Strategic Workforce Architect – Defence Shipbuilding

Laing O'Rourke group; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

In-house training

Parental leave (6 months)

Additional leave options

Discounts across retailers

Job summary

Laing O’Rourke is seeking a Workforce Development Manager to lead strategic workforce capability initiatives for Australia’s largest-ever defence infrastructure program. You will oversee skills pipelines, regional capability, social procurement outcomes and compliance with the Australian Skills Guarantee across South Australia.

The role focuses on shaping long-term shipbuilding capability, coordinating with TAFE SA, universities and industry bodies, and driving regional workforce mobilisation.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in strategic workforce planning and capability development within major infrastructure, defence, manufacturing, or industrial programs.
• Experience delivering social procurement and community benefit initiatives aligned to project objectives.
• Strong stakeholder management across government, industry, education and community sectors.
• Proven ability to develop workforce strategies aligned to long-term program objectives.
• Experience establishing partnerships with training organisations and universities.

Responsibilities

• Lead implementation of workforce initiatives meeting Australian Skills Guarantee requirements.
• Forecast labour demand with shipbuilders, primes and the supply chain; identify skill shortages and develop solutions.
• Provide governance, performance reporting and capability insights to program leadership.
• Develop regional workforce attraction, STEM engagement and school-to-industry pathways.
• Establish reporting frameworks to demonstrate compliance and outcomes.
• Develop an integrated workforce strategy aligned with program milestones and shipbuilding demand.
• Undertake labour market analysis to identify capability gaps and risks.
• Design mobility programs and campaigns to build long-term capability.
• Drive social procurement outcomes and indigenous/women/veterans participation initiatives.
• Build partnerships with TAFE SA, universities, RTOs and government bodies.

Skills

Strategic workforce planning

Capability development

Stakeholder management

Social procurement

Workforce forecasting

Governance & reporting

Industry collaboration

Grant/funding knowledge

Defence/shipbuilding domain

Australia skills policy

Job description

Laing O’Rourke is seeking a Workforce Development Manager to lead strategic workforce capability initiatives for Australia’s largest-ever defence infrastructure program. You will oversee skills pipelines, regional capability, social procurement outcomes and compliance with the Australian Skills Guarantee across South Australia.

The role focuses on shaping long-term shipbuilding capability, coordinating with TAFE SA, universities and industry bodies, and driving regional workforce mobilisation.