Director Procurement and Contracting

The Role

The acquisition of conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines is an historic and transformative endeavour for Australia. The whole-of-nation effort to safely and securely deliver the cutting edge nuclear-powered submarine program will transform Australia’s economic and national security landscape for decades to come.

The Commercial Branch within the Virginia, Workforce and Commercial Division has several vacancies at the EL 2 level, and is seeking to fill a variety of specialist Procurement and Contracting roles.  The recruitment is also intended to be used by Submarines Division in the Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Group (NSSG) of the Department of Defence, to fill EL 2 level commercial vacancies. Submarines Division is accountable to ASA for the delivery of nuclear submarine sustainment.

Duties may include:

• Providing leadership and direction to ensure a high-level of integration and consistency across the ASA Procurement and Contracting function.
• Accountable for managing and leading a team, including providing clear and consistent communication, setting clear performance and behavioural standards, managing performance, delegating responsibility and guiding and developing people.
• Accountable for managing allocated resources, setting work area priorities, workflows, developing strategies and evaluating business outcomes.

Contract Management Director

• Manage, lead and be accountable for procurement planning, tendering and contract formation and contract management activities while ensuring compliance with legislation, procurement policies, processes and procedures.
• Manage, lead and provide expert advice, assistance and services for procurement policy, technical, commercial, legal, financial investigation and other requirements as applicable in order to support contract management outcomes.
• Develop strategic and commercially sensitive procurement related documentation including templates, schedules, correspondence, reports, submissions, plans and strategies, risk and performance reviews, contract change proposals and other contract management documentation.

Contracting Director

• Manage, lead and be accountable for providing advice and support to procurement planning, tendering and contract formation, and contract management activities while ensuring compliance with legislation, procurement policies, processes and procedures.
• Manage, lead and provide high level advice, assistance and services during the procurement lifecycle on contracting activities including coordination of legal and financial services.
• Generate and review strategic and very complex contracting correspondence including providing high level advice in relation to commercially sensitive reports, submissions, contract change proposals and other documents as required.

Procurement Policy Director

• Accountable for procurement policy development, management and review to ensure compliance with the Commonwealth Procurement Framework.
• Has expertise in leading the delivery of procurement policy related products and services.
• Translate and apply legislative and mandatory policy compliance obligations, commercial risk and performance requirements related to the Commonwealth Procurement Framework.

Positions in this recruitment activity may attract a Building Defence Capability Payment (BDCP) which enables Defence to provide a premium, in addition to the rate of salary otherwise payable under the Enterprise Agreement (EA) to some or all of the jobs within a critical occupation(s) or discipline within a workplace. Applicants engaged into a BDCP position must consider the following. BDCPs provide remuneration in addition to the Defence Enterprise Agreement (EA). 

BDCP arrangements are subject to meeting eligibility criteria and annual review. Should your performance fall beyond requirements or the eligibility criteria not be met, your eligibility for the BDCP may be reviewed and ceased. It may also be ceased should you change positions or the requirement for the BDCP is no longer necessary, as determined by Defence. Should the BDCP be ceased you will be advised and your BDCP additional payment will cease.

About our Teams

ASA and NSSG Commercial Branches provide support for strategic and selected complex commercial procurements by providing expert commercial strategy and practice advice to accountable product leads. 

The ASA Branch is currently supporting the selection process to identify and negotiate implementation of the commercial models through which Australia’s sovereign shipbuilder and sustainment partners will deliver the Nuclear-Powered Submarine program.

Our Ideal Candidate

We are a dynamic organisation seeking employees who are agile, innovative and energised by high-paced work. 

Our ideal candidates will bring the following attributes and skills to the role:

• An understanding of Defence procurement methods;
• Experience and/or exposure to reviewing and delivering Procurement and Contracting documents, including correspondence, contracts, commercially sensitive reports, submissions, contract change proposals and other documents as required;
• Strong analytical skills, attention to detail and sound judgement;
• Excellent written, interpersonal and verbal communication skills;
• The ability to think strategically in a sensitive and fast-paced environment;
• An outcome-focused mindset, with an ability to apply innovative and flexible approaches to achieving results;
• An ability to build and sustain effective relationships, and work collaboratively and independently as required with a wide array of internal and external stakeholders;
• Adaptability, resilience and flexibility in the face of changing and competing priorities; and
• Maturity and a strong commitment to Australia’s national interest.

Application Closing Date: Sunday 07 April, 2024

For further information please review the job information pack, reference ASA/02305/24 on https://defencecareers.nga.net.au/?jati=B615BE01-685C-A062-1773-DA91E57956F5.