Purchasing jobs

Central Highlands Water is a major regional employer, and we want you to join us!

About us

At CHW we provide drinking water, sewerage, trade waste and recycled water services to residents and businesses in the Central Highlands region of Victoria. We are a public sector employer with a proud history spanning more than 150 years of supporting regional prosperity through service excellence.

Central Highlands Water is a growing business which strives to create a thriving and sustainable region by providing the highest quality water related service to our diverse customer base. This opportunity is a vital role to shape the future of how our services support our community.

To learn more about CHW and how our everyday people contribute to the Central Highlands region of Victoria, visit our website, or check out our LinkedIn or Instagram pages!

The opportunity

The Head of Commercial, Contracts & Procurement is responsible for

• Lead the strategic direction of contract management, procurement, facility and fleet management practices within the business as an active contributor to cross-business teams and initiatives.
• Lead a team of procurement specialists to provide expert support and partnering in all facets of the procurement process in line with Victorian Procurement guidelines.
• Oversee the drafting, review, negotiation, and management of contracts to support CHW’s commercial and outsourced activities.
• Influence and interact with others to drive commercial acumen across CHW’s business for better commercial outcomes and lead CHW’s commercial interests in future business negotiations.
• Work in partnership and closely with various teams to ensure compliance with legal standards and organisational policies and procedures.

About you

Safety is our No. 1 priority, and we expect you will actively contribute to and foster a 'safety first' culture that supports our aspiration of zero harm. This means you care deeply about the physical and psychological safety of people so that our team return home in great shape at the end of the day.

We’d love to hear from you if you have:

• Bachelor’s degree in Law, Business, or a related field.
• Post graduate in business, contract law or related field is highly desirable
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in contract management or procurement.
• Proven track record of successful contract negotiations.
• Strong understanding of legal principles and contracting standards.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Detail-oriented with strong organisational skills.

What's in it for you?

Working for one of the region's largest employers you will be part of an organisation that is high achieving, cohesive and always striving for better customer outcomes. We're full of "everyday people" that are great to work with and reflect our community!

We're offering a supportive environment and offer a huge range of employee options and benefits.

There's the option of work hybrid, including a mix of being in our office in Ballarat, as well as the flexibility to work from home. Other benefits include accrued time off, generous leave options, professional development, industry collaboration, health and wellbeing programs and a supportive management team.

At CHW you will:

• Have access to training and development opportunities that will further develop your knowledge and skills.
• Be part of an organisation that strongly promotes work life balance, flexibility, safety and wellbeing.
• Work in an organisation that makes a difference to our community.
• Be part of an organisation that cares about you, your safety and wellbeing.

How to apply

If you want to make a positive impact through meaningful work and have the energy, courage and ideas to take on a challenge, we’d love to hear from you! To submit your application, click on APPLY to be redirected to our website and for a copy of the Position Description. While you are on our website, take a look around. You won't be disappointed!

• Please ensure you provide a cover letter and your resume.
• You must be an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident at the time of submitting your application to be considered for this role.

Have questions?

For a confidential chat about the role, please contact Bridget Clark on 0428 725 983.

Applications close 5:00pm Friday 30 January 2026

• Please note, as part of our selection process, we conduct pre-appointment checks including those related to references, identity, fitness to work, qualifications, work history, work visa, misconduct and police record history.
• This role may be subject to a probation period.

We welcome applications from people with disability and aim to provide an inclusive and accessible workplace. If you need any help with the application process or would like to discuss your reasonable adjustments during interviews, please contact Bridget Clark

If you need a copy of this advertisement in an accessible format, please email applications@chw.net.au.

At CHW we are dedicated to supporting our team's physical and mental wellbeing. We offer flexible and hybrid working opportunities. We assist our team to develop, as people and as leaders. We value diversity and inclusion - our workforce is a place where the melding of a range of views and perspectives is celebrated.