Navy Capability Implementation Senior Business Manager

Department of Defence; Canberra; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Defence in Canberra invites applications for an EL1 Navy Capability Implementation Senior Business Manager. You will lead strategic governance, coordinate executives and deliver aligned business plans to support Navy capability priorities.

You will manage a multidisciplinary team, build stakeholder relationships across Defence and government, and drive performance, risk management and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Strong strategic leadership and governance experience in an executive environment.
• Proven ability to advise senior executives on complex, sensitive matters.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship management.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, implementation and monitoring of business plans aligned with strategic objectives.
• Provide high-level governance, reporting and performance monitoring for executive decision-making.
• Oversee governance processes, ministerial submissions and executive communications.
• Lead workforce planning, finance, procurement, contracts, security and information governance.
• Build relationships across Defence and government and develop high-performing teams.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Governance

Stakeholder engagement

Executive advisory

Job description

Navy Capability Implementation Senior Business Manager

Serve as the principal adviser to senior executives, providing strategic leadership, business coordination and decision support to deliver Defence priorities. Lead the development, implementation and monitoring of business plans, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives while managing competing priorities, emerging issues and organisational risks.

Provide high-level advice on complex and sensitive matters, supporting informed executive decision-making through robust governance frameworks, reporting and performance monitoring.

Oversee governance processes, committee coordination, executive correspondence, ministerial submissions, Senate Estimates material, briefings and strategic communications, ensuring compliance with Defence policies and legislative requirements.

Lead business management functions including workforce planning, finance, procurement, contracts, security, information management and corporate governance. Manage resources, risk, business continuity and assurance activities while driving continuous improvement and organisational effectiveness.

Build and maintain strong relationships across Defence, government and external stakeholders, representing executives as required. Lead and develop high-performing teams, fostering accountability, professional growth, inclusion, wellbeing and workforce capability to achieve strategic outcomes.

About our Team

The Navy Capability Implementation (NCI) Business Management Office (BMO) is a high-performing, customer-focused team that enables the effective delivery of Navy capability outcomes through integrated business management, governance and corporate support services. As the central coordination hub for the Branch, the BMO works closely with senior leaders and stakeholders across Defence to ensure strategic priorities are achieved, resources are managed effectively, and organisational obligations are met.

The team provides expert advice and support across a diverse range of functions, including but not limited to, governance, financial management, workforce planning, security, reporting, executive support and business coordination. Through strong collaboration and a commitment to continuous improvement, the BMO delivers the assurance and management services that allow the Branch to operate efficiently, remain responsive to emerging priorities and maintain compliance with legislative and policy requirements.

The EL1 Senior Business Manager leads a multidisciplinary team and plays a critical role in shaping Branch outcomes. Working in partnership with the Director-General, senior leadership and key stakeholders, the successful applicant will provide strategic leadership, drive organisational performance, and foster a positive, collaborative and high-performing team culture. This role offers a unique opportunity to influence decision-making, improve business outcomes and contribute directly to the successful delivery of Navy capability priorities.

Our Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a highly capable and strategic leader with significant experience operating in a complex executive environment. They possess exceptional judgement, discretion and political acumen, with the ability to provide trusted advice to senior executives on complex, sensitive and high-priority matters.

They are an outstanding communicator, able to develop high-quality briefs, ministerial correspondence, submissions and governance products while translating strategic direction into practical outcomes. The candidate demonstrates strong organisational skills, effectively managing competing priorities, risks and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

A proven leader, they build and sustain high-performing teams, foster collaboration and drive continuous improvement. They have well-developed stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, enabling them to negotiate outcomes and build productive relationships across internal and external networks.

The successful applicant will combine strategic thinking, strong governance expertise, business management capability and a commitment to Defence values, delivering trusted leadership, organisational effectiveness and exceptional support to senior decision-makers.

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 Role

Serve as the principal adviser to senior executives, providing strategic leadership, business coordination and decision support to deliver Defence priorities. Lead the development, implementation and monitoring of business plans, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives while managing competing priorities, emerging issues and organisational risks.

Provide high-level advice on complex and sensitive matters, supporting informed executive decision-making through robust governance frameworks, reporting and performance monitoring.

Oversee governance processes, committee coordination, executive correspondence, ministerial submissions, Senate Estimates material, briefings and strategic communications, ensuring compliance with Defence policies and legislative requirements.

Lead business management functions including workforce planning, finance, procurement, contracts, security, information management and corporate governance. Manage resources, risk, business continuity and assurance activities while driving continuous improvement and organisational effectiveness.

Build and maintain strong relationships across Defence, government and external stakeholders, representing executives as required. Lead and develop high-performing teams, fostering accountability, professional growth, inclusion, wellbeing and workforce capability to achieve strategic outcomes.

About our Team

The Navy Capability Implementation (NCI) Business Management Office (BMO) is a high-performing, customer-focused team that enables the effective delivery of Navy capability outcomes through integrated business management, governance and corporate support services. As the central coordination hub for the Branch, the BMO works closely with senior leaders and stakeholders across Defence to ensure strategic priorities are achieved, resources are managed effectively, and organisational obligations are met.

The team provides expert advice and support across a diverse range of functions, including but not limited to, governance, financial management, workforce planning, security, reporting, executive support and business coordination. Through strong collaboration and a commitment to continuous improvement, the BMO delivers the assurance and management services that allow the Branch to operate efficiently, remain responsive to emerging priorities and maintain compliance with legislative and policy requirements.

The EL1 Senior Business Manager leads a multidisciplinary team and plays a critical role in shaping Branch outcomes. Working in partnership with the Director-General, senior leadership and key stakeholders, the successful applicant will provide strategic leadership, drive organisational performance, and foster a positive, collaborative and high-performing team culture. This role offers a unique opportunity to influence decision-making, improve business outcomes and contribute directly to the successful delivery of Navy capability priorities.

Our Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a highly capable and strategic leader with significant experience operating in a complex executive environment. They possess exceptional judgement, discretion and political acumen, with the ability to provide trusted advice to senior executives on complex, sensitive and high-priority matters.

They are an outstanding communicator, able to develop high-quality briefs, ministerial correspondence, submissions and governance products while translating strategic direction into practical outcomes. The candidate demonstrates strong organisational skills, effectively managing competing priorities, risks and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

A proven leader, they build and sustain high-performing teams, foster collaboration and drive continuous improvement. They have well-developed stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, enabling them to negotiate outcomes and build productive relationships across internal and external networks.

The successful applicant will combine strategic thinking, strong governance expertise, business management capability and a commitment to Defence values, delivering trusted leadership, organisational effectiveness and exceptional support to senior decision-makers.

Eligibility

Security Clearance:

Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance at “Negative Vetting Level 2”.

Getting to know the Department of Defence

The Department of Defence employs around 18,000 Australian Public Service (APS) employees. Defence APS employees work in a wide variety of critical roles, Australia wide, enabling our three services Navy, Army and Air Force, to do their job. Defence has a range of Australian Public Service (APS) career opportunities that offer interesting, challenging, and unique work. Our workforce includes administrative support, accountants, intelligence analysts, engineers, policy advisors, graphic designers, lawyers, social workers, IT specialists and contract managers to name a few. We offer a rewarding career that includes professional development, work-life balance, recognition, a flexible and supportive work environment and a diverse workforce. To find out more about a career with Defence please visit https://www.defence.gov.au/jobs-careers