Policy and Program Directors

The Role

Strategy, Policy and International Group (SP&I) is looking for Policy and Program Directors to fill actual and anticipated vacancies across the Group. Although EL2 roles in SP&I are highly varied, they all involve leading and developing high-performing teams to deliver national security and economic resilience objectives.

You will provide strategic leadership across a range of policy issues, programs and business functions, while guiding teams to deliver high-quality outcomes aligned with government priorities and Defence objectives. This may include developing strategic policy advice, leading engagement initiatives, managing programs and projects, overseeing governance processes, supporting senior decision-makers, and responding to emerging strategic challenges.

Your team’s work could range from preparing the Defence portfolio Minister’s to conduct talks with international counterparts on Defence strategic policies or military engagement, working with the Australian Defence Force to provide policy guidance for operations, scanning the horizon to assess emerging strategic issues, guiding industry to better meet Defence requirements, or assessing applications from industry or researchers to share military technology with overseas customers and collaborators.

No two days would be the same – guiding your team’s work, mentoring your team members, conducting meetings to support and influence stakeholders, briefing Defence’s Senior Leadership, consulting with other government agencies, industry stakeholders and the public, or contributing to corporate transformational change.

About our Team

We are a fully integrated civilian-military workforce, bringing together highly capable people from diverse backgrounds, experiences and disciplines who embody Defence and Australian Public Service values. We offer flexible working arrangements and a range of formal and informal professional development opportunities.

While we offer a high degree of flexibility in the way we work, positions are located in Canberra. Working within SP&I is more than just a job; it offers opportunities over the course of a career to work across diverse national security and policy matters of national significance. We actively support mobility within the Group when the time is right but we also value our people developing their expertise in specific areas.

Our Ideal Candidate

We are seeking motivated, enthusiastic and collaborative Policy or Program Directors to join our Group, and contribute to our strategic goals.

To succeed in SP&I, successful applicants will demonstrate:

• Strong strategic thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience leading teams and developing high-performing people.
• Excellent judgement and decision-making capability.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to influence outcomes and build productive stakeholder relationships.
• Experience leading complex projects, programs or policy initiatives.
• Resilience, adaptability and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• A commitment to integrity, professionalism and continuous improvement.
• Highly regarded experience includes policy development, strategy, governance, law, international engagement, national security, capability, or related fields.

Security Clearance:

Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance at “Negative Vetting Level 2”.

The Department of Defence employs around 18,000 Australian Public Service (APS) employees. Defence APS employees work in a wide variety of critical roles, Australia wide, enabling our three services Navy, Army and Air Force, to do their job. Defence has a range of Australian Public Service (APS) career opportunities that offer interesting, challenging, and unique work. Our workforce includes administrative support, accountants, intelligence analysts, engineers, policy advisors, graphic designers, lawyers, social workers, IT specialists and contract managers to name a few. We offer a rewarding career that includes professional development, work-life balance, recognition, a flexible and supportive work environment and a diverse workforce. To find out more about a career with Defence please visit https://www.defence.gov.au/jobs-careers