Lead DWER’s Environmental Response Team
At the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, we’re not just hiring, we’re building the future. As Western Australia embarks on a bold agenda to remain the strongest economy in the nation, we play a critical role in delivering on government priorities: supporting sustainable development across the state, enabling renewable energy, protecting our environment, and securing our water future.
We are an influential and future-focused organisation, working at the intersection of science, policy, and community. We’re guided by good science, cultural knowledge, and a values-based culture that reflects who we are and how we go about our work.
If you're driven to make a real impact, whether it's supporting industry transformation, driving innovation in environmental regulation, enabling clean energy, or restoring waterways we invite you to bring your talent, your ideas, and your commitment to a team that’s delivering for today and planning for tomorrow.
Be part of something bigger. Be part of DWER.
We care | We build trust | Better together | Open minds | We serve to make a difference
Find out more about us by visiting our website at www.dwer.wa.gov.au
The Opportunity:
This is a permanent opportunity.
Lead a multidisciplinary incident response team responsible for managing and resolving environmental incidents that pose risks to public safety, infrastructure and the natural environment. This role is suited to an experienced leader from a background such as emergency services, incident response, regulatory compliance, investigations or operational risk management, who is skilled at leading teams through complex, contentious and high-consequence events.
About the Environmental Response Team:
The Environmental Response team is a frontline responder to events that impact communities, industry and the environment. The team responds to a diverse range of environmental incidents, managing environmental hazards, protecting ecosystems and minimising harm to human health and property in the event of accidents, disasters, or environmental crises.
The team’s functions include field operations, investigation, and coordination capabilities. Officers work in dynamic environments where no two incidents are the same, requiring sound judgement, adaptability, and strong situational awareness.
The team is also responsible for providing informed, science-based information to internal and external stakeholders to better inform and mitigate environmental risk.
About the role:
As the Manager Environmental Response, you will lead DWER’s statewide environmental incident response capability. You will set strategy, standards and governance for environmental response and compliance activities, direct operational responses to complex incidents, and provide authoritative regulatory and technical advice to senior decision makers.
You will:
- Lead and manage statewide environmental response capability across Western Australia to pollution incidents and hazardous materials emergencies under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 and deliver services under the Emergency Management Act 2005 and the State Emergency Management Framework.
- Direct the branch’s Environmental Response team and the after‑hours on‑call team, ensuring people, equipment, systems and procedures are ready to respond safely and effectively, 24/7.
- Coordinate incident response and recovery, including mobilisation, on‑scene leadership, technical assessments and evidence‑based decision‑making to reduce environmental and public health risk.
- Coordinate the provision of science‑based advice and intelligence to internal and external stakeholders, such as government agencies, local government, industry and communities, to inform prevention, preparedness, response and recovery and mitigation of environmental risks.
- Lead DWER’s Light Industry Program to better support local government officers to manage low‑risk pollution issues, offering practical guidance, escalation pathways and capability building.
- Build interagency and industry partnerships, working collaboratively with emergency services and regulators to ensure aligned plans, joint training, and clear roles during incidents.
- Drive continuous improvement, capturing lessons learned, maintaining SOPs and training programs and reporting on performance against the team’s strategic priorities.
- Steward people, culture and resources, fostering a safe, inclusive and high‑performance environment and ensuring efficient use of budget, equipment and logistics.
About You:
You are an experienced leader in a complex, high-risk regulatory or incident management environment, with the ability to:
- Set direction and deliver outcomes in ambiguous and time-critical situations
- Interpret and apply legislation and regulatory frameworks with confidence
- Lead multidisciplinary teams and build capability
- Consolidate, interpret and prioritise technical advice from your team and other sources, in order to provide clear, authoritative advice on complex environmental and compliance matters to decision-makers and other stakeholders
- Manage risk, investigations and enforcement activities with strong judgement and integrity
- Lead with an affiliative and adaptive leadership style, fostering strong, confident and psychologically safe teams through clear communication, trust, and a focus on people, capability and wellbeing
- Build trusted relationships and influence outcomes across stakeholders.
At the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, we are committed to fostering a modern workplace that supports flexibility, collaboration, and wellbeing.
Our flexible work arrangements include options for alternative work locations and adaptable schedules, designed to accommodate a variety of professional and personal needs.
We recognise that effective work can happen in different settings, and our approach reflects this, enabling staff to contribute meaningfully while maintaining balance and resilience.
We are committed to creating an equitable and diverse workforce that promotes an inclusive and supportive workplace environment. We value the unique diversity of experience that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, people from culturally diverse backgrounds, women and youth bring to our workforce.
Join us and be part of a department that values innovation, inclusivity, and the evolving nature of work.
For further information about the opportunity, we encourage you to contact Mike Young on 08 6364 6541 or via email [email protected] during business hours.
How to apply:
If you believe you have what it takes to succeed in this opportunity, please apply online by clicking the ‘Apply for Job’ button (above or below) and provide the following in Word or PDF format:
- A comprehensive CV that details your experience relevant to this opportunity;
- A two (2) page cover letter outlining the key responsibilities and achievements you have had during your career in context of the work-related requirements job description attached.
- Two (2) referees (one preferred to be a current supervisor or recent manager).
Please Note
- To be eligible for appointment, applicants must have documentary evidence of entitlement to live and work in Australia for the duration of the employment opportunity.
- DWER conducts employment screening which may include a National Criminal History check.
For technical difficulties while applying online or information about the application process, please contact us for assistance on (08) 6364 7800 or at [email protected] – email address not to be used for submission of applications.
Access Needs
We use the National Relay Service (NRS) to ensure we are accessible to people who are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment. NRS can help you connect with us on:
- TTY/voice calls – 133 677
- Speak & Listen – 1300 555 727
- SMS relay – 0423 677 767
If you have any access needs that may require adjustment to allow you to fully participate in the application and interview process, including alternate methods of communication, or to request a document in an alternative format please contact us at [email protected] or on (08) 6364 7800.
This process may be used to fill similar vacancies that may arise within DWER and across the WA public sector over the next six (6) months. Vacancies may be full-time or part-time, permanent or fixed term with possibility of extension or permanency in a variety of metropolitan and regional locations.
Applicants found suitable but not recommended for this vacancy may be considered for subsequent vacancies in accordance with Part 5 (General Appointment) of Commissioner's Instruction 2: Filling a Public Sector Vacancy.
CLOSING DATE: 4:00pm Monday, 22 June 2026 (Australian Western Standard Time)
Applications that are in progress or submitted after the closing time will not be accepted.
