This is a Water Quality Officer role with Townsville City Council based in Townsville City, QLD, AU Townsville City Council Role Seniority - mid level More about the Water Quality Officer role at Townsville City Council Division/Section: Infrastructure and Operations / Water Position Type: Fixed Term Part Time (Up to August 2029, 3 days/week, 21.75 hours/week) Salary Range: Base Rate $49.86 - $53.22 per hour super Location: Garbutt Operations Centre Application Close: 11:45pm, Thursday 26 March 2026 As our Water Quality Officer, you’ll play a hands‑on role in protecting one of Townsville’s most important essentials - clean, safe drinking water for every household, school, business and community space. You’ll be the person our community counts on to make sure the water coming out of every tap meets the highest standards. From keeping a close eye on our monitoring program, to coordinating sampling with operators and our laboratory, to digging into the science behind any unusual results. Your work helps prevent issues before they affect the people who rely on us every day. In this role, you’ll investigate water quality incidents, support transparent reporting to the Regulator and Council, and help drive improvements, whether that’s refining procedures, recommending upgrades, or spotting trends that others might miss. You’ll manage important water information, guide contractors on performance, and make sure our Drinking Water Quality Management Plan stays active, up‑to‑date and effective. You’ll also play a key part in helping others understand how water quality works by supporting staff training and helping educate the community on why safe drinking water is everyone’s business. If you’re passionate about science, enjoy problem‑solving, and want to make a real difference to the health and confidence of the Townsville community, this is your chance to be at the heart of something essential. Qualifications And Experience Our ideal candidate will have: Tertiary degree qualification in science, engineering or a related field with the emphasis on the application of scientific principles. Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the interpretation and application of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. Experience in the conduct of water quality research. Formally trained in the application of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines framework. Current Driver’s licence. Demonstrated ability to research and investigate water quality issues. Substantial knowledge of the standard suite of water quality parameters and their impact on drinking water. High level of computer skills particularly in relation to the manipulation of data. Knowledge of typical water reporting parameters such as the National Performance Indicators. Experience in the investigation and reporting of water quality incidents. Experience in drinking water sampling techniques. Experience in the extraction and formatting of water quality data for regulatory reports. Experience in the presentation, reporting and interpretation of water performance information. For Further Information Review The Position Description. Townsville City Council is the largest local government authority in Northern Australia. We’re committed to supporting our people through a strong focus on work–life balance, a positive and inclusive culture, and a shared passion for making a meaningful impact in our community. We have a range of benefits that confirm this commitment: 5 weeks annual leave 17.5% leave loading (pro-rata) 3 weeks Personal/Carers Leave (pro-rata) Domestic and Family Violence Leave Natural Disaster Leave Uniforms and PPE provided Annual wage progression Up to *13.5% Superannuation employer contribution for contributing members Salary Sacrifice opportunities Access to a range of learning and development opportunities, including on-the-job learning and formal training programs Fitness Passport program offering discounted membership to selected health and wellbeing facilities Employee Loyalty Program offering discounts at selected local businesses Employee Assistance Program The Council contribution to employees' superannuation for contributing employees shall be 13.5% of the employees' ordinary time earnings subject to the employee contributing a minimum of 6% of their ordinary time earnings. Contact Person: Ben (Coordinator) Contact Email: bjd@townsville.qld.gov.au (for position enquiries only) How To Apply Your application can be submitted through the 'Apply' button. Please include a cover letter (maximum 2 pages), outlining how your skills, qualifications and experience would allow you to achieve success in this role. We also will require your resume which should confirm any licences and qualifications your hold. For Further Information Review The Position Description. We are committed to creating a safe and inclusive workplace where diverse styles, backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, encouraged, and respected. People from diverse backgrounds (including but not limited to, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, people with diverse gender identities and sexualities, people from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds, people with disability, and veterans) are encouraged to apply! All successful candidates are required to undergo drug and alcohol testing as part of the recruitment process. Please be aware Townsville City Council has a ‘zero tolerance’ policy to drugs and alcohol in the workplace. If you need any adjustments to be made to the recruitment process or if you would like to discuss any accessibility requirements, please contact hr_recruitment@townsville.qld.gov.au or phone 07 4727 9004 for a confidential discussion. Welcome to our playground: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoFb5RenZD8 Attachments: Water Quality Officer_PD.pdf Before we jump into the responsibilities of the role. No matter what you come in knowing, you’ll be learning new things all the time and the Townsville City Council team will be there to support your growth. Please consider applying even if you don't meet 100% of what’s outlined Key Responsibilities Monitoring water quality Investigating water quality incidents Educating the community Key Strengths Tertiary degree qualification in science, engineering or a related field Knowledge of Australian Drinking Water Guidelines Experience in water quality research High level of computer skills Experience in drinking water sampling techniques Ability to present and interpret water performance information A Final Note: This is a role with Townsville City Council not with Hatch.
