What it does: Yarra Valley Water delivers drinking water, sewerage, recycled water and trade waste services to customers in Melbourne’s northern and eastern suburbs.
Mission: To support the health and well-being of customers, and create a brighter future for communities and the natural environment
Size and presence: Around 773 people are employed at Yarra Valley Water (June 2020)
Best known for Water quality, supply, and conservation
The good bits: In 2017, it was recognised as Best Employer for people practices and high levels of employee engagement (by AON Hewitt)
The not-so-good bits: Limited room for career advancement
Yarra Valley Water is the largest of Melbourne’s three water corporations, delivering water and sewerage services to over 2 million residents (around 30 per cent of the state's population) and more than 60,000 businesses across Melbourne's northern and eastern suburbs.
Administered by its head office in Mitcham, the corporation is wholly owned by the State of Victoria. Its activities are overseen by an independent Board of Directors appointed by the State Government of Victoria.
Yarra Valley Water purchases bulk water from the wholesaler Melbourne Water. The majority of this supply is harvested from the protected catchments of the Upper Yarra, Maroondah, Thomson O’Shannassy, Cardinia, and Silvan reservoirs. No human or agricultural activity is allowed in those areas, meaning that the water needs minimal treatment before delivery to customers.
The company also removes and treats sewage by mostly transferring it to Melbourne Water’s treatment plants. The rest is treated at their 10 regional plants, where they also recycle water for use in homes, sports fields and public spaces.
At Yarra Valley Water, the employees come from a range of disciplines including engineering, financial management, accounting, customer service, information technology, human resources, and marketing and communications. Most of them work at the head office in Mitcham (with remote working implemented from March 2020), while a small number work in the field or at their sewage treatment plants.
To achieve exceptional business outcomes, the company develops strong workplace practices and constructive behaviours. They also foster a diverse and inclusive culture by creating a positive and friendly workplace where people feel valued and connected.
They are committed to encouraging each other to excel and to be innovative. In recent surveys, most of their staff rated 'the people as the top reason why they enjoy working at Yarra Valley Water.
Once you have submitted your application online, you will receive a confirmation email. You can update your contact details and keep track of your application by using your candidate login. In your application, you must provide details of at least two professional referees whom they can contact to confirm your experience. Previous supervisors or managers make good references as they have observed your abilities in the work environment.
If you meet the criteria, they will contact you to set up an interview (either over the phone or in person). The interviews will give you the opportunity to learn more about the role and allow them to learn more about you.
Some of the positions may need further testing, such as ability tests or personality questionnaires. They will also conduct a reference check. If successful, you will be offered the role and provided with more information about the salary package. If you accept the offer, they will send you a formal letter of appointment.
To help employees achieve their professional and personal development, the company provides Yarra professionals with peer networks and events, secondments (internal/external), and formal training workshops.
The salary per year of a Summer Vacation Student at the Yarra Valley Water is approximately AU$59,000 - AU$63,000.
They offer a range of benefits, including:
Because the company provides services to the customers and the community, their views are important to help them shape the decisions they make. They regularly check in with the customers they serve, seeking their engagement, insights, and input on the work they do.
They also seek customer input in their decision-making processes to provide information and discuss projects that may affect people or the area they live in, to listen to their views and feedback on their services and programs. They are designing solutions together.
Their ongoing customer insights and community engagement work give them an in-depth understanding of the values and expectations of our customers.
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