The Role

The Contract Officers will provide contract management and commercial support for the delivery of maintenance of the Royal Australian Navy vessels based at Garden Island Potts Point, Sydney. The base is approximately 2km north-east of central Sydney and is home to over half of the major fleet units of the Royal Australian Navy and Australia’s only large ship Graving Dock. The Contract Officer role is key to the Regional Maintenance Centre East (RMC-E) team and reports to Commercial Manager (EL 1).

The role sits within the Contract and Commercial Management function, providing assurance, audit and compliance of contractors and reporting on performance, opportunity, and risk to Australian national interests.

You will:

• Provide contract management and commercial advice to manage complex, high value, multi-year.
• Assist and support the negotiations of significant commercial outcomes, which achieve value for money for the Commonwealth.
• Develop and foster productive working relationships with project leads and customers in support of developing commercial and contract management strategies.

Working for Defence will support you in balancing work life with family and other priorities. You can access a variety of flexible working arrangements, and working hours that are not always nine to five. You will be offered professional development opportunities and encouraged to purse career advancement opportunities within Defence. Defence initiates and sponsors security clearances for successful candidates who currently do not possess security clearance.

This role is eligible for an additional remuneration benefit known in Defence as a Building Defence Capability Payment (BDCP). This enables Defence to provide a premium, in addition to the base salary otherwise payable under the Defence Enterprise Agreement (DEA), for positions in occupational disciplines/classifications that are critical to Defence capability. For further information, please contact the contact officer.

About our Team

RMC-E is playing a leading role in implementing an ambitious reform program for surface fleet sustainment. Realising this will ensure Defence can support significant increase to the complex fleet of vessels generated through Continuous Naval Shipbuilding. Development of sovereign sustainment capability is key, so Defence has the workforce, systems, tools, supply chains and infrastructure to support the future fleet.

The team will oversee the Regional Maintenance Provider (East) team, whilst working together to coordinate and schedule maintenance for Navy vessels and to build resilient local and regional supply chains.

Our Ideal Candidate

We are looking for someone with initiative, strong organisational, business management, commercial or legal skills, and the ability to manage and provide sound commercial advice relating to complex contracts.

We welcome candidates from diverse backgrounds who ideally meet the following attributes and experience:

• Demonstrated public service, business management, commercial and / or legal experience or similar.
• Ability to develop and interpret commercial documentation under limited direction.
• Ability to influence, negotiate and collaborate with stakeholders at all levels including through provision of written advice on complex matters.
• Ability to respond flexibly to changing situations, including using sound judgement under pressure, to ensure the success of key deliverables.
• Proficiency and experience in developing and managing Target Cost Incentive Contacts including ability to analyse complex cost-modelling worksheets, supported by advanced excel skills (optional).
• Have the ability to climb the navy ships through gangways and stair cases, be on your feet for a reasonable time.
• Able to effectively converse with stakeholders through verbal and written communication in person and online.
• Ability to obtain Baseline/NV1 security clearance.

Application Closing Date: Thursday 8 May 2025

For further information please review the job information pack, reference NSSG/03458/25 on https://defencecareers.nga.net.au/?jati=BE8F5442-B5A9-9792-74BE-E3C08A21014F