Senior Manager - Defence Strategy (NV2)

Anson McCade; Canberra; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Anson McCade Pty seeks a Senior Manager to lead Defence and national security consulting engagements in Canberra. You’ll translate strategic needs into practical roadmaps, working with senior government stakeholders to deliver high-impact outcomes.

Join a top-tier global consulting environment where you’ll shape capability programs, drive transformations, and influence executive decisions across Defence sectors.

Qualifications

• Significant experience within Defence, national security, the Australian Public Service or Defence consulting.
• Background in strategy, business analysis, capability development, transformation or operating model design.
• Experience presenting complex recommendations to senior executives and government stakeholders.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to translate complex problems into practical solutions.
• Experience contributing to business development, proposals or client relationship growth.
• Proven leadership skills, with the ability to guide teams and build trusted client relationships.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic assessments, analysis and transformation engagements across Defence and national security.
• Support capability development, operating model design and organisational transformation.
• Develop strategic recommendations, implementation roadmaps and executive-level presentations.
• Engage with senior stakeholders to understand business challenges, shape solutions and influence decision-making.
• Contribute to proposals, business development and the development of new client opportunities.
• Lead teams and manage complex engagements, ensuring high-quality outcomes for clients.
• Identify opportunities to improve capability, performance and service delivery across the Defence environment.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Defence sector experience

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Business development

Job description

Canberra, ACT | Defence & National Security Consulting

Are you an experienced Defence professional who enjoys solving complex challenges, shaping strategic direction and helping senior stakeholders turn big ideas into practical outcomes?

We’re partnering with a leading global consulting firm that is growing its Defence and national security consulting capability and is looking for a Senior Manager to play a key role in delivering high-impact engagements across the sector.

This is an opportunity to combine your Defence knowledge, strategic thinking and consulting experience to help shape future capability and support meaningful transformation.

The opportunity

Working with senior Defence and government stakeholders, you’ll lead complex consulting engagements, provide strategic advice and help organisations navigate challenging capability and transformation priorities.

You’ll bring together strategy, analysis and delivery, translating complex requirements into clear recommendations, actionable roadmaps and sustainable business outcomes.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading strategic assessments, analysis and transformation engagements across Defence and national security.
• Supporting capability development, operating model design and organisational transformation.
• Developing strategic recommendations, implementation roadmaps and executive-level presentations.
• Engaging with senior stakeholders to understand business challenges, shape solutions and influence decision-making.
• Contributing to proposals, business development and the development of new client opportunities.
• Leading teams and managing complex engagements, ensuring high-quality outcomes for clients.
• Identifying opportunities to improve capability, performance and service delivery across the Defence environment.

About you

You’ll be a commercially minded consulting professional with a strong understanding of Defence and the ability to operate confidently at senior levels.

You’ll ideally bring:

• Significant experience within Defence, national security, the Australian Public Service or Defence consulting.
• A background in strategy, business analysis, capability development, transformation or operating model design.
• Experience preparing and presenting complex recommendations to senior executives and government stakeholders.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to translate complex problems into practical solutions.
• Experience contributing to business development, proposals or client relationship growth.
• Proven leadership skills, with the ability to guide teams and build trusted client relationships.

An understanding of the Defence capability environment and relevant government processes will be highly regarded.

Security requirements

Australian citizenship and an active AGSVA security clearance of at least NV2 is required.

Why consider this opportunity?

Join a high-performing consulting environment where you can work on complex, meaningful Defence challenges, collaborate with experienced professionals and help shape strategic outcomes across the sector.

If you’re ready for a role that combines strategic thinking, client engagement and tangible impact, we’d love to hear from you.