Senior Subcontract & Commercial Lead (Defense)

Austal; Fremantle; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Austal Defence Australia (ADA) is seeking a Commercial Manager to lead end-to-end subcontract negotiations and contract execution. You will manage contractual and commercial risks between customer contracts and subcontract agreements, ensuring obligations and liabilities are flowed down and mitigated.

Based in Fremantle, WA, you will coordinate across Commercial, Legal, Procurement, Operations and Finance, develop risk strategies, and provide expert commercial advice to project teams while

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in commerce, business, law, engineering, procurement & supply chain, finance or quantity surveying.
• 10+ years' experience in commercial, contracts, procurement, or subcontract management roles.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex subcontract negotiations and contractual risk within large-scale projects or programmes.
• Advanced commercial negotiation and influencing skills.
• Strong contract drafting, interpretation, and administration capabilities.
• Excellent stakeholder management with legal, procurement, project delivery, estimation, finance and executive teams.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills for evaluating complex contractual and commercial issues.
• Strong project management and organisational skills to manage multiple concurrent negotiations.
• Experience managing contractual gap risk between customer contracts and subcontract agreements.
• Experience leading end-to-end subcontract negotiations from supplier down selection through to subcontract execution.
• Eligibility for a Defence Security Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, negotiation, and execution of subcontract agreements aligned with the head contract requirements.
• Develop subcontracting strategies that flow down customer obligations and protect ADA's commercial interests.
• Identify and manage contractual gap risks between customer contracts and subcontractor agreements.
• Ensure commitments by subordinate personnel are accurately presented and approved.
• Develop risk allocation strategies that balance protection with viable subcontractor relationships.
• Track gaps, mitigations, approvals, and residual risks through the lifecycle.
• Project manage subcontract procurement from supplier down selection to execution.
• Coordinate cross-functional stakeholder engagement for timely reviews and approvals.
• Prepare commercial risk assessments, negotiation strategies, and recommendations for senior management.
• Provide expert advice on contractual obligations, risk exposure, and supplier engagement strategies.
• Drive continuous improvement of subcontracting governance, templates, and best practices.
• Maintain relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders to support project delivery.
• Ensure subcontract activities comply with ADA policies and governance.

Skills

Commercial negotiation

Contract drafting

Stakeholder management

Project management

Risk management

Education

Bachelor's degree in commerce, Business, Law, Engineering, Procurement & Supply Chain, Finance or Quantity Surveying

Job description

Austal Defence Australia (ADA) is seeking a Commercial Manager to lead end-to-end subcontract negotiations and contract execution. You will manage contractual and commercial risks between customer contracts and subcontract agreements, ensuring obligations and liabilities are flowed down and mitigated.

Based in Fremantle, WA, you will coordinate across Commercial, Legal, Procurement, Operations and Finance, develop risk strategies, and provide expert commercial advice to project teams while