Manufacturing Program Manager

at; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Randstad Defence in Australia seeks a Manufacturing Program Manager to lead a critical portfolio within advanced Defence and Engineering manufacturing operations.

Reporting to the Portfolio Director, you will drive delivery across cost, schedule, quality and safety, overseeing 3 Operations Managers and a broader footprint of around 300 personnel across Defence Engineering, Manufacturing, Electrical, Electronics, and technical trades.

Qualifications

• Proven track record leading large programs or project portfolios in defence or aerospace.
• Strong interdependency and risk management skills.
• Hands-on experience applying APQP or equivalent quality assurance systems.
• Sound commercial acumen with stakeholder relationship building.
• Leadership of multidisciplinary teams and driving accountability.

Responsibilities

• Drive program delivery across cost, schedule, quality, and safety to align with targets and governance.
• Lead portfolio reviews and risk management across cross-functional projects.
• Embed APQP quality practices to improve manufacturing streams.
• Balance resources and interdependencies to optimize execution.
• Identify and capture new opportunities to sustain growth.

Skills

Program leadership

Risk management

APQP

Quality governance

Commercial growth

Job description

Randstad Defence are seeking a driven Manufacturing Program Manager to lead a critical portfolio within advanced Defence and Engineering manufacturing operations.

Reporting to the Portfolio Director, this pivotal leadership position sits at the intersection of high‑level strategy and operational execution. You will hold overarching accountability for a portfolio of complex, interconnected manufacturing projects, driving delivery excellence while balancing priorities, resources, and commercial growth.

If you are a seasoned program or manufacturing leader capable of navigating multi‑project interdependencies, and shaping future business opportunities, this role offers an exceptional platform to influence Australia's sovereign defence capabilities.

About the role:

As the Manufacturing Program Manager, you will be responsible for working closely with cross‑functional technical teams and executive leadership. You will directly manage 3 Operations Managers while steering a broader indirect footprint of approximately 300 personnel across Defence Engineering, Manufacturing, Electrical, Electronics, and technical trades.

You will:

• Drive Program Delivery: Direct manufacturing performance across cost, schedule, quality, and safety to ensure total alignment with strategic targets, corporate governance, and stakeholder commitments.
• Provide Portfolio Oversight: Lead robust, cross‑functional project and manufacturing reviews, establishing total performance visibility and proactive risk management.
• Embed Quality Excellence: Act as a champion for Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) principles, driving a culture of continuous improvement across all manufacturing streams.
• Optimise Resources & Interdependencies: Make high‑stakes trade‑off decisions, balancing cross‑project priorities to optimise resource utilisation and streamline execution.
• Sustain Business Growth: Take ownership of the manufacturing pipeline by proactively identifying, shaping, and capturing new business opportunities to support continuous growth.
• Engage Senior Stakeholders: Build and leverage strong, collaborative relationships across key internal leaders, external customers, and defence industry partners.

About You

We are seeking an accomplished program leader who combines operational delivery expertise with strong commercial judgment and strategic vision.

Your background will ideally include:

• Industry Leadership: A proven track record of managing large‑scale programs or project portfolios within Defence, Aerospace, or similarly complex advanced manufacturing environments.
• Interdependency & Risk Mastery: Demonstrated expertise in identifying, managing, and mitigating program‑level risks across complex, interrelated projects.
• Quality & Governance Focus: Hands‑on experience applying governance frameworks and embedding APQP or equivalent quality assurance systems.
• Commercial & Growth Mindset: Sound commercial acumen with a history of building trusted stakeholder relationships and actively expanding operational pipelines.
• Leadership & Influence: Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, influence key decision‑makers, and drive a culture of performance and accountability.

Security & Requirements

Security Clearance: Australian Citizenship is mandatory. Candidates must hold, or be eligible to obtain and maintain, an NV1 Security Clearance.

At Randstad, we are passionate about providing equal employment opportunities and embracing diversity to the benefit of all. We actively encourage applications from any background.