Director, Costing Analytics and Benchmarking

Defence Australia; Canberra; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Defence Australia in Canberra is seeking an EL2 director to lead the newly formed Capability Costing Branch analytics function, delivering cost analytics and benchmarking across major capabilities.

You will oversee retrospective cost analysis, establish data collection mechanisms, and govern the flow of estimates and working papers while mentoring a growing team in a fast-paced defence environment.

Qualifications

• Strong experience with complex capital projects in a government context, preferably Defence.
• Experience in cost estimation, project finance and data analysis.
• Proven report-writing experience on findings of the analysis.
• Experience presenting to high-level stakeholders and communicating issues clearly.
• Proven experience in leading a team and mentoring staff.
• Ability to operate independently with conflicting priorities and in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Conduct retrospective analysis by researching historic cost estimates to actuals data and understanding drivers of fluctuations.
• Create a mechanism to collect and store data and insights in a standardised system accessible to stakeholders.
• Govern the information passing through the branch and store estimates, assurance briefs and working papers.
• Liaise with external and central agencies who would use the data to conduct better estimates and assurance.
• Mentor and develop the capability within the branch to conduct data analysis for cost estimates.

Skills

Capital projects

Cost estimation

Data analysis

Report writing

Stakeholder communication

Team leadership

Job description

The Role

The Capability Costing Branch (CCB) within Defence Finance Group (DFG) provides independent and contestable financial analysis and assurance to Government on Capability Submissions. We work in partnership with the Defence community to drive better practice and transform costing. We are currently going through exciting reforms to enhance the costing function across the agency and uplift the data repositories utilized in costing.

We need people who are curious, adaptable and motivated by complex, real world problems rather than predictable routines. Your analysis will help inform Government decisions on major capability investments such as helicopters, ships, satellites and complex ICT systems.

This is not a role defined by monthly reporting cycles or predictability; instead, it rewards flexible thinking, intellectual curiosity and comfort with ambiguity. The pace can be fast and the thinking stretch based, but you will be well supported by an experienced, collaborative team with genuine access to senior Branch staff.

You will be a part of a team of professionals delivering accurate, timely and high quality analysis and advice to project teams and senior leaders on capability submissions. As a director in costing analytics and benchmarking you will play a pivotal role in Defence effectively delivering on key reform deliverables for cost assurance and benchmarking.

You will support the department by undertaking analysis of historic cost estimates, collecting benchmark data and creating insights using data and modern tools on the 1 Defence Data (1DD) platform. You will lead a team of people who will push at the boundaries on analysis and mentor the next generation of cost analysts.

Key responsibilities of the role include:

• Conducting retrospective analysis by researching historic cost estimates to actuals data and understanding drivers of fluctuations.
• Creating a mechanism to collect and store data and insights in a standardised system that can be accessed by stakeholders.
• Govern the information passing through the branch and store estimates, assurance briefs and working papers.
• Liaise with stakeholders in external and central agencies who would be using the data to conduct better estimates and assurance.
• Mentor and develop the capability within the branch to conduct data analysis for cost estimates.

About our Team

The Capability Costing Branch (CCB) provides end-to-end costing support across the Defence enterprise throughout the Government approvals process. The branch’s primary responsibility is to conduct cost risk analysis of capability proposals and deliver informed advice to the Chief Finance Officer. CCB also plays a key role in connecting and supporting the professional costing community by:

• Developing policy and technical solutions
• Providing strategic and technical costing support and advice
• Building a sustainable and skilled costing workforce

Our Ideal Candidate

As an EL 2, you will operate with considerable independence developing the cost analytics and benchmarking function. This is a new directorate that is being set up and you will need to recruit most of the people that will become your team. You will need to be familiar with project lifecycles and the Defence integrated investment program. Our ideal candidates will have the following skills and attributes:

• Strong experience in working with complex capital projects in a government context, preferably in the Defence environment.
• Experience in cost estimation, project finance and analysis of data.
• Proven experience in writing reports and analysis as a significant part of the role is writing reports on findings of the anlaysis.
• Experience in presenting to high level stakeholders and clearly communicating issues.
• Proven experience in leading team and mentoring staff.
• Ability to operate independently with conflicting priorities and produce high-quality outcomes in a fast-paced environment.

Application Closing Date: Monday 12 October 2026