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 2026
• Be able to maintain the required security clearance throughout the engagement.

Limited flexible 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

How to apply Please submit:

• Your current CV
• A detailed one page pitch, outlining your experience leading complex government-funded or international programs
• Details of your current security clearance, including level and status
• Your availability to commence

Applications from candidates without the  Essential requirements will not be progressed.