* $124,393 - $140,315 + up to 15.4% Superannuation
* Canberra - ACT
The Role
The Ship Acquisition – Specialist Ships Branch is seeking an energetic, future focused and high performing leader to step into the role of Assistant Director Project & Branch Controls and Support. This is a rare opportunity to shape branch wide performance, influence major maritime acquisition governance and business activities, and help drive transformational change across an exciting and rapidly evolving work structure.
In this role, you will be one of a few key enablers of Branch and Project success—bringing people, processes and priorities together to deliver seamless collaboration across the Branch, Navy stakeholders, industry partners and senior leaders. You will play a central role in maturing Branch governance, enhancing business planning, and assisting the Director in transitioning our upcoming organisational change plan into everyday practice.
This is a career defining leadership opportunity for someone who thrives in dynamic environments, enjoys shaping how organisations operate, and is motivated by the chance to influence acquisition governance and business outcomes.
About our Team
The Ship Acquisition – Specialist Ships Branch is responsible for the ongoing development, delivery and introduction into service of specialist and minor war vessels that are critical to Australia’s maritime capability. As a Branch, we are at the forefront of delivering projects that support Australia’s Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Plan.
Our project teams deliver a diverse, evolving and highly meaningful portfolio—including the Evolved Cape Class Patrol Boats for Navy and the Australian Border Force, Guardian Class Patrol Boats to Pacific partners, and a range of other specialist vessels essential to Navy’s operational edge.
We operate at the intersection of national capability, industry activity and fleet user requirements, providing essential liaison between Navy Capability Managers and shipyard operations. We also lead assurance activities to ensure contracted capability outcomes are delivered to the highest standard.
You will join a collaborative, supportive and mission-driven Branch that values innovation, initiative, trusted partnerships and continuous improvement.
Our Ideal Candidate
Our ideal EL1 Project & Branch Controls and Support Officer is a proactive, adaptable and forward thinking leader who brings authenticity, sound judgement and strong organisational capability. You will be comfortable navigating complexity, balancing competing priorities, and leading with purpose in a high tempo project environment.
You will be motivated by the opportunity to take ownership of streamlining operational functions, uplifting governance and business processes, supporting project teams, and contributing to a culture of collaboration, accountability and performance excellence across the Branch.
To excel in this role, you will:
* Drive Branch wide business planning, including contributing to or leading the development of Branch Business Plans such as Workforce and Capability Plans, Risk and Assurance Plans, and Continuous Improvement initiatives.
* Translate organisational change into practice, leading the rollout of the forthcoming organisational change plan across your team and assisting the Director in supporting Branch wide adoption of new ways of working.
* Oversee a small team to deliver core operational support services, ensuring effective recordkeeping, mailbox and workflow management, security obligations, asset tracking and general branch support.
* Manage Defence Services Support Panel contracts, ensuring high quality service delivery aligned with contractual expectations and project needs.
* Lead and develop a small, dynamic team—providing coaching, direction and prioritisation to enable high quality outcomes across governance, business planning and operational support functions.
* Apply strong knowledge of governance, legislative frameworks, financial and administrative processes, and navigate Defence and Government decision making with confidence.
* Drive continuous improvement in your team, identifying opportunities to uplift systems, processes, reporting mechanisms and enterprise tools to enhance project and branch efficiency.
* Build and sustain trusted, collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders—enhancing communication, coordination, problem solving and a shared sense of purpose across the Branch.
Information Pack (PDF Version) Opens in new window