Deputy Director Industry Workforce, Innovation and AIC

The Role

Life within the MSCCS Division is fast-paced and outcomes-focused, delivering ship acquisition programs, platform upgrades, and integrated warfare systems to support future naval capability. The Deputy Director Industry Workforce, Australian Industry Capability (AIC), Continuous Naval Shipbuilding (CNS), and Innovation leads a team responsible for assuring that Prime Contractors meet their contractual obligations under the Hunter Class Frigate Program Head Contract. This includes oversight of Workforce Management, AIC, CNS, R&D and Innovation, and continuous improvement activities. The role is responsible for staff management, including workload prioritisation, performance development, and fostering a high-performing, collaborative team environment.

Working closely with internal and external stakeholders, including senior management, the position ensures high-quality briefings and supports informed, timely decision-making. Additionally, the role leads the implementation of internal training initiatives to ensure the workforce is appropriately skilled to meet evolving Program requirements.

About our Team

The Hunter Class Frigate (HCF) is one of the world’s most advanced warships, and the project is Australia’s largest shipbuilding project. The HCF program provides the foundation for Continuous Naval Shipbuilding and is bringing together global expertise from the UK, USA, Canada, Europe, and Australia to solve complex design and construction challenges.

The HCF program has introduced new approaches to Defence project and engineering management. Whilst built on traditional systems engineering and contract management approaches, Defence and the shipbuilding industry are evolving to meet the demands associated with growing and sustaining a skilled, sovereign workforce.

As a member of Team Hunter, you will be contributing to a high-impact, national capability, while fostering innovation and collaboration, and demonstrating decisive leadership. As an Australian Public Servant in Defence, you will benefit from flexible working arrangements, generous conditions, and a competitive remuneration package, including 15.4% superannuation, as outlined in the Defence Enterprise Agreement.

Our Ideal Candidate

HCF branch is looking for enthusiastic, motivated candidates with excellent personal attributes and is an organized and detail-oriented, who thrives in structured delivery and governance-focused roles. We pride ourselves in a positive, collaborative and supportive workplace culture. For us it is all about teamwork and we want people who want to be a part of the culture we have created.

Our ideal candidate will enjoy working in a dynamic workplace on a wide variety of projects and programs. The candidates will be energetic and able to create and maintain positive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders. HCF is seeking candidates who have demonstrated utmost integrity, professionalism, self-motivation, positive attitude towards challenges, and persistence in achieving project outcomes.

The candidates must have a demonstrated ability to be able to work under pressure with great resilience, and demonstrated ability to remain focused on tasks and possess strong attention to detail. We are seeking candidates with significant relevant Project Management experience. They will be accountable for ensuring they have knowledge of, and comply with, relevant legislative frameworks, organisational decision-making processes, and applicable mission, policy, and operational requirements.

Our ideal candidate will have demonstrated abilities in the following areas:

• Shaping Strategic Thinking. Focuses strategically, harnesses information and opportunities, inspires a sense of purpose and direction and shows judgement, intelligence and common sense.  
• Achieving Results. Builds organisational capability and responsiveness, ensures closure and delivers on intended results, marshals professional expertise, steers and implements change, and deals with uncertainty.
• Cultivating productive working relationships. Facilitates cooperation and partnerships, guides, mentors and develops people, nurtures internal and external relationships and values individual differences and diversity.
• Exemplifying personal drive and integrity. Commits to action, demonstrates self-awareness and a commitment to personal development, displays resilience, engages with and manages risks, and shows personal courage.
• Communicating with Influence. Communicates clearly, listens, understands and adapts to audience and negotiates persuasively.
• Leading and managing people. Manages teams’ performance and delegate’s responsibility, provides direction to others on the purpose and importance of their work, and sets clear performance and behavioural expectations.
• Most importantly, we are seeking team-orientated people with a positive attitude who can navigate the high tempo stresses of this very busy and rewarding role.

Application Closing Date: Wednesday 26 August 2026

For further information please review the job information pack, reference NSSG/04551/26 on https://defencecareers.nga.net.au/?jati=A31C1DDD-6EFB-EAE5-EB3B-ED33A79F037B