The Role

The Deputy Program Leader (DPL) Strategic & Asymmetric Effects works with broad direction & is accountable to the Program Leader for the delivery of a large, highly complex, stakeholder focused, project that spans several Defence Groups and Services. The role provides leadership to the project delivery team in addition to scientists, engineers and other subject matter experts allocated to the project in accordance with DSTG’s networked operating model.

Specifically, the DPL works across a wide stakeholder group, both inside and outside Defence, and harnesses DSTG resources to:

• Support planning, decision-making and execution of sensitive asymmetric effects.
• Explore innovative force options and concepts that enable asymmetric advantage.
• Assess Defence investments for their asymmetric potential.

Reporting to the Program Lead Strategic & Asymmetric Effects, the DPL assists in the design of the ‘Asymmetry Project’ and oversees the delivery of agreed work packages and tasks. They lead diverse and multidisciplinary teams working on some of Australia’s most pressing challenges.

Position Duties:

• Scope and design the project by understanding the challenges and priorities of Defence partners and sponsors, including identifying the demand for different DSTG capabilities.
• Take a collaborative approach to co-design of the project by identifying and mobilising appropriate subject matter expertise to help define solutions, whilst ensuring that sponsor needs are understood and met.

In addition, you will lead the:

• Execution and delivery phases of the project, including leading, monitoring, reporting and communicating progress and overseeing delivery of agreed work packages and deliverables.
• Liaison and continuous engagement with DSTG Group Leaders and Research Leaders contributing staff to the project.
• Liaison and continuous engagement with project sponsors and their delegates.
• Supervision of assigned project Directors.

About our Team

DSTG is the Australian government's lead agency responsible for applying science and technology to safeguard Australia and its national interests. As one of Australia’s largest employers of scientists and engineers, we deliver expert, impartial advice and innovative solutions for Defence and national security. Our vision is to be a world leader in Defence science and technology – indispensable in transforming the Australian Defence Force and Australia’s national security. Within DSTG’s innovation, science and technology (IS&T) portfolio, the Land and Integrated Force (LIF) Division delivers those programs relevant to the Land and Integrated Force domains, principally in support of the Chief of Army, Vice Chief of Defence Force and Chief of Joint Operations.

The Asymmetry project is one of DSTG highest priorities and was established in direct response to both the Government’s Defence Strategic Review (DSR) and subsequent National Defence Strategy (NDS). Working alongside other projects within the Integrated Force domain, the asymmetry project identifies, explores and develops innovative strategies, concepts and capabilities that pit Australia’s strengths against a potential adversary’s weaknesses, sometimes in non-traditional or unconventional ways, and across the spectrum of conflict. The team is highly distributed, with staff in each of DSTG’s main laboratories at Edinburgh, SA, Fishermans Bend, VIC, and Fairbarn, ACT.

Our Ideal Candidate

Our ideal candidate is enthusiastic, optimistic and outgoing. You will have superb communication skills and be comfortable engaging and influencing a large range of partners and stakeholders at all levels. You will also have strong leadership skills and these will underpin your capacity to build and lead a distributed team under broad direction.

You will be a team player and have a record of leading fast paced and high performing teams within sensitive contexts characterised by complexity, uncertainty and change. You will be adaptable and resourceful and work across boundaries to support your colleagues to achieve collective success.

Key skills/requirements of the role:

Highly Desirable

• Program Leadership: Experience leading a complex S&T project or program with multiple work packages.
• Science Excellence: A PhD (or equivalent work experience) in a relevant field such as international relations, operations research (broadly defined) or engineering.
• Relevant Experience: with one or more of the following:
• Force design processes and associated gaps and risks to guide ‘top down’ work on asymmetric force options.
• Emerging and disruptive technologies for ‘bottom-up’ asymmetric opportunities.
• Defence experimentation activities for exploring new and potentially asymmetric concepts and capabilities.
• Assessment frameworks and metrics for supporting investment decision-making.
• Security Clearance: TSPV (or willingness to undertake a TSPV process)

Application Closing Date: Thursday 10 July 2025

For further information please review the job information pack, reference DSTG/04392/25 on https://defencecareers.nga.net.au/?jati=17C86DE2-78D4-21EE-DEA2-E3EF9551E073