Transition Specialist

Downer; Canberra; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Perks@Downer discounts on healthcare,

Reservist Leave (up to 20 days)

Professional development programs

Job summary

Downer Professional Services is seeking a proactive Transition Specialist to support planning, coordination and delivery of capability transition activities for a major materiel program transitioning into sustainment within Defence.

You will coordinate across engineering, logistics, commercial and sustainment functions, acting as a capable second-in-command to the Transition Lead while delivering agreed milestones.

Qualifications

• Diploma/Advanced Diploma in a relevant discipline or a Bachelor’s degree in Business, PM, Management, Information Management, Logistics, Engineering or IT; or equivalent Defence/industry experience.
• Experience supporting capability transition, implementation, project coordination, PMO, sustainment, capability support, operational support, logistics, engineering, information management or process improvement.
• Military/Defence experience in planning, operations, logistics, or related support functions is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of assigned workstreams and progress activities through to completion.
• Maintain transition plans, schedules, artefacts and reporting; coordinate inputs from stakeholders and engineering.
• Identify and monitor risks, issues and dependencies; escalate where needed.
• Prepare reports, briefs and management papers for senior stakeholders.

Skills

Transition management

Stakeholder coordination

Project coordination

Capability delivery

Planning & scheduling

Education

Diploma/Advanced Diploma

Bachelor's degree in Business/PM/Management/Logistics/Engineering/IT

Defence/industry experience

Job description

Play a key role in Defence capability transition, taking ownership and working across engineering, sustainment, and specialist teams.

Join our Downer Professional Services team and play a key role in delivering complex defence and national security projects that safeguard Australia's future.

Downer Professional Services is comprised of two business units, our Technical, Advisory, and Capability consulting practice and Team Downer, a major service partner to Defence. Together, we are a multi-disciplinary advisory and delivery partner of choice for our clients in Defence and National Security.

About the Role

We are seeking a proactive and organised Transition Specialist to support the planning, coordination and delivery of capability transition activities for a major materiel program transitioning into sustainment within a complex Defence environment.

Working closely with the Transition Lead, you will play a key role in supporting the program through this transition, coordinating activities across engineering, logistics, commercial and sustainment functions and ensuring technical, supportability and operational considerations are brought together throughout transition planning and delivery.

Previous CASG experience, particularly supporting the transition of Defence capability or materiel programs into sustainment, will be important for this role. You will understand the complexities of working across an SPO and be able to navigate Defence stakeholders, competing priorities, dependencies and delivery requirements.

This is a hands-on role for someone comfortable operating with a degree of autonomy in a multidisciplinary, matrix environment. You will bring together information from multiple sources, coordinate stakeholders, identify and monitor risks and dependencies, and take ownership of assigned activities and workstreams to ensure they continue progressing towards agreed transition milestones.

Importantly, the role is focused on enabling transition outcomes and strengthening delivery across the SPO. You will work closely with the Transition Lead as a capable second-in-command, helping coordinate work, support engineering and sustainment activities and independently progress assigned workstreams.

If you are a self-starter with CASG and transition-to-sustainment experience who enjoys bringing structure to complex Defence environments and turning plans into practical outcomes, this is an opportunity to make a tangible contribution to a significant capability transition.

What You'll Do

Working as a key member of the Transition team, you will support the Transition Lead while taking ownership of assigned activities and workstreams. You will help maintain transition plans, schedules, artefacts and reporting, coordinate stakeholder, and engineering inputs, and support the readiness activities required to achieve transition outcomes.

You will:

• Take ownership of assigned workstreams and progress activities through to completion.
• Follow up actions and maintain momentum against agreed transition milestones.
• Gather and consolidate information from multiple sources to support planning and decision‑making.
• Identify, monitor and escalat[e]risks, issues and dependencies.
• Facilitate and participate in meetings, workshops and working groups.
• Prepare clear and concise reports, briefs, presentations and management papers.
• Support senior stakeholders with analysis, reporting and information management.
• Contribute to investigations and analysis where required to support transition and sustainment outcomes.
• Identify opportunities to improve transition processes, coordination and ways of working.

About You

You are a highly organised professional who can take ownership, coordinate multiple stakeholders and manage competing priorities. You build strong relationships, work confidently with autonomy and turn complex information into clear actions and practical outcomes.

Just as importantly, you are someone who can build productive working relationships across organisational boundaries and keep people and activities moving towards a common outcome.

You will ideally bring:

• Experience supporting transition, implementation, change, project coordination or capability delivery activities.
• Strong planning and organisational skills, including maintaining schedules, actions and reporting.
• Experience coordinating multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Experience working across multidisciplinary or matrix teams.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, communication and interpersonal skills.
• The ability to gather, analyse and synthesise information from multiple sources.
• Experience identifying and monitoring risks, issues and dependencies.
• Strong written communication and experience preparing quality reports, briefs and management products.
• The ability to take ownership of assigned activities and drive them through to completion.
• The ability to manage competing priorities and deliver quality outcomes within agreed timeframes.
• A collaborative approach, initiative and sound judgement.

Qualifications & Experience

You will have one of the following:

• A Diploma or Advanced Diploma in a relevant discipline; or
• A Bachelor's degree in Business, Project Management, Management, Information Management, Logistics, Engineering or Information Technology; or
• Demonstrated equivalent experience within Defence, Government, industry or another complex operational environment.

Relevant experience could include capability transition, implementation, project coordination, PMO, sustainment, capability support, operational support, logistics, engineering, information management or process improvement.

Military experience within planning, operations, logistics, communications, intelligence or support functions may also provide relevant transferable experience.

Why This Role?

This is an opportunity to work at the centre of capability transition, connecting the people, information and activities needed to move complex Defence capability towards successful transition and sustainment.

You’ll have the opportunity to take genuine ownership of your work, operate with autonomy and work closely with engineering, sustainment and other specialist teams while helping strengthen transition delivery capability across the SPO.

What it means to belong at Downer Professional Services

• Meaningful work: Help to deliver critical Defence projects that protect Australia and shape its future.
• Professional development: Access career mapping, accelerated learning programs, and shared learning through our Communities of Practice.
• Great perks: Enjoy discounts on healthcare, retail, vehicles, and more through Perks@Downer.
• Veteran support: Benefit from initiatives like up to 20 days of Reservist Leave to stay connected post-service.

You want your work to matter and so do we. With over 26,000 people across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, our team is made up of individuals with unique perspectives, backgrounds, and ideas.

We know that diversity makes us stronger and we actively celebrate it through our commitment to inclusion and belonging.

We're committed to building a team that reflects the diverse communities we serve and we welcome people of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, cultures, abilities, and lived experiences. We especially encourage applications from those whose voices have traditionally been underrepresented in our industry, including women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Māori and Pasifika Peoples, veterans, people with disability, and neurodivergent individuals. Even if your experience doesn't align perfectly with this role, we'd still like to hear from you. If it feels like the right fit, apply - potential counts, and so do you.

As a WORK180 Endorsed Employer, we support flexibility that works for your life, inclusive leadership that values your voice, and equitable access to opportunity so you can do your best work and bring your whole self to it.

If you need support or adjustments through the recruitment process, just let us know, we're here to help you put your best foot forward.