Principal Economist

Do you love to identify unique solutions to problems? We are currently seeking a Principal Economist and if you have these skills this might be your chance to rewrite the future with us.

• Work in a dynamic and customer focused team
• Permanent full-time
• Balance your life with a 9 day fortnight
• Flexible work arrangement options are available
• Leaseback Vehicle/Vehicle Allowance

About the role

As the Principal Economist working within Water and Sewer, you will be responsible for leading the development of pricing related responses to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART), including Central Coast Council’s periodic water pricing proposal. This role will also assist in the preparation of other regulatory material, and provide economic and policy advice to support the business.

This position is required to provide quality customer service and create value for the community.

Key duties:

• Lead the development of the IPART pricing determination in relation to valuable input and technical advice
• Prepare cost analysis between asset performance and capital investment
• Review and assist in development of Business Cases for Water & Sewer large capital projects to ensure they are both prudent and efficient
• Provide strategic advice on matters including but not limited to access pricing and contestability arising under the Water Industry Competition Act
• Liaise with Water Authorities to keep abreast of economic strategies, submission and determinations and liaise with IPART and any other regulatory bodies on all economic issues
• Conduct performance analysis of Operational and Capital expenditure against IPART measures
• Undertake econometric and financial modelling in support of business initiatives, estimate cost function and efficiency scores and to assist with budget and forecasting
• Lead the development of future Developer Servicing Plans in relation to price and required calculations as advised by IPART for existing and future assets

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Degree qualification in Economics or related field or demonstrated solid contemporary experience in a similar role
• Previous experience in a similar role in a large or complex organisation
• Demonstrated understanding of the IPART regulatory framework
• Experience in project management
• Ability to assess and interpret complex data and information to formulate recommendations and provide specialist advice
• Ability to investigate and analyse issues, identify any risks and develop innovative solutions to assist in the management and development of economic matters
• Proven ability to build credible and collaborative working relationships to influence, persuade and achieve organisational outcomes

Our position description provides more information for you to learn more about this role.

Other important information

• The salary range for this position sits between $114.7K - $134.6K + Leaseback vehicle or vehicle allowance +Superannuation
• This is a Permanent full-time
• This role will be able to access a 9 day fortnight
• We are able to offer hybrid and flexible working conditions for this role.

A leaseback vehicle is provided in this role for official duties and private use and your choice of vehicle will be provided when one becomes available in accordance with Council’s Vehicle Policy. In the meantime, either an alternate pre-used vehicle or a vehicle allowance of $206 per week ($10,780 per annum) is temporarily applied for this position due to ongoing issues with supply for new vehicles.

Council will be creating an eligibility list from this recruitment process and may utilise this eligibility list to fill other permanent or temporary vacancies.

Extra benefits

At Central Coast Council we provide team members with a range of extras that help them balance their life when they need it. Fitness Passports give access to a range of gyms. Wellbeing leave can be accessed twice a year to tick off something that means something to you - volunteering, health check ups, a 'me day' to refresh you. And an Employee Assistance Program that offers a range of wellbeing initiatives to help you and your immediate family.

Other extras include:

• Long service leave after 5 years of continuous service
• Free flu vaccination program
• Time provided for you to do annual skin cancer screening, Breast screen and blood donations
• Access to professional development with career development and learning programs through various platforms
• We reward and recognise our staff with our Cheers program
• Novated leasing partnerships.

Central Coast Council is committed to the goals of equal opportunity employment. We aim to provide a work environment for our employees that fosters equity, diversity and respect.

Council is committed to providing safe environments that protect the physical, emotional, cultural and social wellbeing of children on the Central Coast.

What to know more?

The contact person for this role is Jenny Black Business Performance Specialist. You can contact them on 0437 182 890 or on email at jenny.back@centralcoast.nsw.gov.au.

This position will close for applications at midnight on Sunday 14 July 2024.

To download our Privacy Statement click here.

Location

Central Coast Council is ideally located on the northern fringe of Sydney and just an hour's drive from Newcastle, the Central Coast offers one of the best places in Australia to live and work. The Central Coast is one of the fastest growing regions in NSW, the third largest Local Government Area (LGA) in NSW and the 6th Largest LGA in Australia.

Central Coast Council is the third largest water utility (or water and sewage service) in NSW servicing 139,000 homes and businesses in a growing region.

How to apply

We have put together some additional resources to help you apply for a role at Central Coast Council. By completing and submitting this online application you confirm that any information that you provide in this application is true and correct and acknowledge that any offer of employment may be withdrawn should the information that you have provided in support of your application be shown to be false. You also consent to employment screening checks being conducted where appropriate. This may include associated checks including reference checks, Working with Children Check, Entitlement to Work in Australia, employment history and an Australian Federal Police Check, as well as substantiation of educational qualifications, industry memberships, previous Central Coast Council employment history and association with professional bodies. You also acknowledge that you will be required to provide proof of eligibility (including photo identification) to work in Australia if selected for an interview.

To lodge your application, please follow these steps:

1. Answer the on-line questions shown below.
2. Attach your resume
3. Attach your qualifications and licences.

Once your application is successfully lodged you will receive an automated response sent to your e-mail address. If a response is not received this means that your application has not been successfully submitted and you will need to lodge another application.

If you require assistance to lodge your application please contact our Talent Acquisition team by emailing recruit@centralcoast.nsw.gov.au to discuss what reasonable adjustments you may need. If you are deaf, hearing or speech impaired, you can contact us through the National Relay Service TTY call 133 677 or Speak & Listen 1300 555 727.

Applicants who are selected for interview will be contacted by phone or e-mail. For further instructions please click here.

You will have the ability to save your application as you go using the 'Save Application' button. You can start an application and return to it later via the automatic follow-up email once you have the time and required information at hand to finalise your application.

If you don't have access to a computer or electronic device, you can lodge your application at any of Council's Library locations. Pre-book a free 1-hour computer timeslot by contacting your nearest library https://www.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/libraries/our-branches or ask at the enquiry counter.

PLEASE NOTE: We will not accept unsolicited resumes or applications being presented by recruitment agencies.