Senior Technical Officer - Liquid Trade Waste and Connections

Lead Council’s Trade Waste and Connections team to deliver robust liquid trade waste approvals, backflow prevention and cross‑connection control - protecting our sewerage network and community health. Drive continuous improvement by reviewing and refining policies, standards and procedures to ensure compliance and align with industry best practice.

About the role:

• Provide leadership, technical support and practical advice to customers, consultants, engineers, staff and managers across liquid trade waste, connections and backflow prevention.
• Coordinate and oversee the Shire’s liquid trade waste program, including supervision and monitoring of Council’s Discharge of Liquid Trade Waste to the Sewerage System Policy in line with the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) guidelines.
• Assess applications and issue Liquid Trade Waste Services Agreements for all classifications, negotiating complex approval conditions for higher-risk commercial and industrial generators (including Classification C) in consultation with DPIE.
• Coordinate and oversee the implementation of Council’s Policy on Backflow Prevention and Cross Connection Control. 
• Coordinate key water and wastewater connection services, including management of the metered standpipe fleet, large customer meter reads, hydrant testing, quotations and support for investigations and customer enquiries.

What's on offer:

• a base salary ranging from $84,316 per annum with competency-based increments up to $99,874 per annum, plus 12% super
• commuter use: an operational vehicle with approved use for commuting between work, no private use permitted. 
• 70 hour, 9 day fortnight
• training and development opportunities
• flexible work options for a healthy work/life balance
• generous employment conditions (we have too many to list - click here for more).

We are seeking:

• Certificate IV in Water Operations (Trade Waste) or equivalent, and a plumbing trade qualification with backflow accreditation.
• Demonstrated experience leading and supervising a customer-focused team in a technical field.
• Extensive experience assessing liquid trade waste activities, conducting inspections and building constructive relationships with trade waste generators.
• Strong applied knowledge of the DPIE Liquid Trade Waste Management Guidelines (2021) and the Plumbing Code of Australia and Australian Standard AS 3500: Part 1, wastewater pre-treatment processes and monitoring/sampling/testing techniques.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, proficiency with Microsoft Office and a current Class C driver licence.

About us:

• Located on the picturesque far North Coast of NSW, bordering the Gold Coast.
• The Tweed is a vibrant, diverse location offering a lifestyle near the water, in a rainforest or on a farm.  
• Tweed Shire Council is committed to employment equity and diversity and encourages applications from people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds in both traditional and non-traditional roles.  We provide workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options. 
• Join an employer of choice. Professionals Australia (Local Government Engineers’ Association) has named Council the 2021 and 2025 Employer of Choice for our great employment practices within NSW local government. 

Where it's located:

This position is based in Tweed Heads and can be directed to work from any Council work site.

Position closes: 

Friday 29 May 2026 at 12 noon sharp (NSW time).  Late applications will not be permitted.

Click here to view the Position Description 

TIPS for Addressing the Selection Criteria

Click here for more information on the Recruitment Process

Click here to view our Values

Pre-Employment Screening:

Tweed Shire Council conducts pre-employment assessments as part of its recruitment process. 

Job offers are not made until screening has been completed. Tweed Shire Council uses third-party providers to undertake:

• Pre-employment medical – some roles require a functional (physical) assessment, and all positions are subject to drug and alcohol screening (a positive test result means the recruitment process ends and your application will not be considered).
• Background screening - verifies that the information you have provided throughout the recruitment process is true and correct.  Click here for more information.

Reference Checks are undertaken by the panel. Your 2 referees should ideally be your current and most recent supervisors.  Your referees are not contacted unless you’ve been interviewed and are a preferred candidate.

Immunisations:

This position is identified as at risk of contracting vaccine-preventable/manageable diseases and as a consequence impacted employees are strongly recommended to participate in Council’s workplace vaccination program. 

How To Apply:

You must use your own email address, and not one used previously by another person that has applied for a position with council.

Once you start your online application, you cannot save and return to it later. 

• Have your Resume document ready to go.
• Fill out all questions below. Click 'Next'. 
• You'll then be prompted to attach your resume and other documents (if applicable). Click 'Next'.
• Review your application to confirm everything is correct. Click 'Confirm' to submit your application.

If you'd like to COPY and PASTE question fields into a separate Word document to work on over time, please find them listed below:

Selection Criteria:

• Why are you interested in working at Tweed Shire Council and what excites you most about this particular opportunity?
• Do you hold a Certificate IV in Water Operations (Trade Waste) or equivalent, and a plumbing trade qualification with backflow accreditation?
• Please describe your experience leading and supervising a customer-focused team in a technical field?
• What experience do you have assessing liquid trade waste activities, conducting inspections and managing relationships with liquid trade waste generators?
• Please describe your knowledge of backflow prevention related legislation and your experience in implementing backflow prevention and cross connection control programs. 
• Please outline your written and verbal communication skills, including your proficiency with Microsoft Office to prepare emails, letters, reports and spreadsheets.

SK97188A

OFFICE USE ONLY