Director, Business Management

Department of Defence; Canberra; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Defence is seeking a Director Business Management to lead a small, high-performing team within the Navy Capability Division. You will deliver trusted advice to senior leaders and ensure business functions enable capability delivery across Defence.

You will oversee governance, finance, workforce, risk, performance reporting, and information management, while driving improvements and building strong internal and external relationships to support strategic outcomes relevant to

Qualifications

• Experience delivering governance, financial oversight, risk management and performance reporting.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams in a complex environment.
• Strong stakeholder engagement across diverse, senior-level stakeholders.
• Ability to provide strategic advice to senior leaders and decision-makers.
• Ability to translate strategy into actionable plans and outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative and business support services to Navy Capability Division aligned to capability, operational and whole-of-government objectives.
• Lead and coordinate core business management functions including finance, workforce, core learning and development, corporate risk, reporting and governance.
• Manage records and information management to ensure compliance with legislation and Defence policy.
• Plan and deliver automated repositories for identified specific information outcomes.
• Provide high-quality advice and insights to support senior decision-making and prioritisation.
• Oversee business performance, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and Government priorities.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support collaborative outcomes.
• Drive continuous improvement across business processes and systems.

Skills

Leadership

Governance

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Financial oversight

Risk management

Performance reporting

People management

Job description

As the Director Business Management, you will lead a small, high-performing team and play a key role in supporting Navy Capability Division (NCD) to deliver strategic and operational outcomes. You will work closely with senior leaders across Defence, providing trusted advice and ensuring business functions effectively enable capability delivery.

In this role, you will:

• Provide administrative and business support services to Navy Capability Division aligned to capability, operational and whole-of-government objectives.
• Lead and coordinate core business management functions including finance, workforce, core learning and development, corporate risk, reporting and governance.
• Manage records and information management to ensure compliance with legislation and Defence policy.
• Plan and deliver automated repositories for identified specific information outcomes.
• Provide high-quality advice and insights to support senior decision-making and prioritisation.
• Oversee business performance, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and Government priorities.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support collaborative outcomes.
• Drive continuous improvement across business processes and systems.

This is a unique opportunity to influence outcomes at a senior level, gain exposure to complex capability programs, and contribute to work that has a direct impact on Australia’s national interests.

About our Team

The Business Management Directorate sits within the Navy Capability Support Branch, supporting the broader Navy Capability Division (NCD). NCD plays a critical role in shaping and delivering future Navy capability, working collaboratively across Defence and with external partners to develop, deliver and manage capability throughout its lifecycle.

Your team provides essential business management support that enables the division to operate effectively. This includes governance and committee support, financial, workforce and performance reporting, corporate risk and issue management, and business analytics.

We are a collaborative and supportive team that works closely with senior leaders and stakeholders across Defence. Our work is fast-paced, varied and impactful, offering opportunities to contribute to complex and high-profile capability outcomes.

As part of the team, you will have the opportunity to build your leadership capability, broaden your experience across Defence business functions, and work in an environment that values continuous improvement and professional growth.

Our Ideal Candidate

We are looking for a collaborative and strategic leader who can bring together people, processes and information to deliver outcomes in a complex environment.

Our ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong leadership capability, with the ability to guide and develop leaders and teams while fostering a positive, accountable and inclusive culture across the organisation.
• Sound judgement and decision-making skills, particularly in navigating ambiguity and competing priorities.
• Highly developed stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build credibility and influence at senior levels in an organisationally diverse (Navy/APS/Contractor) workplace.
• Experience delivering business management functions such as governance, financial oversight, risk management and performance reporting.
• The ability to think strategically while also ensuring high-quality operational outcomes.

We value transferable skills and diverse experiences. If you have a strong foundation in leadership, problem-solving and stakeholder engagement, we encourage you to apply.

Eligibility

Security Clearance:

Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance at Negative Vetting Level 1.

The key duties of the position include:

The Role

As the Director Business Management, you will lead a small, high-performing team and play a key role in supporting Navy Capability Division (NCD) to deliver strategic and operational outcomes. You will work closely with senior leaders across Defence, providing trusted advice and ensuring business functions effectively enable capability delivery.

In this role, you will:

• Provide administrative and business support services to Navy Capability Division aligned to capability, operational and whole-of-government objectives.
• Lead and coordinate core business management functions including finance, workforce, core learning and development, corporate risk, reporting and governance.
• Manage records and information management to ensure compliance with legislation and Defence policy.
• Plan and deliver automated repositories for identified specific information outcomes.
• Provide high-quality advice and insights to support senior decision-making and prioritisation.
• Oversee business performance, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and Government priorities.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support collaborative outcomes.
• Drive continuous improvement across business processes and systems.

This is a unique opportunity to influence outcomes at a senior level, gain exposure to complex capability programs, and contribute to work that has a direct impact on Australia’s national interests.

About our Team

The Business Management Directorate sits within the Navy Capability Support Branch, supporting the broader Navy Capability Division (NCD). NCD plays a critical role in shaping and delivering future Navy capability, working collaboratively across Defence and with external partners to develop, deliver and manage capability throughout its lifecycle.

Your team provides essential business management support that enables the division to operate effectively. This includes governance and committee support, financial, workforce and performance reporting, corporate risk and issue management, and business analytics.

We are a collaborative and supportive team that works closely with senior leaders and stakeholders across Defence. Our work is fast-paced, varied and impactful, offering opportunities to contribute to complex and high-profile capability outcomes.

As part of the team, you will have the opportunity to build your leadership capability, broaden your experience across Defence business functions, and work in an environment that values continuous improvement and professional growth.

Our Ideal Candidate

We are looking for a collaborative and strategic leader who can bring together people, processes and information to deliver outcomes in a complex environment.

Our ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong leadership capability, with the ability to guide and develop leaders and teams while fostering a positive, accountable and inclusive culture across the organisation.
• Sound judgement and decision-making skills, particularly in navigating ambiguity and competing priorities.
• Highly developed stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build credibility and influence at senior levels in an organisationally diverse (Navy/APS/Contractor) workplace.
• Experience delivering business management functions such as governance, financial oversight, risk management and performance reporting.
• The ability to think strategically while also ensuring high-quality operational outcomes.

We value transferable skills and diverse experiences. If you have a strong foundation in leadership, problem-solving and stakeholder engagement, we encourage you to apply.

Eligibility

Security Clearance:

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