, supported by evidence and precedent and consistent with guidance and stakeholder requirements

About you:

In this niche role, our successful candidate will hit the ground running. You will be utilising the skills you have developed at a regulated entity (water or other regulated industry), consulting firm, economic regulator or economic regulation section of a government department to deliver critical components of the price submission in accordance with the project plan.

You will be familiar with working in a highly technical role, within a fast-paced project team and you will provide specific regulatory and economic advice on the matters required for a price submission according to the ESC’s guidance.

You will engage your detailed-oriented skill set where everything is questioned, so that our price submission is well received by the regulator and we achieve sufficient regulated revenue to meet our ongoing commitments to customers.  

The work will include preparation of documentation that summarises analysis completed for senior leadership, Board, the regulator and the public, which may require several iterations until we get it right. For this reason, you are comfortable working collaboratively and receiving feedback.

At Melbourne Water, we work flexibly. After you have had a full orientation, you will work at least two days a week from our Docklands office, with the flexibility on other days to work from home (in Victoria), from Docklands or one of our other offices across Melbourne.

This is a 2-year Fixed Term position and is funded until July 2026 with an available immediate start. 

For more information, please see the attached Role Mandate:  Role Mandate - Grade 17 - Senior Economist.pdf

Why join us:

At Melbourne Water, we care about water and all life that springs from it.

Our people are fuelled by passion, and with safety at the forefront, we have an unwavering sense of purpose, and are on a mission to protect every Melburnian’s way of life, one drop at a time.

We walk the talk when it comes to flexible working – but that’s not all. Our culture of purpose, safety, results, and learning permeates everything we do. We're dedicated to doing what's right, and this commitment extends to the meaningful work we do in a supportive and inclusive culture that encourages you to make the most of your talents.

Our long-standing commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging means that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTIQ+ individuals, people living with disability, mature age and young jobseekers from all cultures can apply with confidence knowing they are safe, affirmed, and celebrated.

If you’re curious, action-orientated, outcomes-focused, and care deeply for public resources, community, and the environment, we'd love to receive an application and learn if you could be a great fit.

How to Apply

Click the 'Apply Now' button below and complete our online application form.

Closing date: Monday 15 July 2024 at 11:55pm AEST