The Role

Exciting opportunities exist for enthusiastic, motivated, high performing security professionals to join Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG). Working in DSTG, you will be part of a dedicated security team providing researchers and staff with security advice and capability support to enable them to deliver efficiently on Defence priorities in line with legislative and policy requirements. You will promote a positive enabling security culture within a highly technical research environment by providing professional support and advice, directly contributing to enhancing Defence research through risk managed, yet innovative approaches to security.

At DSTG, Security Officers operate at a whole of group level within a regional team to enable effective engagement with key stakeholders to understand their work programs and physical infrastructure. These roles work collaboratively and constructively with security and infrastructure colleagues across the broader security function. These roles may lead a team and be accountable for setting work priorities, building capability, ensuring quality work and maintaining a thriving, respectful and inclusive culture.

Note: This selection process aims to establish a merit pool in VIC as well as ACT, SA. The pool might be accessed to fill ongoing vacancies for similar roles in the Department over the next 18 months.

The duties of an APS 6 Security Officer include but are not limited to:

• Prepare and conduct security training and awareness sessions to Defence personnel to support the protective security needs of Defence.
• Identify, research and analyse complex protective security issues, and provide recommendations, advice and support to stakeholders to enable the achievement of appropriate security arrangements.
• Understand the security risk context within the Defence environment to provide advice on complex protective security matters and support when required.
• Build and sustain productive and collaborative relationships with whole-of-Government stakeholders to achieve protective security objectives.
• Evaluate and assess activities and processes to identify and initiate innovative solutions to enable continuous improvement.
• Collate, research and analyse protective security issues to produce high-quality reports, submissions, briefings and discussion papers.
• Tailor communication style and language according to the audience’s level of knowledge, skill and experience.
• Accountable to lead a team, allocate work, resources and tasks, set work area priorities, develop strategies and evaluate business outcomes.
• Accountable for accurate completion of work within timeframes, sharing own expertise with others and guide and mentor less experienced employees.
• Shows commitment to learning and self-development.

The Security Operations Directorate have four vacancies across three roles in various locations:

Senior Security Officers/COMSO (Communications Intelligence Security Officers) - 2 x vacancies Fairbairn (ACT)

As a Senior Security Officer, you will think strategically and critically, take on a leadership role within our team and contribute to the development and implementation of consistent security processes through direct divisional engagement.

You will proactively engage with a broad range of stakeholders to monitor and discuss group and divisional security performance and ensure appropriate security understanding and compliance is maintained. This will include preparation of detailed security plans and a willingness and ability to negotiate and influence.

The COMSO role supports a regional approach to the management of the Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities (SCIF). Responsibilities include management and maintenance, accreditation and certification, and the protection of sensitive compartment information. You will manage and facilitate compartment briefs, transfers and debriefs, acting as the point-of-contact between DSTG and Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), and conducting regular audits of sensitive information as per the requirements of the Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF).

Senior Security Officer – Hub Team Leader/Deputy COMSO - 1 x vacancy Edinburgh (SA)

The Senior Security Officer - Hub Team Leader and Deputy COMSO position, oversees the regional JIRA portal team, supports the security needs of our Program Divisions, and ensures the efficient and effective resolution of customer inquiries and technical issues. This role combines Security Officer, COMSO and JIRA Helpdesk management duties by providing team leadership and hands-on technical expertise. A passion for process improvement, and strategic planning will ensure success in this role.

The Deputy COMSO supports the work in the SCIF alongside or in the absence of the COMSO. Starting as a development role, this incumbent will be supporting the COMSO on a day-to-day basis with a view to taking on the role permanently when an opportunity presents.

Senior Divisional Security Officer - 1 x vacancy Edinburgh (SA)

This role works with divisional stakeholders to anticipate, develop and deliver solutions to complex and sensitive problems. You will be accountable for the accurate and timely delivery of complex personnel and protective security service to support divisional staff. A focus of your work will be supporting the uplift of security capability through DSTG, including in coordinating the certification and accreditation of facilities.

About our Team

Research Technology and Operations Division (RTO) delivers specialist capabilities to Defence Innovation Science and Technology (IS&T). RTO comprises a professional workforce of engineers, technicians, computational scientists and other staff who provide a wide range of highly specialised and unique research capability and innovative solutions delivering advanced research platforms for defence, national security and the wider IS&T ecosystem.

RTO capabilities accelerate and protect Defence's science and technology advances and promote a collaborative, compliant, safe and healthy workplace. Research Operations Branch is building a strong and professional workforce of highly qualified, trusted advisors who work with our research scientists in the provision of leading edge, safe and secure research infrastructure and business advice. Research Operations Branch is building a strong and professional workforce of highly qualified, trusted advisors who work with our research scientists in the provision of leading edge, safe and secure research infrastructure and business advice. We engage with broader Defence stakeholders to ensure DSTG’s, IS&T enabling capability requirements are well planned and appropriately prioritised with a strategic mindset. Research Operations also has stewardship of the delivery of DSTG’s Trials planning, coordination and support.

Our Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate for these roles;

• Is a natural and confident leader who invests deeply in the development and wellbeing of their team and themselves by modelling and driving positive team culture philosophies and embracing opportunities for continual growth.
• Is passionate about a role in protective security in government, is committed to adhering to and promoting Defence values and behaviours, including DSTGs cultural expectations and is committed to Defence’s purpose to defend and protect Australia and advance its strategic interests.
• Has a sound knowledge of Australian Government and Defence security principles, policy and controls, and understanding of Australia’s protective security environment and the important of protective security in mitigating Defence’s security risks.
• Is a strong communicator and confident influencer that works collaboratively with stakeholders to address complex and sensitive issues while maintaining productive working relationships.
• Can demonstrate well developed written and verbal communication skills with the ability to interpret policy and provide advice that resonates with different stakeholder groups.
• Has a demonstrated ability to interpret policy, develop and deliver solutions to complex problems and be able to prioritise work, manage time and deadlines and work proactively and autonomously with limited direction.
• Demonstrates an understanding of security risk management, the ability to engage with risk and confidently make security risk decisions based on all available information, including a good understanding of security risk assessment development and management.

If you don’t possess all of these skills, but you are an avid learner who is passionate about a career in Defence Security, we strongly encourage you to apply.

Application Closing Date: Sunday 10 August 2025

For further information please review the job information pack, reference DSTG/05968/25 on https://defencecareers.nga.net.au/?jati=50398859-EC1E-9414-9354-E4069EC5D88D