Product Manager

Department of Defence; Sydney; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Defence seeks an EL1 Product Manager within Maritime Inventory Management to drive integrated product outcomes across contract management and repairable item functions, ensuring value for money and sustainment of navy capability.

The role leads a multidisciplinary team, manages workflows, and maintains strong relationships with internal stakeholders and industry partners, aligning activities with Maritime Sustainment Division objectives and broader Navy readiness.

Qualifications

• Requires experience across product, contract and logistics management disciplines.
• Demonstrates ability to integrate multiple functions to deliver reliable materiel outcomes.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of integrated product outcomes across contract management and repairable item functions.
• Oversee contract governance and supplier performance.
• Plan and coordinate repairable item activities including forecasting, induction, repair and disposal decisions.

Skills

Product management

Contract management

Logistics management

Supplier performance

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Job description

The EL1 Product Manager within Maritime Inventory Management leads the delivery of integrated product outcomes across contract management and repairable item functions, supporting sustainment of common inventory for Navy capability. Operating with a high degree of independence, the role plans and manages workflows, resources and priorities to ensure effective contract performance, materiel availability and value for money outcomes.

The position is accountable for overseeing contract governance and supplier performance, while also leading the planning and coordination of repairable item activities, including forecasting, induction, repair and disposal decisions. It requires the application of logistics, commercial and product management principles to balance cost, risk and performance outcomes.

The EL1 leads and develops a multidisciplinary team, provides strategic advice and maintains strong relationships with internal stakeholders and industry partners. The role ensures alignment of activities with Maritime Sustainment Division’s objectives and contributes to continuous improvement and sustainment outcomes across the supply chain.

About our Team

Maritime Sustainment Division (MSD) operates within the Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Group, delivering in service sustainment of naval capability in support of Navy’s operational readiness. As part of MSD’s transformation to the Maritime Sustainment Model, the Maritime Inventory Management Directorate has been established to centralise and modernise inventory management across the fleet.

The Maritime Inventory Management Directorate is responsible for the procurement and management of common inventory, repairable items and cross class equipment, ensuring the right materiel is available to support maintenance delivery, sustain onboard allowances and enable future fleet operations.

Our team works across procurement, logistics, engineering and operational stakeholders to deliver integrated supply chain outcomes, improve efficiency through scale, and drive cost savings through aggregated purchasing and reduced duplication, while providing assured inventory support that directly underpins Navy capability and readiness in a dynamic and evolving operational environment.

Our Ideal Candidate

The EL1 Product Manager in the Maritime Inventory Management Directorate is a highly capable leader who performs effectively in a complex sustainment environment and demonstrates a strong commitment to Defence’s values of service, courage, respect, integrity and excellence. You bring strong experience within product, contract and logistics management disciplines, demonstrating the ability to integrate multiple functions to deliver reliable materiel outcomes.

You are confident leading multidisciplinary teams, setting priorities and managing workflows across contract management and repairable item activities. You exercise sound judgement to balance cost, risk and performance, ensuring value for money and effective supplier performance.

You are an effective communicator who builds and sustains productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders, and can influence outcomes in a complex environment. You demonstrate strategic thinking, strong analytical skills and a focus on continuous improvement to deliver outcomes aligned with the Maritime Inventory Management Directorate objectives and Navy capability requirements.

Security Clearance

Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance at “Negative Vetting Level 1”.

The key duties of the position include:

The Role

The EL1 Product Manager within Maritime Inventory Management leads the delivery of integrated product outcomes across contract management and repairable item functions, supporting sustainment of common inventory for Navy capability. Operating with a high degree of independence, the role plans and manages workflows, resources and priorities to ensure effective contract performance, materiel availability and value for money outcomes.

The position is accountable for overseeing contract governance and supplier performance, while also leading the planning and coordination of repairable item activities, including forecasting, induction, repair and disposal decisions. It requires the application of logistics, commercial and product management principles to balance cost, risk and performance outcomes.

The EL1 leads and develops a multidisciplinary team, provides strategic advice and maintains strong relationships with internal stakeholders and industry partners. The role ensures alignment of activities with Maritime Sustainment Division’s objectives and contributes to continuous improvement and sustainment outcomes across the supply chain.

About our Team

Maritime Sustainment Division (MSD) operates within the Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Group, delivering in service sustainment of naval capability in support of Navy’s operational readiness. As part of MSD’s transformation to the Maritime Sustainment Model, the Maritime Inventory Management Directorate has been established to centralise and modernise inventory management across the fleet.

The Maritime Inventory Management Directorate is responsible for the procurement and management of common inventory, repairable items and cross class equipment, ensuring the right materiel is available to support maintenance delivery, sustain onboard allowances and enable future fleet operations.

Our team works across procurement, logistics, engineering and operational stakeholders to deliver integrated supply chain outcomes, improve efficiency through scale, and drive cost savings through aggregated purchasing and reduced duplication, while providing assured inventory support that directly underpins Navy capability and readiness in a dynamic and evolving operational environment.

Our Ideal Candidate

The EL1 Product Manager in the Maritime Inventory Management Directorate is a highly capable leader who performs effectively in a complex sustainment environment and demonstrates a strong commitment to Defence’s values of service, courage, respect, integrity and excellence. You bring strong experience within product, contract and logistics management disciplines, demonstrating the ability to integrate multiple functions to deliver reliable materiel outcomes.

You are confident leading multidisciplinary teams, setting priorities and managing workflows across contract management and repairable item activities. You exercise sound judgement to balance cost, risk and performance, ensuring value for money and effective supplier performance.

You are an effective communicator who builds and sustains productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders, and can influence outcomes in a complex environment. You demonstrate strategic thinking, strong analytical skills and a focus on continuous improvement to deliver outcomes aligned with the Maritime Inventory Management Directorate objectives and Navy capability requirements.

Eligibility

Security Clearance

Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance at “Negative Vetting Level 1”.

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