Defence Manufacturing Programs & Growth Leader

at; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 220,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonus

Job summary

Head of Manufacturing Programs & Growth leads a portfolio of complex engineering and advanced manufacturing programs within a defence environment.

You will manage 3 Operations Managers and about 300 indirect reports across Engineering, Machining, Electrical, Electronics and specialist trades, driving safety, quality, cost and schedule.

This senior role combines manufacturing operations, program delivery, and commercial growth with strong governance and stakeholder engagement.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in complex manufacturing/engineering environments.
• Proven delivery of large-scale programs or portfolios.
• Experience leading large, multidisciplinary technical teams through senior operational leaders.
• Strong commercial acumen with growth/capability expansion experience.
• Ability to manage complex risks, interdependencies, budgets and resources.
• Strong senior stakeholder engagement and decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Leading manufacturing performance across safety, quality, cost, and schedule.
• Providing strategic oversight across a portfolio of complex, interdependent programs.
• Leading and developing 3 Operations Managers, with oversight of ~300 indirect reports.
• Managing priorities, resources, risks and program-level trade-offs to optimise delivery.
• Driving governance, assurance, and cross-functional performance reviews.
• Embedding APQP, quality excellence and continuous improvement.
• Building trusted relationships with senior stakeholders, customers and leadership teams.
• Identifying opportunities to expand manufacturing capability and support growth.

Job description

Head of Manufacturing Programs & Growth leads a portfolio of complex engineering and advanced manufacturing programs within a defence environment.

You will manage 3 Operations Managers and about 300 indirect reports across Engineering, Machining, Electrical, Electronics and specialist trades, driving safety, quality, cost and schedule.

This senior role combines manufacturing operations, program delivery, and commercial growth with strong governance and stakeholder engagement.