Head of Programs | Defence & Commercial

Ali Kavanagh; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Ali Kavanagh is seeking an experienced Head of Programs / Program Director to lead a portfolio of complex Defence and advanced engineering programs. You will own commercial outcomes, oversee delivery, and manage relationships with major primes and customers.

You will work across Engineering, Supply Chain, Commercial and Business Development while guiding Program Managers and cross-functional teams. You will drive performance, growth and strategic direction, ensuring successful mobilisation,

Qualifications

• Senior leadership of a portfolio of complex Defence/engineering programs.
• Proven track record in delivering revenue, margin and commercial outcomes.
• Experience managing multiple concurrent programs and programs teams.
• Strong contract and customer management capability.

Responsibilities

• Oversee overall performance of a portfolio of complex Defence/engineering programs.
• Drive revenue, margin, budget and commercial outcomes across the portfolio.
• Lead Project Managers and multidisciplinary delivery teams.
• Maintain senior relationships with customers, primes and strategic partners.
• Mobilise, execute, deliver and close-out programs on schedule.
• Balance resources and priorities across concurrent programs.
• Contribute to contract and tender negotiations and commercial strategy.

Skills

Portfolio leadership

Defence/advanced engineering

Commercial/P&L accountability

Contract & customer management

Leadership of PMs

Stakeholder management

Job description

Lead a portfolio. Own the commercial outcome. Build major Defence partnerships. An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Head of Programs / Program Director to join a growing organisation delivering complex projects across the Defence and advanced engineering sector. This isn't a traditional Project Manager position. You'll sit above a portfolio of programs and Project Managers, taking ownership of the bigger picture: commercial performance, delivery, resourcing, customer relationships and portfolio growth. You will work across Engineering, Supply Chain, Commercial and Business Development while managing relationships with major industry primes, customers and production partners.

Your new role

• Overall performance of a portfolio of complex engineering and Defence programs
• Revenue, margin, budget and commercial outcomes
• Leadership of Project Managers and multidisciplinary delivery teams
• Senior relationships with customers, primes and strategic partners
• Program mobilisation, execution, delivery and close-out
• Resource and priority management across multiple concurrent programs
• Contract, tender and commercial negotiations
• Identifying opportunities to expand existing customer relationships
• Supporting wider business strategy as part of the senior leadership team

What you'll need to succeed

• Senior program, portfolio or delivery leadership experience
• Experience across Defence, aerospace, engineering, manufacturing or a similarly complex environment
• Demonstrated management of multiple concurrent programs
• Commercial/P&L accountability
• Strong contract and customer management capability
• Experience leading Project Managers
• Confidence operating with senior customers and stakeholders
• The ability to understand technical delivery without needing to personally own the engineering solution
• NV1 or ability to obtain Australian Citizenship

This would be a particularly strong move for a Senior Program Manager ready to step up, or an established Program Director, Head of Programs or Portfolio Manager looking for broader commercial and leadership accountability.