Delivery Partnerships Manager

Position Overview

• Permanent, Full-time opportunity
• True hybrid working – work from home and our Mitcham office
• $181,800 per annum TRP (Includes12% superannuation)

About Us

We’re on a mission to create a brighter future, where you can be a change maker at the actual source. We’re one of Australia’s largest water utilities with over 30% of Victoria’s population relying on us for their essential water and sanitation services.

Our award-winning culture fosters an inclusive, collaborative, and flexible environment that enables our people to thrive. Here, you’ll be inspired and challenged to grow alongside us.

We're committed to reconciliation and supporting the self-determined role for Traditional Owners/Custodians in water and land management.

The Role

We’re looking for an experienced Delivery Partner Partnerships Manager to join our Procurement and Partnerships team and help shape the way we partner with our delivery contractors across the asset lifecycle. This is a strategic and commercially focused role where you’ll manage high-value delivery partner relationships predominantly in construction ensuring strong contract performance, value creation and collaborative partnerships that support Yarra Valley Water’s capital delivery program.

You’ll oversee contract governance and performance, lead commercial negotiations, manage risk and work closely with internal stakeholders to ensure our delivery partners are aligned to business priorities and future project pipelines.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the delivery of essential infrastructure while driving innovation and continuous improvement through strong supplier partnerships.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Manage strategic partnerships with delivery partners across the asset lifecycle, predominantly within construction
• Act as the primary point of contact and relationship owner for key external partners
• Build strong, trusted relationships with internal stakeholders and suppliers to support collaboration and delivery outcomes
• Manage the full lifecycle of high-value contracts including establishment, variations, renewals and close-out
• Lead commercial negotiations, contract variations and dispute resolution
• Monitor contract compliance and performance against agreed KPIs, milestones and commercial obligations
• Identify and manage commercial risk, escalating issues where required
• Prepare and maintain contract management plans, dashboards and performance reporting
• Analyse partner performance and delivery insights to support decision-making and continuous improvement
• Facilitate regular business reviews and identify opportunities to improve processes and value outcomes
• Support audit, governance and assurance activities relating to delivery partner contracts
• Act as an escalation point for issues and help resolve complex challenges across engagements

What we’re Looking for

You’re a commercially astute relationship manager with strong experience managing strategic supplier or contractor partnerships in a complex operational environment.

You’ll bring:

• Significant experience managing strategic contracts and external partnerships
• Strong working knowledge of procurement and commercial governance frameworks
• Advanced commercial negotiation and contract management capability
• Experience influencing and partnering with senior stakeholders
• Proven ability to manage difficult conversations and resolve complex issues
• Strong written, verbal and presentation skills
• Experience with reporting, analytics and commercial strategy development
• Exposure to utilities, infrastructure or water environments (highly regarded)
• Demonstrated ability to drive change and improve systems and processes

You’ll also hold qualifications in one or more of Engineering, Business, Law, Commerce, Contract Management, Project Management or a related discipline.

Why Yarra Valley Water?
We celebrate and encourage new thinking at every level. Creating opportunities for you to grow – both professionally, and personally. When you flourish, we all do.

• $181,800 per annum TRP (Includes12% superannuation)
• Flexible working arrangements where our people are empowered to design their days with their team. Read our hybrid playbook HERE.
• Free and secure on-site parking with on-site café at our Mitcham office.
• 16 weeks paid parental leave.
• 15 days paid personal leave, which can be used for caring, illness, wellbeing and mental health needs.
• 5 days paid reproductive leave which can be used for experiencing symptoms or undergoing procedures associated with issues such as menopause, menstruation, endometriosis, PCOS, prostate health, or IVF.
• Request to swap certain public holidays for another day of paid leave.

To read more about our benefits and culture, read our employee handbook HERE.

Did you Know?

Research shows that men apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, while women and other marginalised people tend to only apply when they meet all of them. So, if you think you have what it takes, but don't necessarily tick every box, please apply or get in touch. We'd love to have a chat and see if you could be a great fit.

How to Apply

Applications should include a supporting Cover Letter and Resume.

Closing date: Sunday 21st June 2026

This position is available for Yarra Valley Water employees and external applicants.

We welcome applications from everyone, including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, mature age and young job seekers, members of the LGBTIQA+ community and people of all cultural backgrounds.

If you need this information in an accessible format or would like to discuss reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process. Please call 03 9872 2599 or email dei@yvw.com.au.

If you need any help with the application process or would like to discuss the recruitment process, please contact us via email recruit@yvw.com.au.

Successful applicants must be eligible to work in Australia and agree to provide information for pre-employment checks, if required for the position. This may also include a Police Check or AusCheck, where an offer will be subject to a satisfactory outcome of these checks.