EL 1 - Technical Assessments Assistant Director

Australian Department of Defence; Sydney; On-site; AUD 124,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

BDCP bonus

Job summary

Australian Department of Defence in Sydney CBD NSW seeks an EL1 Technical Assessments Assistant Director to lead technical export control analyses for military and dual-use items, software and technology. This role drives Australia’s contributions to multilateral regimes and strengthens stakeholder relationships across government, industry and academia.

You will manage a high‑performing technical assessor team, set strategic direction, and foster a culture of accountability and continuous

Qualifications

• In-depth scientific and technological expertise.
• Formal qualifications in science or engineering are required.
• Strong analytical skills and excellent communication; ability to problem solve and collaborate.

Responsibilities

• Determine the export control status of military and dual-use items, software and technology.
• Lead Australia’s technical contributions to multilateral export control regimes.
• Build and maintain relationships across government, industry and academia.
• Develop and implement work plans, set performance expectations and review outcomes.
• Coach and mentor staff and embed continuous improvement.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Problem solving

Collaboration

Leadership

Education

Science or Engineering qualifications

Job description

EL 1 - Technical Assessments Assistant Director

Australian Department of Defence – Sydney CBD NSW

1d ago , from Australian Department of Defence

• $124,393 - $140,315 + 10% BDCP + up to 15.4% Superannuation
• Russell - ACT, Sydney CBD - NSW

The Role
Executive Level 1 Technical Assessments Assistant Directors within the Defence Export Controls (DEC) Assessments section determine the export control status of a wide range of military and dual-use items, software and technology. Technical Assistant Directors lead Australia’s technical contributions to multilateral export control regimes, driving the development of international and Australian export controls. You will also build and maintain a range of relationships across government, industry and academia, with a view to ensuring a robust two-way sharing of knowledge on technological developments and associated export control ramifications.

This role is eligible for an additional remuneration benefit known in Defence as a Building Defence Capability Payment (BDCP). This enables Defence to provide a premium, in addition to the base salary otherwise payable under the Defence Enterprise Collective Agreement (DECA), for positions in occupational disciplines/classifications that are critical to Defence capability. For further information, please contact the contact officer.

About our Team
Defence Export Controls (DEC) is the Commonwealth regulator of military and dual-use exports and Foreign Work Authorisations. DEC supports government, industry, higher education, research sectors and individuals to meet their obligations under Australia’s export controls and Safeguarding Australia’s Military Secrets legislative frameworks. Through its operations, DEC plays a fundamental role in ensuring Australia upholds its international obligations, including participation in multilateral export control regimes.

The Assessments section within DEC safeguards Australia’s sensitive military knowledge, national security, Defence interests and international relations by delivering robust, evidence-based technical and risk assessments that support Australia’s international commitments and counter-proliferation objectives. This work may also include representing Australia in international meetings.

Our Ideal Candidate
Technical Assistant Directors have in-depth scientific and technological expertise and formal qualifications in science or engineering are required.

Assistant Directors exercise a considerable degree of independence and perform leadership roles. As a leader, you will build, manage and sustain a high-performing technical assessor team. You will set clear strategic direction, develop and implement work plans, establish performance expectations and review individual and team outcomes. You will coach and mentor staff, identify opportunities to strengthen capability and embed a culture of continuous improvement, accountability and professionalism.

The successful candidate will demonstrate an ability to exercise sound decision-making and judgement, actively manage key stakeholder relationships, and thrive in a high-paced environment. You should have strong analytical skills, excellent communication skills and the ability to problem solve and be collaborative.