The key duties of the position include:
The Role
The Sustainment Lifecycle Officer will be part of an integrated workforce within the Sustainment function of the Defence APS Project Management Job Family. In this role, you will manage and coordinate the development of sustainment strategies and plans that enable effective delivery and reporting on submarine system sustainment requirements. Your responsibilities will include ensuring the delivery of required functional performance, supportability, and addressing issues such as obsolescence, reliability, and maintenance requirements. This position plays a critical role in maintaining capability and supporting the long-term operational readiness of Australia’s Nuclear Powered Submarine program.
You will operate with a high degree of independence, exercising authority and discretion to source and analyse information, and explore innovative approaches that support long-term sustainment objectives. The role requires objective, systematic analysis to draw accurate, evidence-based conclusions, and the provision of detailed technical, professional, and procedural advice on complex sustainment activities.
This role is eligible for an additional remuneration benefit known in Defence as a Building Defence Capability Payment (BDCP). This enables Defence to provide a premium, in addition to the base salary otherwise payable under the Defence Enterprise Collective Agreement (DECA), for positions in occupational disciplines/classifications that are critical to Defence capability. For further information, please contact the contact officer.
About our Team
The Submarine Program within the National Shipbuilding Sustainment Group (NSSG) is responsible for the maintenance and programmed upgrade of Australia’s submarines. The Program works in partnership with the Royal Australian Navy and Industry to deliver the strategic submarine capability to the nation. You will have access to generous and attractive working conditions as an Australian Public Servant in Defence. Working for Defence will support you in balancing work life with family and other priorities. You can access a variety of flexible working arrangements, including part-time work, occasionally working from home and working hours that are not always nine to five. Information on Defence employees’ working conditions, including an attractive remuneration package that may respond to industry variations and a generous superannuation contribution (15.4%), can be sourced from the Defence Enterprise Agreement.
Our Ideal Candidate
Our ideal candidate will:
* Have strong asset management, problem solving skills and experience.
* Be accountable as a team player, ensuring clear and concise communication is being used.
* Build and sustain productive working relationships.
* Be accountable for managing resources, setting work priorities, managing workflow; develop strategies and evaluating business outcomes.
* Have asset management expertise: proven ability to manage complex Platform System Sustainment products or portfolios, including planning, prioritisation and end-to-end delivery.
* Have problem solving skills: capacity to identify issues promptly, analyse root causes and implement effective solutions.
* Demonstrate stakeholder engagement: ability to build and sustain productive relationships across Defence, industry and partner agencies.
Key Responsibilities for the role:
Asset Management & Delivery: Planning, scheduling, prioritisation and assessment of sustainment products from concept to closure; ensure deliverables meet cost, schedule and quality requirements.
Risk & Issue Management: Identify, track and resolve risks and sustainment issues (such as supportability, safety, materiel, obsolescence or design), arising from reports and Root Cause Analyses; coordinating mitigation plans with internal and external stakeholders across the NSSG Enterprise.
Configuration Management: Oversee configuration baseline changes.
Integrated Project Team (IPT) Support: Provide subject-matter expertise and maintain alignment between Sustainment Lifecycle priorities and IPT deliverables for platform system initiatives.
Resource & Financial Management: understand budget forecast, monitor expenditure, and conduct cost-benefit analyses for sustainment activities; optimise allocation of human and material resources.
Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain collaborative relationships with Defence, ASC, industry partners and other agencies to ensure timely and efficiency delivery of sustainment outcomes.
Special Conditions
Work Location: HMAS Stirling and Rockingham with occasional international and domestic travel.
Eligibility
Security Clearance:
Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance at “Negative Vetting Level 1”.
Getting to know the Department of Defence
The Department of Defence employs around 18,000 Australian Public Service (APS) employees. Defence APS employees work in a wide variety of critical roles, Australia wide, enabling our three services Navy, Army and Air Force, to do their job. Defence has a range of Australian Public Service (APS) career opportunities that offer interesting, challenging, and unique work. Our workforce includes administrative support, accountants, intelligence analysts, engineers, policy advisors, graphic designers, lawyers, social workers, IT specialists and contract managers to name a few. We offer a rewarding career that includes professional development, work-life balance, recognition, a flexible and supportive work environment and a diverse workforce. To find out more about a career with Defence please visit https://www.defence.gov.au/jobs-careers