Senior Project / Program Manager – Defence

Canberra Consulting; Canberra; On-site; AUD 179,000 - 193,000; Full time

Job summary

Canberra Consulting is seeking an experienced Senior Project / Program Manager within the Land Capability Division. Officially titled Assistant Program Manager, this is a Level 3 professional contracting position requiring at least 10 years of program management experience.

The role combines program planning, technical work coordination, governance, procurement support and stakeholder engagement across a complex Defence environment.

Qualifications

• Requires at least 10 years of program management experience.
• Strong background in communications engineering and systems engineering.
• Experience in a Defence environment and with governance activities.
• Ability to translate technical requirements into defined work packages.

Responsibilities

• Assist in developing and maintaining the Program of Work and translate directions into planned activities.
• Coordinate incoming requests, define scope, deliverables and schedules.
• Synchronise internal activities across teams, identifying dependencies for delivery.
• Support annual budgets, financial phasing, vendor engagement and business activities.
• Translate complex technical concepts into practical work packages for delivery teams.
• Help improve project management processes and work intake arrangements.
• Support risk management, governance coordination and secretariat functions.
• Assist procurement activities in line with procurement rules.
• Prepare reporting on deliverables, progress, risks and issues for decisions.
• Build relationships across Army, Defence, industry and coalition stakeholders.

Job description

Canberra ACT | $130–$140 per hour including superannuation
Contract: 23 November 2026 to 28 November 2027
Current NV1 security clearance required

About the opportunity

Canberra Consulting is seeking an experienced Senior Project / Program Manager within Land Capability Division.
Officially titled Assistant Program Manager, this is a Level 3 professional contracting position requiring at least 10 years of program management experience. The role combines program planning, technical work coordination, governance, procurement support and stakeholder engagement across a complex Defence environment.
You will help translate technical requirements into clearly defined work packages, coordinate competing priorities and support the delivery of the annual program of work.

What you will do

• Assist in developing and maintaining the Program of Work, translating Army direction and requests from Joint forums and boards into planned activities.
• Manage and coordinate incoming requests for support, helping define scope, deliverables, resource requirements and schedules.
• Synchronise internal activities across teams and functional areas, identifying dependencies and supporting coordinated delivery.
• Support forward work planning, annual budgets, financial phasing, vendor engagement and business support activities.
• Translate complex technical concepts into practical work packages for technical and non-technical delivery teams.
• Help develop and improve project management processes and work intake arrangements.
• Manage the Program Support Officer’s work outcomes in support work intake and delivery priorities.
• Support organisational and project risk management, including governance coordination and secretariat functions.
• Support simple and complex procurement activities in accordance with Commonwealth Procurement Rules and local instructions.
• Prepare clear reporting on deliverables, progress, risks and issues to support management decisions.
• Build productive relationships across Army, Defence, industry and Joint and Coalition stakeholders.

Senior Project / Program Manager – Defence

Canberra ACT | $130–$140 per hour including superannuation
Contract: 23 November 2026 to 28 November 2027
Current NV1 security clearance required

About the opportunity

Canberra Consulting is seeking an experienced Senior Project / Program Manager within Land Capability Division.
Officially titled Assistant Program Manager, this is a Level 3 professional contracting position requiring at least 10 years of program management experience. The role combines program planning, technical work coordination, governance, procurement support and stakeholder engagement across a complex Defence environment.
You will help translate technical requirements into clearly defined work packages, coordinate competing priorities and support the delivery of the annual program of work.

What you will do

• Assist in developing and maintaining the Program of Work, translating Army direction and requests from Joint forums and boards into planned activities.
• Manage and coordinate incoming requests for support, helping define scope, deliverables, resource requirements and schedules.
• Synchronise internal activities across teams and functional areas, identifying dependencies and supporting coordinated delivery.
• Support forward work planning, annual budgets, financial phasing, vendor engagement and business support activities.
• Translate complex technical concepts into practical work packages for technical and non-technical delivery teams.
• Help develop and improve project management processes and work intake arrangements.
• Manage the Program Support Officer’s work outcomes in support work intake and delivery priorities.
• Support organisational and project risk management, including governance coordination and secretariat functions.
• Support simple and complex procurement activities in accordance with Commonwealth Procurement Rules and local instructions.
• Prepare clear reporting on deliverables, progress, risks and issues to support management decisions.
• Build productive relationships across Army, Defence, industry and Joint and Coalition stakeholders.

Experience and capabilities we are looking for

You will bring strong organisational, leadership and stakeholder management skills, supported by experience coordinating complex programs and competing delivery priorities.

A strong background in communications engineering and systems engineering is sought to help you understand the technical environment and translate requirements into executable work