Governance and Trilateral Secretariat Support

Australian Submarine Agency; Canberra; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Australian Submarine Agency in Canberra is seeking a Governance and Trilateral Secretariat Support professional to coordinate trilateral governance meetings and provide senior-level secretariat services across the AUKUS Pillar I portfolio.

The role partners with the Assistant Director Governance to enable effective decision-making across Australia, the UK and the United States, with occasional hours outside standard time zones.

Qualifications

• Previous skills or experience in secretariat coordination, or a high-level administration function.
• Capable of managing competing priorities, delivering quality outputs and achieving results within defined timeframes.
• A proven ability to work independently in a high-tempo environment, identifying and acting on emerging issues and opportunities.
• Possess a strong attention to detail, exercise sound judgement and maintain a high degree of professionalism in all interactions.
• Demonstrated stakeholder engagement skills and a desire to build networks that support continuous improvement and collaborative problem solving.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate trilateral governance meetings and secretariat services for senior stakeholders.
• Support preparation of briefs, reports and meeting materials across Australia, UK and US.
• Monitor and manage time-sensitive actions, ensuring timely delivery across time zones.

Skills

Secretariat coordination

Multitasking

Stakeholder engagement

Attention to detail

Independent work

Job description

Governance and Trilateral Secretariat Support

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 Governance and Trilateral Secretariat Support role will partner closely with the Assistant Director Governance and Trilateral Secretariat to provide support for the coordination of trilateral governance meetings, enabling effective senior executive decision-making. The role will also collaborate with stakeholders across the AUKUS Pillar I Endeavour to deliver essential secretariat support services.

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:

• Previous skills or experience in secretariat coordination, or a high-level administration function.


• Capable of managing competing priorities, delivering quality outputs and achieving results within defined timeframes.


• A proven ability to work independently in a high-tempo environment, identifying and acting on emerging issues and opportunities.


• Possess a strong attention to detail, exercise sound judgement and maintain a high degree of professionalism in all interactions.


• Demonstrated stakeholder engagement skills and a desire to build networks that support continuous improvement and collaborative problem solving. 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 Kingdon (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”.

The key duties of the position include:

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 Governance and Trilateral Secretariat Support role will partner closely with the Assistant Director Governance and Trilateral Secretariat to provide support for the coordination of trilateral governance meetings, enabling effective senior executive decision-making. The role will also collaborate with stakeholders across the AUKUS Pillar I Endeavour to deliver essential secretariat support 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:

• Previous skills or experience in secretariat coordination, or a high-level administration function.


• Capable of managing competing priorities, delivering quality outputs and achieving results within defined timeframes.


• A proven ability to work independently in a high-tempo environment, identifying and acting on emerging issues and opportunities.


• Possess a strong attention to detail, exercise sound judgement and maintain a high degree of professionalism in all interactions.


• Demonstrated stakeholder engagement skills and a desire to build networks that support continuous improvement and collaborative problem solving. 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 Kingdon (UK), and the United States (U.S.)

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.