Tweed Shire Council

Technical Officer Connections

Join our team and play a vital role in ensuring the safety and efficiency of water systems in the Shire. This role provides expert technical advice and support to residential and business customers, consultants, engineers, and internal stakeholders. Key responsibilities include coordinating Council’s management of backflow prevention devices, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and standards, conducting risk assessments, performing flow and pressure testing, and providing cost estimates for major installations. The successful candidate will demonstrate exceptional communication skills, a strong commitment to compliance and safety, and the ability to collaborate effectively across departments. If you are a dedicated professional with expertise in water management, we encourage you to apply.

About the role:

• Provide technical support and expert advice on backflow prevention, water compliance, and system performance to residential and business customers, consultants, engineers, and internal stakeholders.
• Coordinate the management of testable backflow prevention devices, ensuring compliance with Council policies, the Plumbing Code of Australia, and relevant Australian Standards.
• Conduct flow and pressure testing, assist with hydraulic analysis, and provide cost estimates for large water meter installations and backflow prevention systems.
• Investigate water consumption anomalies, non-standard connection requests, flow and pressure issues, and customer complaints, ensuring efficient resolution.
• Collaborate with Council departments and external stakeholders while maintaining high safety standards and contributing to the implementation of Work Health and Safety policies.

What's on offer:

• a base salary ranging from $72,400 per annum with competency-based increments up to $85,001 per annum, plus 11.5% super
• 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:

• A qualified plumber with backflow accreditation and extensive knowledge of backflow prevention principles and legislation.
• Proven experience in leading and supervising a customer-focused team in a technical field.
• Strong understanding of the Plumbing Code of Australia and relevant Australian Standards (AS 3500: Part 1 and AS 2845).
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to provide high-quality customer service and build effective relationships.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office for preparing reports, correspondence, and spreadsheets.

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 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 4 April 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.

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. 

1. Have your Resume document ready to go.
2. Fill out all questions below. Click 'Next'. 
3. You'll then be prompted to attach your resume and other documents (if applicable). Click 'Next'.
4. 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:

• Do you hold a trade qualification in plumbing with backflow accreditation? Please provide details.
• Please describe your experience in managing backflow prevention programs, carrying out audits of backflow devices and maintaining backflow registers.
• Please provide examples of your experience leading and supervising customer-focused teams in a technical field.
• How would you describe your understanding of and experience in applying the Plumbing Code of Australia and relevant Australian Standards (AS 3500: Part 1 and AS 2845)?
• Please outline your experience in conducting water flow and pressure tests and providing cost estimates for large water connections and water meters.
• Please provide two examples of times when you used your communication skills to provide high-quality customer service or resolve a technical issue.
• Please describe your proficiency in Microsoft Office programs and corporate business systems, including email correspondence, spreadsheets, customer water billing and GIS.

SK97188A

OFFICE USE ONLY