Our Approvals portfolio

The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation's Approvals team leads the development of a world-class environmental approvals system that is customer and outcomes focused, risk-based, digital and efficient.
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About the Approvals portfolio

The Approvals portfolio is leading the provision of our state-wide place-based services and delivering the reforms necessary to ensure our services are integrated, efficient, risk based and customer focused.

The portfolio is designed to provide an integrated and coordinated state environmental approval service by:

  • assessing major projects and providing services to the Environmental Protection Authority.
  • delivering place-based regulatory services across the state including sustainably allocating water resources, native vegetation clearing and industry licensing
  • implementing best-practice assurance programs
  • piloting new approaches for green energy project approvals
  • Implementing the government’s ambitious environmental approval reforms

The Approvals portfolio provides confidence to all Western Australians, including First Nations Australians, that the state’s water and environmental resources are being protected and sustained into the future.

Listen to Chris Shaw, Deputy Director General Approvals on the important work his portfolio undertakes.

Key initiatives

Positions we are recruiting for now

Read a summary of each position below.

Director Office of the Environmental Protection Authority

You will lead the commissioning and coordination of whole of department resources to deliver the strategic priorities for the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).

Your role will have end-of-line responsibility for providing assurance to the EPA on the implementation of its strategic plan and that ensure the EPA lens is being applied and considered as part of the development and implementation of key departmental policy, projects and programs. 

In this role, you will partner with the Executive Director for EPA Services to lead a multidisciplinary team providing services to the EPA, an independent authority. The team’s services include referral coordination and management, communication and stakeholder engagement, performance reporting, strategy, and guidance. Critical to the success of this role is your ability to navigate the complexities between your role as a departmental employee and your role supporting the independent EPA.

The Office of the EPA will lead the implementation of several recommendations the from government’s Independent Review of Environmental Approvals which are a major priority for the department.

As an experienced leader, you will:

  • lead effectively the delivery of the EPA's statutory obligations and strategic plan, through the sourcing, commissioning and coordination of resources from the department and other agencies ​
  • deliver outcomes and ensure reforms and continuous improvement initiatives support DWER and EPA activities, processes and systems, including Environment Online (digital business transformation platform) and cost recovery
  • ensure executive and board services are provided to support EPA decision making and good governance.

This position reports to the Executive Director EPA Services. The position also works closely with the Director Major Project Assessments, who is responsible for delivering project environmental impact assessments for the EPA.

Apply now

Director Operational Assurance

As a strategic leader you will deliver state-wide integrated and risk-based proactive and reactive assurance programs, supported by robust science to ensure expected regulatory outcomes are being achieved.

Your role will have end-of-line responsibility for these functions and programs including audits, inspections, investigations, enforcement, emergency response and management of pollution incidents, and gathering and applying intelligence.   

In this role, you will partner with the Executive Director Assurance to ensure the compliance and enforcement functions are informed by emerging regulatory reform and policies.

In the role, you will:

  • integrate assurance services across the department and form partnerships across government, industry and community
  • lead the evaluation of the regulatory assurance, and environmental crime enforcement program including identifying opportunities for continuous improvement
  • ensure evidentiary material in relation to regulatory and compliance activities, enforcement actions, breaches of regulations and reported non-compliance, is appropriately managed to facilitate imposition of breach remedies and/or litigation
  • foster a positive culture of collaboration, performance, transparency, and customer focus with a view to gaining insights and contributing to reform, developing opportunities to improve, streamline and simplify regulatory processes and improve policy and its implementation
  • leverage partnerships informed by responsibilities of First Nations Australians.

This position reports to the Executive Director Assurance.

Apply now

Director Water Assurance

You will lead on providing direction and oversight of the Alcoa Assurance Program and build the operational framework for the water assurance program.

Your role will have end-of-line responsibility for developing integrated risk-based compliance, enforcement, monitoring, and evaluation programs in the context of ensuring water resources continue to remain protected for the environment and its communities. 

As an experienced leader in water science, you will partner with the Executive Director Assurance to provide direction and oversight of the Alcoa Assurance Program and establish the operation of a water assurance operational framework.

You will develop a robust governance framework and inform regulatory services functions across the department (impact assessments, approvals, licensing, and assurance).

As an experienced leader, you will provide decisive action that:

  • leads the development and implementation of a robust and ongoing Statewide Water Assurance and Water Crime Program, with an initial focus on the Alcoa Transitional Approvals Framework to ensure the state’s water resources are being effectively protected
  • informs regulatory reform and policy review, priorities, and strategic planning to strengthen the water assurance framework
  • integrates water assurance services and leverages partnerships across government, industry and community
  • leads the evaluation of the water assurance and water crime enforcement program and identifies opportunities for continuous improvement
  • leverages partnerships informed by responsibilities of First Nations Australians.

This position reports to the Executive Director Assurance. 

Apply now

Director State-wide Delivery (Water)

You will lead the state-wide delivery of the department’s programs and services in the regions.

Your role will have end-of-line responsibility for the regional service delivery of water and environmental regulation, hydrography program operations, stakeholder engagement, and localised compliance and enforcement management.

As an experienced leader, you will partner with the Executive Director State-wide Delivery to lead the provision of state-wide place-based services. You will maximise the value of the department’s regional presence and ensure alignment with government priorities and the department’s strategic direction.

In this role, you will provide decisive action that:

  • leads, manages and supports the delivery of regional services, providing direction and ensuring the delivery of quality state-wide regional programs and services
  • oversees the place-based delivery of regulatory decision making under the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914, including water licensing and planning advice that leads to sustainable development in the interests of all Western Australians
  • plays a lead role in developing strong relationships with regional stakeholders, including Traditional Owners
  • contributes to the development and ensures the implementation of technical governance and risk management frameworks to identify and control regional service delivery risks, including risks related to the state's water management
  • collaborates with stakeholders in the development and implementation of regional delivery priorities, strategies and programs for the short, medium and long term
  • drives the development and implementation of the regions operational plans ensuring that plans address priority and emerging issues and provide effective integration of land-use and water planning at the regional level
  • leads the identification and monitoring of regional service delivery issues, trends and risks that have the potential to significantly affect the strategic and operational delivery of water and environmental programs and regulatory activities and oversees the development and implementation of the department’s regional response.

The position reports to the Executive Director State-wide Delivery. 

Apply now

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