Assistant Director CNSS Program

Department of Defence; Canberra; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Defence in Canberra is seeking an EL 1 Project Manager to lead the CNSS Branch Program Management Office, coordinating governance, reporting, planning and risk management across a complex stakeholder network. You will oversee a small team, deliver briefs and communications for the CNSS Council and Program Board, and provide trusted advice to support decision‑making and program delivery.

Applicants must be able to obtain Negative Vetting Level 1 clearance and thrive in a fast‑paced

Qualifications

• Proven ability to lead complex programs and teams.
• Strong governance and reporting experience across multi‑stakeholder environments.
• Excellent planning, risk management and decision‑support skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the CNSS Branch Program Management Office and coordinate governance activities.
• Oversee reporting, planning, risk management and stakeholder engagement.
• Coordinate briefs, submissions and presentations for the CNSS Council and Program Board.
• Provide trusted advisory support to enable effective decision‑making and program delivery.

Skills

Leadership

Governance

Stakeholder engagement

Reporting

Planning

Risk management

Job description

EL 1 Project Manager – Continuous Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment (CNSS) Branch

The Data and Program Directorate within the Continuous Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment (CNSS) Branch is seeking an EL 1 Project Manager to support one of Defence’s most significant programs.

The role leads the CNSS Branch Program Management Office, manages a small team, and coordinates governance activities supporting the CNSS Council, Working Groups and Program Board. You will oversee reporting, planning, risk management, stakeholder engagement and branch coordination activities to ensure effective program delivery and decision‑making.

Working across a complex stakeholder environment, you will provide trusted advice, coordinate competing priorities and deliver high‑quality governance and administrative outcomes.

The position requires strong leadership, communication, problem‑solving and organisational skills, with the ability to synthesise complex information into clear and actionable advice.

About our Team

Continuous Naval Shipbuilding & Sustainment (CNSS) supports the development of the sovereign maritime industrial base that manufactures, sustains and upgrades naval capability in Australia.

The CNSS Branch coordinates the development of the CNSS Key Enablers (industry, workforce, infrastructure, security and innovation) and administratively supports the Department Secretary for Naval Shipbuilding Sustainment Group in their role as the Capability Manager for maritime industrial uplift.

The Data and Program Directorate provides analytical, modelling, and program support capabilities that enable evidence‑based decision‑making across the CNSS Branch. The team develops and maintains data‑driven tools, workforce and industrial capability models, and decision support products that assess the impact of changes across complex Defence programs and the broader maritime enterprise.

The team works across Government, Defence, industry, and academia to gather, analyse, and integrate data on workforce, infrastructure, and program delivery. This analysis informs strategic planning, investment decisions, capability development, and policy advice to senior leaders.

Our Ideal Candidate

You are a proactive, organised and adaptable professional who thrives in a dynamic environment. You can coordinate complex information from multiple sources, build productive stakeholder relationships, and deliver high‑quality outcomes to support decision‑making and program governance.

Critical to success in this role, our ideal candidate will demonstrate the ability to:

• Work effectively in a fast‑paced environment with competing priorities and tight deadlines.


• Prepare high‑quality briefs, reports, returns, correspondence, submissions and presentations for a range of stakeholders within and beyond Defence.


• Support program delivery through effective governance, reporting, planning and continuous improvement activities.


• Exercise initiative, sound judgement and problem‑solving skills to identify issues and implement practical solutions.


• Plan, organise and manage workflows, ensuring tasks are prioritised and delivered to agreed timeframes.


• Contribute positively to Branch priorities while maintaining a strong focus on quality, customer service and continuous improvement.

Eligibility

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