Senior Executive Service Band 2 – First Assistant Secretary Contestability

Department of Defence; Canberra; On-site; AUD 250,000 - 330,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Defence in Canberra seeks a Senior Executive Service Band 2 – First Assistant Secretary Contestability to lead the contestability function across Defence investments. The role will drive strategic guidance, integrity in decision support, and effective delivery of major programs while managing complex stakeholder relationships.

As part of the Senior Leadership Group, you will influence the strategic direction, promote innovative reform, and ensure timely, high‑quality advice to

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to lead large teams through change and reform.

Responsibilities

• Lead contestability analysis and provide strategic advice to Ministers and senior leaders.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Public sector reform

Job description

Senior Executive Service Band 2 – First Assistant Secretary Contestability

May be negotiated with the successful candidate

Defence is seeking dynamic senior executives to drive the organisation forward and deliver on Defence’s mission – to defend Australia and its national interests.

As part of the Senior Leadership Group, you will play a key role in promoting and influencing a shared commitment to the strategic direction of Defence, as most recently detailed in the National Defence Strategy.

You will:

• Lead and manage a branch practicing inclusive leadership, collaboration and integrity;
• Demonstrate strong judgement and capitalise on innovative alternatives to resolve complex problems;
• Effectively challenge the status quo when required;
• Demonstrate resilience and personal accountability for the quality of advice and delivery of results; and
• Demonstrate exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal.

The ideal candidate will be a collaborative leader who meets the Secretaries’ Charter of Leadership Behaviours, exemplifies the Defence Values and Behaviours, and engenders a culture of innovation and agility. They will be self-aware, positive in considering and respecting a diversity of ideas and perspectives of others. They will demonstrate the capability to provide timely and accurate advice to senior leaders and Government on complex matters. They will have outstanding judgement, strategic awareness, and parliamentary and media acumen.

Applicants from diverse backgrounds including First Nations peoples, people with disability and those from different cultural backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Your Role

Contestability is a unique, independent analysis function focused on enhancing the quality of capability outcomes for the nation’s most complex Defence investments. Contestability achieves this by providing coherent and intellectually honest advice to senior leaders and Government to support informed investment decisions across the Capability Life Cycle. Contestability provides provide critical but constructive decision support across the Defence Capability System.

First Assistant Secretary (FAS) Contestability is responsible for presenting contestability analysis and views on capability programs and projects working through the One Defence Capability System (ODCS). FAS Contestability engages with Capability Managers and Delivery Managers across the Defence portfolio to navigate the ODCS, paying particular attention to strategic alignment, affordability, value for money, and overall achievability.

FAS Contestability will have a key role to play in implementation of Defence reforms. The creation of the Defence Delivery Agency will drive stronger contestability, more accurate cost estimation, and clearer accountability for the delivery of major projects.

FAS Contestability will need to lead multiple branches and teams of contestability analysts through the period of organisational change, implementing best practice change management, which will see continued improvement and reforms to contestability as a function, process, and capability itself, within the Defence portfolio.

The ideal candidate would have:

• Demonstrated leadership of large teams, particularly through periods of change and reform, particularly blended teams of military and public service.
• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic level guidance, advice and recommendations to Ministers and senior organisational leaders across a broad range of highly complex and sensitive investment and program management issues, including risk, finance, schedule, contractual, technical, and operational issues, balancing risk, opportunity, priority, and value for money.
• Expert understanding of Defence capability and investment project, program and portfolio processes, or alternatively, proven ability to successfully deliver complex investment programs.
• Demonstrated ability to apply best practice within and external to the public service in capability investment and organizational management and reform.

The Australian Department of Defence plays an important and strategical role for the Australian Federal Government.

Working in Defence as a public servant is more than a job, it is an opportunity to be part of a diverse, integrated team of Australian Defence Force (ADF) and Australian Public Service (APS) doing some of Australia’s most important work.

Defence offers interesting, challenging, and unique work ranging from intelligence and strategic policy right through to human resources, infrastructure, engineering and information technology. Defence is invested in its people, giving them tools and experiences that allow them to achieve their best and build their careers.

The Australian Department of Defence plays an important and strategical role for the Australian Federal Government.

Working in Defence as a public servant is more than a job, it is an opportunity to be part of a diverse, integrated team of Australian Defence Force (ADF) and Australian Public Service (APS) doing some of Australia’s most important work.

Defence offers interesting, challenging, and unique work ranging from intelligence and strategic policy right through to human resources, infrastructure, engineering and information technology. Defence is invested in its people, giving them tools and experiences that allow them to achieve their best and build their careers.