Program Manager, Defence Satellite Sustainment (Canberra, AU)

Program Manager, Defence Satellite Sustainment
ROLE DESCRIPTION SUMMARY
The Program Manager is responsible for the strategic leadership, operational oversight, and successful delivery of a multi-year satellite sustainment contract within the Australian Defence environment. This role ensures that all aspects of the satellite systems' operation, maintenance, engineering, training and lifecycle support meet Defence capability requirements, compliance standards, contractual requirements and stakeholder expectations.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES / KEY RESULT AREAS

• Program Leadership
  • Guide multi-year planning and capability evolution to maintain operational readiness and resilience
  • Establish governance structures and ensure program integrity across deliverables and contractual obligations
  • Act as the principal liaison between defence agencies, internal stakeholders and subcontractors, facilitate program reviews and mission alignment
• Contract & Compliance Management
  • Ensure adherence to Commonwealth procurement policies, ASDEFCON contract templates, and Defence regulatory standards
  • Lead contract change negotiations, milestone validations, and audit readiness activities
  • Monitor and report on contract KPIs, risk mitigation plans, and sustainment service-level agreements (SLAs)
• Technical Oversight
  • Manage sustainment activities including operation, maintenance, supply, training, and lifecycle engineering
  • Supervise engineering change proposals, configuration control boards, and system verification/validation processes
• Risk, Schedule & Financial Management
  • Develop, maintain, and track integrated master schedules (IMS) and risk registers using Defence scheduling systems
  • Oversee program budgets, resource allocations, and contingency planning across multi-stream operations
• Subcontractor Management
  • Define and monitor subcontractor scopes of work, deliverables, and acceptance criteria in alignment with ASDEFCON contractual frameworks
  • Coordinate onboarding, security clearance validation, and contract compliance for all subcontracted entities

COMPETENCIES

• Strategic thinker with excellent problem-solving skills
• Resilience and adaptability in a dynamic Defence environment
• High-level communication and leadership presence
• Ethical, accountable, and committed to mission success

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Project Management, or a related technical discipline
• 7+ years of experience managing defence programs, preferably in satellite or aerospace sustainment
• Proven leadership in complex, high-value Commonwealth contracts
• Strong understanding of the Defence Capability Lifecycle, ASDEFCON, and relevant standards (e.g., ISO, MIL-STD)
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, negotiation, and reporting skills
• NV1 clearance or above
• Extensive network of contacts within ADF especially CASG
• Hold Australian drivers license

OTHER KEY REQUIREMENTS

• Preferably Canberra based
• Ability to travel nationally and Internationally as required

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