Senior Commercial Contracts Manager – Defence & Compliance

Cae Inc; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Great Place To Work

Flexible working

Competitive salary

Paid parental leave

Income protection

Employee stock purchase plans

Career development

Job summary

KBR is seeking a senior Commercial & Contracts Manager to join our Australia Defence and Security Solutions team in Sydney. You will oversee all commercial aspects of project contracts, ensure compliance, and provide strategic commercial oversight across pre-bid, bid, delivery, and close-out.

Based in Sydney with regular travel to HMAS Waterhen, the role demands strong negotiation, ITAR/export control knowledge, stakeholder engagement, and leadership to manage high-value contracts and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Law, Finance, or equivalent practical experience.
• Defence commercial management experience with ASDEFCON knowledge.
• Familiarity with ITAR and export control compliance.
• Strong negotiation, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Experience in financial planning, pricing, billing, and contract administration.
• Proficiency in spreadsheet modelling and MS Office.
• Effective personnel management and team leadership.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all commercial aspects of project contracts, ensuring compliance and alignment with internal business areas.
• Support contract delivery through timely, accurate commercial input and documentation.
• Assist in procurement and commercial activities across all project phases: pre-bid, bid, delivery, and close-out.
• Manage subcontractor engagement, due diligence, and performance.
• Coordinate with operations, finance, and project controls to ensure commercial alignment.
• Contribute to negotiations of subcontracts and purchase orders, ensuring risk and compliance provisions are addressed.
• Lead commercial risk management, including finance, insurance, estimating, and compliance.
• Manage intellectual property, software rights, and technical data in line with approved plans.
• Support contract performance reviews and client reporting.
• Act as the first point of contact for ITAR and export control compliance.
• Promote a safe and healthy work environment.

Skills

Negotiation

Communication

Relationship management

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Finance and pricing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or Law or Finance

Tools

MS Office

Spreadsheet modelling

Job description

Commercial & Contracts Manager

KBR is seeking a dynamic and experienced Commercial & Contracts Manager to join our Australia Defence and Security Solutions (ADSS) team. Reporting to the Senior Commercial Manager, you will play a critical role in supporting both the ADSS Commercial Function and project delivery teams through strategic commercial oversight and contractual management.

This is a senior role requiring strong commercial acumen, stakeholder engagement, and the ability to manage complex and high-value contractual arrangements across multiple concurrent initiatives. You'll be joining a high-performing team committed to excellence, innovation, and delivery in a vital national industry.

This is a permanent full-time position, based in Sydney with regular travel to HMAS Waterhen. Interstate candidates may be considered on a case-by-case basis however relocation will be required.

• Oversee all commercial aspects of project contracts, ensuring compliance and alignment with internal business areas.
• Support contract delivery through timely, accurate commercial input and documentation.
• Assist in procurement and commercial activities across all project phases: pre-bid, bid, delivery, and close-out.
• Manage subcontractor engagement, due diligence, and performance.
• Coordinate with operations, finance, and project controls to ensure commercial alignment.
• Contribute to negotiations of subcontracts and purchase orders, ensuring risk and compliance provisions are addressed.
• Lead commercial risk management, including finance, insurance, estimating, and compliance.
• Manage intellectual property, software rights, and technical data in line with approved plans.
• Support contract performance reviews and client reporting.
• Act as the first point of contact for ITAR and export control compliance.
• Promote a safe and healthy work environment.

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Law, Finance, or equivalent practical experience.
• Defence commercial management experience (industry or government), with knowledge of ASDEFCON.
• Familiarity with ITAR and export control compliance.
• Strong negotiation, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Experience in financial planning, pricing, billing, and contract administration.
• Proficiency in spreadsheet modelling and MS Office.
• Effective personnel management and team leadership.

• All candidates will be required to hold and maintain an active Negative Vetting 1 Defence Security Clearance. Only candidates holding a Baseline Clearance or above should apply.

• A workplace culture certified as a Great Place To Work.
• Flexible working.
• Competitive salary (including annual reviews).
• Paid parental leave.
• Income protection.
• Corporate rewards.
• Salary packaging/Novated leasing.
• Employee stock purchase plans.
• Flu shots, skin checks and discounted private health insurance.
• Career development: Online learning, mentorship and career pathways.

Location: Sydney, Australia.

Contract Type: Permanent, Full-time.

Weekly Hours: Full-time.