About Cowra & Council

Cowra is located within beautiful Central NSW on the banks of the Lachlan River. It is approximately one hour from the regional hubs of Bathurst and Orange, two hours from Canberra and four hours from Sydney. The town is situated at the intersection of three state highways: the Mid-Western Highway, the Olympic Highway and the Lachlan Valley Way, making it a central hub for travel, freight and logistics.

Cowra Council employs over 200 full time equivalent staff.  Our vision is to be a leading, innovative and creative community, proud of our place in history and offering opportunity with the best of country living. The region enjoys a range of economic, social, educational and health services with a welcoming community that embraces new members from all backgrounds. We strive to provide, maintain and extend Council services to improve the quality of life for residents throughout the Shire. We aim to actively lead, facilitate and foster sustainable development and wealth generating opportunities through agricultural, industrial, commercial and tourism growth

About the Opportunity 

Cowra Shire Council is seeking an experienced and strategic leader to take on the role of Manager – Cowra Services, a senior position within the Infrastructure & Operations Directorate. This role is responsible for the leadership, planning and delivery of a diverse portfolio of essential operational and community services. Reporting to the Director – Infrastructure & Operations, this role provides high-level leadership across a broad range of functions including;

• Airport, Cemeteries & Saleyards
• Biosecurity (Weeds)
• Cowra Aquatic Centre
• Parks & Gardens
• Plant & Workshop
• Stores & Yard
• Waste Operations (MRF)

The role plays a key part in shaping service delivery outcomes through strategic planning, operational management, financial oversight and continuous improvement.

Council is looking for a capable and collaborative people leader who can balance strategic thinking with hands-on operational delivery. The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience managing complex service areas, leading multidisciplinary teams and operating within a regulatory and safety-focused environment. Strong stakeholder engagement skills, sound judgement and the ability to provide clear, timely advice to senior leadership and elected representatives are critical to success in this role.

To be successful, candidates will be expected to bring:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in a discipline aligned to infrastructure, operations, engineering, asset management or a related field.
• Proven experience in a senior management or leadership role, with responsibility for large teams, budgets and multiple service functions.
• Demonstrated experience working within a local government environment, or a strong understanding of local government operations, governance and legislative frameworks.
• Well-developed people leadership skills, with the ability to lead, motivate and manage diverse operational teams.
• Strong financial and strategic planning capability, including experience with operational planning, budgeting and grant funding.
• A current Class C (unrestricted) NSW driver licence.
• A commitment to workplace health and safety, risk management and compliance, with the ability to foster a positive safety culture.

This is an opportunity for a motivated professional who enjoys working closely with the community and stakeholders and is committed to delivering high-quality, sustainable services for a regional community. The role offers the chance to make a meaningful and visible impact across the shire.

The Benefits

The appointment will be in accordance with the Local Government (State) Award and Cowra Shire Council's policies and conditions of employment. 

If you're ready to make a meaningful impact and join our team that values safety, innovation, and community, we'd love for you to apply!

Benefits of working at Council include:

• Fortnightly Rostered Day Off (RDO)
• Four weeks of Annual Leave per year
• Access to Long Service Leave after five years
• Three weeks sick leave per year
• Corporate Wellbeing Programs, including Fitness Passport and Health and Wellbeing initiatives including two (2) Health and Wellbeing days per year.
• Employee Benefits Program 
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Paid parental leave
• Relocation assistance (2/3 the cost of removal expenses for successful candidate, subject to conditions) 

In addition, we value work-life balance and offer opportunities for training and professional development. 

Position Description

Please click on the link for a full copy of the Position Description.

For further enquiries please contact Director - Infrastructure & Operations, Dirk Wymer on 02 6340 2070. 

How to Apply

Before you apply for this position, please read the position description carefully to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position. You will be required to answer questions relating to the selection criteria on the online application below, your answers will be accessed and rated, so please ensure you take time in providing your answers and give examples of demonstrated experience when requested.

You will also be asked to attach your current resume which should include two employment related referees. Please note that you cannot submit your application without attaching your resume. A cover letter is not mandatory, but may be added if so desired.

Candidates must have the right to live and work in Australia to apply for this position.

If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise at time of application. 

Applications Close: 5.00pm, Tuesday 28 April 2026

Pre-employment Screening

In the event you are shortlisted for an interview, and are then selected to progress to the next stage following interview, you must be prepared to undergo the following pre-employment screening processes as part of the selection process:

• A pre-employment physical examination, including hearing, drug & alcohol assessments.
• Please include two referees in your resume for reference checking purposes - please ensure your referee details are current.
• Provide the applicable Working with Children Check number if the role applied for requires a Working with Children Check.
• Council may also check authenticity of certificates and qualifications.

Privacy Statement

As part of the recruitment process, Cowra Shire Council will be collecting information about you. This information is private information for the purposes of the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act. This information will be included in the recruitment file and only accessed by members of the Recruitment Selection Panel. 

Equal Employment Opportunity