Assistant Director Governance & Trilateral Secretaria

Australian Submarine Agency; Canberra; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

The Australian Submarine Agency – Canberra ACT is seeking an experienced Assistant Director Governance and Trilateral Secretariat to drive coordination of trilateral governance meetings and enable senior executive decision-making.

The role focuses on strategic coordination, translating programmatic and policy information for diverse audiences, and drafting briefs and other documents for senior leadership across the AUKUS Pillar I Endeavour.

Qualifications

• Experience in drafting briefs, secretariat or administration work, including the management of executive-level committees.
• Exceptional written communication, with ability to translate programmatic information for diverse audiences and produce briefs, meeting papers and other documents for senior leadership.
• Strong attention to detail, sound judgement and professionalism.
• Confident, collaborative leader who can develop and manage small teams.

Skills

Brief drafting

Secretariat administration

Committee management

Strategic coordination

Stakeholder management

Written communication

Leadership

Time zone coordination

Job description

Australian Submarine Agency – Canberra ACT

The acquisition of conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines is an historic and transformative endeavour for Australia. The whole-of-nation effort to safely and securely deliver the cutting edge nuclear-powered submarine program will transform Australia’s economic and national security landscape for decades to come.

The Assistant Director Governance and Trilateral Secretariat will drive effective coordination of trilateral governance meetings to enable critical senior executive decision-making. While encompassing key secretariat duties, this role is heavily focused on strategic coordination, translating programmatic and policy information for diverse audiences, and drafting briefs and other documents for senior leadership. The Assistant Director Governance and Trilateral Secretariat will work closely with stakeholders across the AUKUS Pillar I Endeavour to deliver expert secretariat services.

About our Team

The AUKUS Pillar I Portfolio Office (PfO) is an independent, trilateral organisation responsible for the delivery of portfolio controls, governance, and secretariat services. The PfO – comprised of Australian, UK, and U.S. personnel – is nation-agnostic, and focused on alignment, coordination and overseeing the delivery of key trilateral governance forums to enable senior decision-making across partner nations.

The PfO’s primary roles are the coordination of essential Pillar I portfolio controls functions, Pillar I governance and trilateral secretariat, and maintaining a single source of truth (the definitive trilateral repository of program artefacts and records). Our team engages with a diverse and broad range of Pillar I stakeholders, including but not limited to Phase Steering Groups, Integrated Project Teams, Program Delivery Offices, and Senior Leaders across partner nations.

Our Ideal Candidate

We are a dynamic organisation seeking employees who are agile, innovative and energised by high-paced work. We are seeking highly motivated and collaborative minded people who will have the opportunity to contribute to a once in a lifetime program.

Our ideal candidate should have the following skills and experience:

• Experience in drafting briefs, secretariat or administration work, including the management of executive-level committees.
• Exceptional written communication skills, with the proven ability to translate programmatic and policy information for diverse audiences and produce briefs, meeting papers, and other documents for senior leadership.
• A strong attention to detail, sound judgement and professionalism.
• A confident, collaborative leader who can effectively develop and manage small teams.
• The capacity to think strategically and develop plans and processes to support and enhance the delivery of quality outputs in a high tempo environment.
• Demonstrated effective stakeholder management, with well-developed verbal and written communication and negotiation skills.
• Possesses high-level organisational skills, self-motivation and initiative, and the ability to influence others to achieve outcomes and deliver organisational objectives.
• The flexibility and willingness to occasionally work non-standard or extended hours to support trilateral communications, briefings, and meetings across conflicting international time zones (Australia, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (U.S.)

Security Clearance:

Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance at “Negative Vetting Level 2”.

The key duties of the position include:

The Role

The acquisition of conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines is an historic and transformative endeavour for Australia. The whole-of-nation effort to safely and securely deliver the cutting edge nuclear-powered submarine program will transform Australia’s economic and national security landscape for decades to come.

The Assistant Director Governance and Trilateral Secretariat will drive effective coordination of trilateral governance meetings to enable critical senior executive decision-making. While encompassing key secretariat duties, this role is heavily focused on strategic coordination, translating programmatic and policy information for diverse audiences, and drafting briefs and other documents for senior leadership. The Assistant Director Governance and Trilateral Secretariat will work closely with stakeholders across the AUKUS Pillar I Endeavour to deliver expert secretariat services.

About our Team

The AUKUS Pillar I Portfolio Office (PfO) is an independent, trilateral organisation responsible for the delivery of portfolio controls, governance, and secretariat services. The PfO – comprised of Australian, UK, and U.S. personnel – is nation-agnostic, and focused on alignment, coordination and overseeing the delivery of key trilateral governance forums to enable senior decision-making across partner nations.

The PfO’s primary roles are the coordination of essential Pillar I portfolio controls functions, Pillar I governance and trilateral secretariat, and maintaining a single source of truth (the definitive trilateral repository of program artefacts and records). Our team engages with a diverse and broad range of Pillar I stakeholders, including but not limited to Phase Steering Groups, Integrated Project Teams, Program Delivery Offices, and Senior Leaders across partner nations.

Our Ideal Candidate

We are a dynamic organisation seeking employees who are agile, innovative and energised by high-paced work. We are seeking highly motivated and collaborative minded people who will have the opportunity to contribute to a once in a lifetime program.

Our ideal candidate should have the following skills and experience:

• Experience in drafting briefs, secretariat or administration work, including the management of executive-level committees.
• Exceptional written communication skills, with the proven ability to translate programmatic and policy information for diverse audiences and produce briefs, meeting papers, and other documents for senior leadership.
• A strong attention to detail, sound judgement and professionalism.
• A confident, collaborative leader who can effectively develop and manage small teams.
• The capacity to think strategically and develop plans and processes to support and enhance the delivery of quality outputs in a high tempo environment.
• Demonstrated effective stakeholder management, with well-developed verbal and written communication and negotiation skills.
• Possesses high-level organisational skills, self-motivation and initiative, and the ability to influence others to achieve outcomes and deliver organisational objectives.
• The flexibility and willingness to occasionally work non-standard or extended hours to support trilateral communications, briefings, and meetings across conflicting international time zones (Australia, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (U.S.)

Eligibility

Security Clearance:

Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance at “Negative Vetting Level 2”.

Getting to know the Australian Submarine Agency

The Australian Submarine Agency was established on 1 July 2023 and is responsible and accountable for the management and oversight of Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine program. Australia’s acquisition of conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines through the AUKUS partnership will be critical to ensuring our Defence Force has the capabilities needed to keep Australians safe. The Australian Submarine Agency operates under the Defence portfolio and maintains strong linkages with the Department of Defence. Our workforce comprises a mixture of Australian Public Servants, Australian Defence Force members and contractors. At the Australian Submarine Agency you will enjoy experiences and opportunities that, as an APS employee, you simply would not get in any other organisation. You are able to undertake interesting, challenging and unique work. This ranges from intelligence and strategic policy right through to human resources, communications, infrastructure and engineering, and information technology. As part of the Australian Submarine Agency you will be working at the cutting edge of capability delivery, supported by professionalisation pathways so you can continue to develop, along with unique and varied career opportunities.

Our people are capable, committed and diverse. We support an inclusive culture that emphasises respect and collaboration and prioritises safety and security. Our greatest asset is our people.

We offer flexible working arrangements and a range of formal and informal professional development opportunities.

• We offer flexible working arrangements and a range of formal and informal professional development opportunities.