The Role
An exciting opportunity exists for a high-performing commercially savvy individual who is passionate about achieving excellent outcomes for Defence to join the Strategic Market Management team within the External Workforce Reform branch.
You will be responsible for a portfolio of professional services firms who work with Defence. You will work with those firms and business areas across Defence to manage their portfolios of work with Defence in a coherent, strategic way. The Strategic Market Management team helps Defence to be an effective user of the services provided by the firms.
Our vision is to make Defence the best user of consulting support in Government. To do that you will drive innovation in how we work with firms, develop deep insights into how they operate and create new models for engagement. You will represent Defence in dealing with the most senior leaders in these organisations, meeting with them regularly to oversee and manage their portfolio of work.
You will be motivated by a passion for public outcomes and a respect for the value that consulting firms can provide when we partner with them well. It is your role to bring these two things together. In your day-to-day work you will be liaising with stakeholders across Defence to understand the work they are doing with consulting firms, how the firms are performing and how effectively we are using them. You will provide tactical advice to business areas when they are seeking support from these firms, and develop a pool of knowledge and guidance to standardise and uplift how Defence uses them.
As you will be working at the junction between Defence and the consulting firms you will maintain the highest standards of integrity and demonstrate the APS and Defence values in everything you do.
About our Team
The External Workforce Reform Branch was established to embed an enduring change to the way Defence interacts with and utilises the external workforce. The team has a broad agenda focussed on building a culture that ensures contracted support is only used where it provides the best value for the Australian taxpayer. The team will be pivotal in enabling Defence to achieve the transformational change required to deliver the agenda outlined in the National Defence Strategy.
Through the External Workforce Reform Action Plan, the team are extending the work started in March 2023 across all parts of the external workforce. Built on three pillars of effort; the External Workforce Hub, Australian Defence Consulting, and Strategic Market Management, the goal is to ensure Defence can deploy the right resources at the right time to deliver is mission sustainably and with maximum effect.
Defence is the largest user of consulting firms and consulting support in the Commonwealth. We account for around 70% of the Federal Government use of consulting firms. They are an integral part of the external workforce that supports Defence to deliver its mission.
Our Ideal Candidate
EWR Branch prides itself on a positive, collaborative, and supportive workplace culture. For us it is all about the team, and we want people who are keen to be part of the culture we have created.
Our ideal candidate will be team-orientated, with strong relationship building skills. To be successful in the role you will:
* Have experience in account management, procurement, contract management or business-to-business pre-sales.
* Have strong communication and engagement skills, and a track record working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders;
* Be proactive and have a 'can do' attitude when working through a range of activities in a fast paced environment with competing priorities;
* Have research, analytic, and writing skills to build and convey deep understanding of Defence initiatives and external market changes;
* Work collaboratively in a team based environment, operating as an effective team member, building and sustaining relationships with colleagues and suppliers;
* Demonstrate empathy, maturity and discretion when dealing with complex situations; and
* Have a passion and commitment for Defence's mission and outcomes, with the integrity and professionalism to uphold APS and Defence Values and Behaviours.
Application Closing Date: Thursday 28 August 2025
For further information please review the job information pack, reference DFG/06261/25 on https://defencecareers.nga.net.au/?jati=E82C487C-39E4-E5BE-32DE-E409E0F5502A
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