Are you a Canberra-based governance and policy adviser with strong experience supporting Commonwealth agencies, Defence or adjacent national entities?

Do you combine policy, governance, project management and risk management capability with the confidence to build relationships and support business development?

Then keep reading…

Who is Vescient?

Vescient is a dynamic professional services consultancy headquartered in Perth with offices across Australia and the United Kingdom. Clients seek us out to solve their unique problems and create tangible and sustainable solutions utilising the diverse skills of our exceptional people. Our core strength is born from our varied skills, personalities, experiences and cultures.

Since inception in 2016, Vescient has delivered more than 330 engagements for clients including government agencies, multi-national companies and Australian businesses spanning industries like mining, resources, health, government and defence.

The Position

We are seeking a highly capable Senior Consultant with strong networks across government and Canberra industry with demonstrated and proven Business Development skills. The role has primary initial focus on business development, with a specific purpose of activating and energising our Federal Panels, of which we have a number across the departments. Whilst you will be part of the Strategic Advisory business unit, you will be supporting business wide work winning and recruitment activities for Federal clients. The role offers progression opportunities to higher consulting grades, which will be predicated on the success of your business development outcomes, professional capability, demonstrated leadership and management skills, and increases in work volume outcomes.

You will typically have been employed in roles at an EL1 or EL2 level, as well as having private sector consulting experience.

You will contribute to Vescient’s growth in Canberra by building trusted relationships, identifying opportunities, supporting pursuits and helping convert relevant Vescient work into sustainable client engagements.

The role also has a client facing billable expectation. We are seeking a person who can provide governance and policy advisory services for Vescient in Canberra, with a focus on federal government, Defence and related industries. The role will also play a leading role in project delivery and risk management advisory work across complex public sector and private sector environments. You will be supporting clients in other states for other project teams from time to time.

The successful candidate will bring strong experience developing, reviewing and implementing governance frameworks, policies, controls, assurance approaches and risk management practices in Commonwealth or defence-related settings.

The role will work closely with, and report to, Vescient’s Head of Advisory based in Perth, ensuring strong national alignment across advisory services, client delivery and business development priorities.

The role will entail:

· Supporting business development across all of Vescient’s Business Units and service lines.

· Leading direct business development in Canberra by building senior relationships, identifying and qualifying opportunities including with existing Government Tender Panels, contributing to proposals.

· Managing advisory projects from scoping through to delivery, including planning, stakeholder engagement, coordination of inputs, quality control and delivery of polished client outputs.

· Providing governance and policy advice to Commonwealth, Defence and adjacent national entities, including the development, review and improvement of frameworks, policies, procedures and controls.

· Applying practical risk management, assurance and compliance expertise to support effective decision-making, accountability and performance in complex public sector environments.

· Balancing client delivery, project management and business development priorities while maintaining responsiveness, quality and commercial focus in a consulting environment.

Are you the right fit for our team?

We are seeking a candidate who aligns with our company values of integrity, courage, teamwork, respect, initiative, leadership and loyalty. In addition to being a great values-fit, the ideal candidate will be:

· A credible Canberra-based governance and policy adviser with experience working within a number of different departments or agencies across their career with a strong network of peers across government and in the community.

· Have previous consulting experience within a consultancy firm.

· Experienced in governance, policy, risk management and project delivery, with the ability to provide clear, practical advice in complex operating environments.

· A strong project manager who can plan work, coordinate stakeholders, manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality outcomes for clients.

· Commercially aware and comfortable contributing to business development, including relationship building, opportunity identification, proposal support and account growth.

· An Australian citizen and able to hold or obtain a defence security clearance.

· Part of the Canberran local sporting club environment with strong ties to community.

Essential skills and experience

· Demonstrated business development capability, including relationship building, opportunity identification, proposal support and contribution to account growth.

· Demonstrated ability to win and deliver work.

· Demonstrated experience in governance and policy advisory work, including the development, review or implementation of governance frameworks, policies, procedures, controls and assurance arrangements.

· More than 5 years’ experience in governance, policy, risk management, project management, compliance or a related consulting or advisory environment.

· Strong project management experience, including planning, scheduling, managing deliverables, coordinating stakeholders and maintaining quality across multiple concurrent engagements.

· Practical risk management experience, including identifying, assessing, treating and monitoring risks in line with recognised risk management principles and client requirements.

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including strong report drafting, synthesis and presentation capability.

· Strong teamwork and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across locations, contribute to a supportive team culture and communicate clearly with colleagues, clients and stakeholders.

· Ability to work proactively and largely independently, exercising sound judgement, taking initiative and progressing work with minimal supervision.

· Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to work effectively with senior public sector and defence stakeholders.

· Proficiency in Microsoft 365 tools and the ability to produce polished, professional client deliverables.

Desirable

· Knowledge of Commonwealth governance, assurance and compliance settings, procurement approaches, panel environments or defence-related operating contexts.

· Knowledge of ISO 9001, ISO 31000 or similar governance, quality assurance and risk management standards and frameworks.

· Tertiary qualification in governance, public policy, law, business, commerce, risk management, project management, public administration, political science, security or defence studies, business continuity or another relevant discipline.

What we offer:

· The opportunity to play a key governance and policy advisory role in Canberra while contributing to Vescient’s growth across federal government, Defence and related national security markets.

· A highly inclusive, collaborative team environment with the opportunity to shape advisory offerings, build senior client relationships and influence long-term growth in a priority market.

A bright and modern central CBD office with great facilities including close proximity to coffee/lunch spots.