Assistant Director Test Manager

About us 

DHA was established in 1988 following passage of the Defence Housing Australia Act 1987 (DHA Act) to provide adequate and suitable housing for, and housing related services to, members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and their families. We remain committed to our purpose of providing housing, and housing related services, to ADF members and their families to support Defence’s operational needs.   

DHA manages an expanding portfolio of housing solutions and provides housing for over 17,200 ADF members and their families and administers rent allowance for more than 16,000 ADF members and their families in private rental accommodation. DHA provides housing related services advising on eligibility, providing posting support, and managing bookings and allocation services for all DHA provisioned housing and on-base accommodation to approximately 60,000 ADF members.  

To find out more about DHA, please refer to our website or read our latest Annual Report. 

About your team 

This position reports to the Director, Application Development and Integration within the Business Solutions and Technology (BS&T) group. The group is responsible for all software related analysis, solutions, software development, architecture, data provisioning, telephony, IT Operations and support, infrastructure, cyber security, and Enterprise Change Management. 

The BS&T group is currently delivering a Modernisation and Improvement program which involves the commissioning of new systems and capability to support a contemporary DHA service offering. The Application Development and Integration Team’s role is to contribute to this work as part of Multi-Disciplinary Teams (MDT’s) to analyse, develop, test and integrate both new and existing software. In addition, the team supports the software remediate program ensuring existing technologies are current, bug free and align with security requirements. 

About the role 

As part of this role, your responsibilities will include analysis and testing of new and existing IT systems to support the business using appropriate standards, methodologies, and toolsets. You will provide expert advice and assistance to system users, investigate complex issues and determine business impact, and recommend solutions.  

As the Assistant Director, Testing, you will need to:  

• Lead the strategic analysis and testing of IT systems, applying advanced methodologies and toolsets to ensure alignment with business goals.  
• Develop automated testing solutions and scripts for a wide variety of scenarios, such as regression testing and functional testing.  
• Offer high-level expert advice and support to system users, delving into complex issues to assess business impact and engineer robust solutions.  
• Design, document and oversee the execution of comprehensive test scenarios, drawn from user stories, use cases, and technical specifications. Ensure these scenarios are effectively integrated within DHA’s existing methodologies, providing measurable and impactful results.  
• Drive the adoption of innovative testing methodologies and principles to enhance software quality and performance.  
• Exhibit exceptional problem-solving capabilities, with a focus on dissecting complex database structures and relationships to identify and resolve issues.  
• Manage and prioritise tasks with minimal supervision, ensuring timely delivery of projects that meet or exceed organisational objectives.  
• Facilitate broad discussions, leveraging analytical thinking and problem-solving skills to identify key issues and develop strategic solutions.  
• Master new technologies swiftly, maintaining a deep understanding of both the technical and functional dimensions of software solutions.  

Benefits for working at DHA include: 

• 15.4% superannuation 
• Generous leave entitlements, including 18 days personal leave and 20 days annual leave per year 
• Work-life balance and flexible working options 
• A positive workplace culture where you can bring your whole self to work 
• Opportunities to broaden your industry knowledge and experience 
• Career progression and opportunities 
• A dedicated Employee Assistance Program for you and your family to access in times of need 
• ADF partner employment conditions when posting to a new location 

For information on DHA’s Employee Value Proposition, visit our website.

How to apply 

Apply now with your current resume and a 500-word one page pitch, addressing the requirements of the role. We recommend you read the Australian Public Service Commission’s Cracking the Code guidance on how to write your response. Additionally, you should consider the expected behaviours described in the Australian Public Service Commission’s Integrated Leadership System at this role’s level.  

For further information on the position, please refer to the Candidate Information Pack through the online careers site. 

Applications close: 11:55pm AEST 18 August 2026.  

Any questions? Please contact Nicole Caranguian, Director Applications and Integration  

T: 02 6268 3*** E: ***************@dha.gov.au     

Order of Merit 

A merit pool will be established from this process which will be valid for 18 months from the date of advertising. This merit pool may be used throughout this period to fill similar positions in the event positions become vacant. 

Inclusion and Diversity  

DHA is committed to building an inclusive and diverse workforce. We welcome applications from across our community including, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, women, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those who identify as LGBTIQ+, ex-defence members, mature aged employees and carers. 

RecruitAbility 

RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy. Under the RecruitAbility scheme you will be invited to participate in further assessment activity for the vacancy if you choose to apply under the scheme; declare you have a disability; and meet the minimum requirements for the job. For more information visit: https://www.apsc.gov.au/recruitability 

Eligibility

Employment with DHA is conditional on successful applicants demonstrating that they are an Australian citizen and can obtain and maintain a security clearance at the required level.