Senior Program Director – Cyber Capacity Building | EL2
Senior Program Director – Cyber Capacity Building | EL2
Barton, Canberra ACT | 12-month contract + 12-month extension option
Current NV1 security clearance required
Rate $120 - $135 per hour, inc Super
The opportunity
A Federal Government Department, is seeking an experienced senior program leader to oversee the delivery and continued development of the Southeast Asia and Pacific Cyber and Critical Technology Program — SEA-PAC Cyber.
SEA-PAC Cyber is Australia's flagship cyber and critical technology capacity-building investment in the Indo-Pacific. It includes regional capacity-building initiatives, cyber incident preparedness and rapid assistance, technology modernisation programs, and cyber exercising across Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
As Senior Program Director, you will provide strategic leadership, authoritative advice and strong delivery oversight across a complex portfolio of high-profile international programs. You will have substantial autonomy and accountability for program priorities, funding decisions, governance, risk management and delivery outcomes.
This is primarily a strategic program leadership role rather than a hands‐on technical cyber security position. It will best suit an experienced EL2-level program executive with a background in international development, foreign policy, regional cooperation, government‐funded programs or complex public‐sector delivery.
Key responsibilities
You will:
Lead the strategic direction, design and evolution of SEA-PAC Cyber
Oversee multimillion‐dollar programs and activities delivered across Southeast Asia and the Pacific
Manage program budgets, contracts, grants, procurement processes, governance and complex delivery risks
Exercise senior judgement over priorities, funding allocations and delivery approaches




Lead and guide project officers, program managers, contractors, consultants and specialist advisers
Ensure activities are delivered in line with Australian Government legislation, policy, funding and accountability requirements
Build productive relationships with partner governments, Australian Government agencies, delivery partners, grant recipients, industry, academia and civil society
Provide authoritative program, financial and strategic advice to senior executives
Lead monitoring, evaluation, reporting, forecasting and continuous improvement
Support steering committees and other senior governance forums
Work closely with the Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology, senior DFAT executives and ministerial offices.
The position may involve up to two international trips each year for program delivery.
About you
You will be an established senior program leader who can combine strategic thinking with practical delivery.
You will bring:
Extensive strategic and operational program management experience, preferably within the Australian Government
Experience delivering complex, multimillion‐dollar and multi-country programs
Strong knowledge of government program, budget, procurement, contract, grant and governance processes
Experience managing programs funded through ODA, administered or departmental funding streams
Demonstrated leadership of multidisciplinary program and project teams
The ability to make sound decisions in complex,



high‐risk and rapidly changing environments
Confidence briefing senior executives, ministerial offices and other senior decision makers
Highly developed stakeholder engagement, negotiation and relationship‐management skills
Experience working with foreign governments, international partners, Australian Government agencies or development delivery partners
Strong program reporting, financial forecasting, risk management and issues‐management capability
The ability to operate autonomously, maintain momentum and deliver under limited supervision.
Experience working across Southeast Asia or the Pacific, international development programs, cyber capacity building, critical technology policy or regional security cooperation will be highly regarded.
Essential requirements
To be considered, you must:
Be an Australian citizen
Hold a current Negative Vetting Level 1 security clearance or higher
Be based in Canberra and available to work primarily from the head office in Barton
Be available to commence as soon as practicable after early September ****
Be able to maintain the required security clearance throughout the engagement.
Limited adaptable working arrangements may be available by prior agreement; however, this is not a remote position.
Contract details
Classification:
EL2 equivalent
Location:
Barton, Canberra
Engagement:
Full‐time, 37.5 hours per week
Initial term:
12 months
Extension:
Up to a further 12 months
Working arrangement:
Primarily office‐based
Security clearance:
Current NV1 or higher required
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📌 Senior Program Director – Cyber Capacity Building | El2 (Canberra)
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