Job Description

Business Development Associate - De Stefano & Co; Defence & Security Experts

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What if you could build a successful career in business development without spending your days endlessly cold calling and hunting for leads?

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De Stefano & Co has experienced significant growth, creating an exciting opportunity for a commercially minded relationship builder to join its established Business Development team.

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With strong lead generation across the business, an impressive global client base and considerable opportunity to grow existing accounts, you'll walk into a role with genuine opportunity already in front of you.

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This could be an exceptional next step for someone who loves building relationships, enjoys the commercial side of business and wants to develop their business development career within one of Australia's most exciting growth sectors.

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The Company

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De Stefano & Co is Australia's leading Defence security advisory firm, supporting Government, Defence Primes, multinational organisations and SMEs to develop security maturity, organisational resilience and trust.

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The business has averaged 40 to 50% year on year growth over the past three years and now operates from offices in Port Adelaide and Melbourne. Its reputation extends nationally, supported by strong investment in thought leadership, marketing and communications and an established network across Government and Defence industry.

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Its recent accolades include Cyber Security Consulting Business of the Year at the Australian Cyber Security Awards in both 2024 and 2026, Cyber Business of the Year at the Australian Defence Industry Awards 2025, the SA Premier's Beyond Borders Award 2025, and recognition in the InDaily BDO Fast Movers Awards in 2022, 2023 and 2026.

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Importantly, you don't need Defence industry experience to be considered.

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This is a rare opportunity to enter a sector where prior industry experience is often expected, while learning from a team with exceptional exposure across the breadth of Australia's Defence ecosystem.

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The Role

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Working closely with the Business Development Manager, you'll help make the most of the considerable opportunity already being generated across the business.

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There will be leads to qualify and follow up, prospective clients to engage with and existing relationships to nurture. You'll get to know clients, understand what they're trying to achieve and identify where De Stefano & Co's broader services can add value.

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You'll manage opportunities through the sales process, coordinate proposals and follow up, keep the CRM and pipeline up to date, and bring in the company's technical specialists when their expertise is needed to help progress an opportunity.

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You'll also have the opportunity to represent De Stefano & Co at industry events, conferences and trade shows, developing your own network and profile within Defence. Some interstate travel will form part of the opportunity.

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This isn't about being thrown a phone and a target and expected to figure it out.

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De Stefano & Co has invested heavily in its brand, thought leadership, marketing, systems and service offering. Its productised services have been clearly developed and packaged, giving you a robust proposition to take to market, supported by people with deep technical expertise.

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Why this role is different

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The opportunity here extends well beyond the next job.

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You'll gain exposure across Australia's Defence sector that would be difficult to replicate elsewhere, while developing genuine B2B sales, relationship management and commercial skills.

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De Stefano & Co has a robust track record of investing in its people,



providing professional development and creating opportunities for people to progress as the business grows. With an established Melbourne CBD office, there may even be the prospect to relocate interstate in the future if that's something that interests you.

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And while this is a high performing environment, people aren't treated like numbers. Ideas are welcomed, people across the business contribute to its direction, leaders are accessible, and individual efforts have a visible impact on the company's success.

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About you

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You may already be working in business development or account management, or you may be in another B2B environment where you've discovered that building relationships, understanding clients and identifying opportunities is what you're particularly good at.

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You'll be someone who:

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- Builds rapport and trust naturally with different types of people
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- Has some experience within B2B sales, account management or client relationships
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- Is commercially curious and enjoys uncovering opportunities
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- Communicates confidently and professionally, both verbally and in writing
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- Is organised, follows through and takes pride in doing things properly
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- Has the drive to keep learning, developing and becoming better at what you do
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Most importantly, you'll care. About your clients, your work, the people around you and the contribution you make.

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That's important at De Stefano & Co. Their values centre around doing things properly, playing the long game, being good and authentic people, working hard and genuinely caring about client outcomes.

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Along with a competitive salary + Super + a generous Incentive Program, you'll receive a laptop and phone, professional development, opportunities for company funded interstate travel and the chance to build a long-term career within a growing national business.

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More than that, you'll be entering the Defence sector through a door that can otherwise be difficult to open, with opportunities to work on from day one, an experienced team around you and plenty of room to grow.

📌 Business Development Associate (South Australia)
🏢 Hunter Careers
📍 South Australia