The Role The Data and Program Directorate within the Continuous Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment (CNSS) Branch is seeking an EL 1 Project Manager to support one of Defence’s most significant programs.

The role leads the CNSS Branch Program Management Office, manages a small team, and coordinates governance activities supporting the CNSS Council, Working Groups and Program Board. You will oversee reporting, planning, risk management, stakeholder engagement and branch coordination activities to ensure effective program delivery and decision-making.

Working across a complex stakeholder environment, you will provide trusted advice, coordinate competing priorities and deliver high-quality governance and administrative outcomes.

The position requires strong leadership, communication, problem-solving and organisational skills, with the ability to synthesise complex information into clear and actionable advice.

About our Team

Continuous Naval Shipbuilding & Sustainment (CNSS) supports the development of the sovereign maritime industrial base that manufactures, sustains and upgrades naval capability in Australia.

The CNSS Branch coordinates the development of the CNSS Key Enablers (industry, workforce, infrastructure, security and innovation) and administratively supports the Department Secretary for Naval

Shipbuilding Sustainment Group in their role as the Capability Manager for maritime industrial uplift.

The Data and Program Directorate provides analytical, modelling, and program support capabilities that enable evidence-based decision-making across the CNSS Branch. The team develops and maintains data-driven tools, workforce and industrial capability models,



and decision support products that assess the impact of changes across complex Defence programs and the broader maritime enterprise.

The team works across Government, Defence, industry, and academia to gather, analyse, and integrate data on workforce, infrastructure, and program delivery. This analysis informs strategic planning, investment decisions, capability development, and policy advice to senior leaders.

Our Ideal Candidate

You are a proactive, organised and adaptable professional who thrives in a dynamic workplace. You can coordinate complex information from multiple sources, build productive stakeholder relationships, and deliver high-quality outcomes to support decision-making and program governance.

Critical to success in this role, our ideal candidate will demonstrate the ability to:

- Work effectively in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities and tight deadlines.
- Prepare high-quality briefs, reports, returns, correspondence, submissions and presentations for a range of stakeholders within and beyond Defence.
- Support program delivery through effective governance, reporting, planning and continuous improvement activities.
- Exercise initiative, sound judgement and problem-solving skills to identify issues and implement practical solutions.
- Plan, organise and manage workflows, ensuring tasks are prioritised and delivered to agreed timeframes.
- Contribute positively to Branch priorities while maintaining a strong focus on quality, customer service and continuous improvement.

Security Clearance:

Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance at “Negative Vetting Level 1”.

📌 Assistant Director CNSS Program (Australia)
🏢 Department Of Defence
📍 Australia