At IPS, flexibility isn’t just about remote logins or adjusted start times, it’s about genuinely supporting people at all stages of their personal and professional lives. From new parents and career changers to employees relocating across the country, IPS has built a culture where life and work aren’t at odds; they’re designed to support one another.
A culture that bends, not breaks
For the IPS team, flexibility starts with listening. Whether it’s adjusting hours, tailoring leave arrangements or making space for life’s unexpected turns, the company is committed to finding practical, people-first solutions.
“Flexibility is one of the most powerful ways we show respect for our people,” said Founder and Managing Director Sascha Kurz. “If we want our teams to bring their best, we have to support them in the moments that matter most.”
This approach has underpinned IPS’s rapid growth – with a team that’s not only expanding but thriving.
And the evidence backs it up. According to a 2023 report by the Australian HR Institute, 78% of Australian professionals say flexible work arrangements improve productivity. Globally, McKinsey research shows that when employees feel supported in balancing work and life, job satisfaction rises by more than 20%, and companies see greater retention and performance outcomes.
Supporting life milestones
When Finance Manager Emma Peek became the first IPS employee to take parental leave, she also helped shape the framework that would support others in future. Drawing on Sascha’s prior experience co-developing progressive parental leave policies at a large construction firm in 2014, IPS introduced tailored entitlements well above legislated requirements, designed to reflect each employee’s individual needs.
“It was empowering to be part of that process,” Emma shared. “Returning to work after nine months, I felt nothing but supported, it speaks volumes about the culture here.”
That culture extends beyond parental leave. IPS supports flexible pathways for study, health, relocation and more, understanding that a great career should never come at the cost of a well-lived life.
Empowering talent, wherever they are
At IPS, we’re proud to support and embrace remote talent, recognising that the right person for the job isn’t always in the same postcode as our head office in Brisbane. Our recruitment of Marketing & Communications Manager, Sophie Kurz-Cooper, based in regional Victoria, reflects this commitment. Despite being interstate, Sophie has successfully led our brand and communications strategy with impact, creativity, and clarity — proving that geography is no barrier to strong leadership. Her contributions have directly supported IPS’ growth and visibility across the industry, and her remote leadership continues to deliver outstanding results for our business.
We’re also proud to continue supporting our first undergraduate engineer, Tom Carr, as he embarks on an exciting semester-long exchange in Ireland from August 2025. Tom has shown great initiative and drive during his time with IPS, and we’re committed to his development no matter where he is in the world. By staying engaged and connected throughout his exchange, Tom will continue to contribute to IPS projects while gaining valuable international experience — further strengthening our culture of flexibility, learning, and long-term investment in our people.
Growing a flexible and future-ready team
With continued growth across Queensland, IPS remains grounded in its commitment to being a modern, inclusive workplace. It’s one of the reasons we continue to attract top talent across the water, infrastructure and engineering sectors.
Flexible work isn’t limited to policy; it’s reflected in how roles are designed. IPS currently has tailored working arrangements for multiple staff, supporting custom workloads including 9-day fortnights and 2-4 day weeks for staff. These arrangements support the individual needs of our team, their work-life balance, and productivity, empowering IPS people to bring their best self to work while delivering excellent results.
Importantly, our clients have embraced and supported these flexible approaches, recognising that empowered, supported teams drive better project outcomes.
This flexible foundation also makes sense from a business perspective. A 2024 PwC study revealed that organisations embracing flexible working policies outperform their peers in innovation, employee engagement and overall performance.
“For an industry like infrastructure, where attracting and retaining technical talent is vital, culture can be a true competitive edge,” said Sascha.
“This isn’t a trend…It’s who we are and it’s how we’ll keep growing, with good people doing their best work, supported by a workplace that actually works for them.”
Why flexibility delivers for clients, too
Flexible, people-first workplaces aren’t just better for employees, they’re better for clients. At IPS, we know that when our people feel supported and empowered, they deliver their best work. That means sharper problem-solving, stronger collaboration and teams who bring energy and care to every project.
In industries like water, infrastructure and energy, where timelines, budgets and stakeholder engagement matter, clients benefit from working with a team that is energised, adaptable and deeply invested in long-term project success.
Supporting people isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s a smart strategy for delivering outstanding outcomes.
Curious about careers at IPS? Contact our team here to learn more.
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