Program Manager

About the Client
Our client is a high-profile Australian Government agency operating within the national security and Defence environment. The agency delivers critical intelligence, cyber security and operational capabilities that protect Australia and advance the nation’s strategic interests.
This is an opportunity to contribute to complex, high-impact programs in a highly regulated environment where strong leadership, sound judgement and effective stakeholder engagement are essential.
 
About the Role
The Program Manager will coordinate the delivery of multiple related projects and change activities, ensuring a consistent and integrated approach across the broader program.
You will provide leadership and direction across complex programs, manage allocated resources and priorities, and establish the strategies, governance and reporting required to support successful delivery.
 
Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading the integrated delivery of multiple projects, products and change activities.
• Establishing and maintaining program governance, assurance and reporting frameworks.
• Developing and monitoring program strategies, delivery plans, schedules, risks and dependencies.
• Managing resources, priorities, workflows and delivery strategies across the program.
• Evaluating program outcomes and identifying opportunities to optimise organisational assets and capabilities.
• Driving change management activities and providing clear direction across delivery teams.
• Building productive relationships with senior stakeholders, industry partners and government representatives.
• Preparing executive-level briefs, reports and program updates.

 
The Successful Candidate
You will be an accomplished Program Manager with demonstrated experience delivering large-scale, complex programs within ICT, data, intelligence, Defence or national security environments.
 
You will bring:

• Proven experience leading multiple concurrent projects in dynamic and complex environments.
• Strong program governance, assurance and executive reporting capabilities.
• Well-developed risk, dependency, resource and delivery management skills.
• The ability to engage, negotiate and influence senior executives and key stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing executive briefs and reports.
• A strong understanding of change management and complex program delivery.

 
Experience delivering capability programs within Defence, the National Intelligence Community or another highly regulated government environment will be highly regarded. Knowledge of cloud transformation, data platforms, AI-enabled systems, mission systems or Defence capability governance processes would also be advantageous.
 
Candidates must also be willing to undergo an Organisational Suitability Assessment (OSA) prior to engagement.
 
Why partner with Whizdom?
We’re Whizdom. We view you as an extension of our strong, dependable brand and have differentiators which really are different! The Whizdom way:

• We pay our contractors same day you submit your timesheet!
• We are Level 3, DISP certified and have signed the Veteran Employment Commitment and been awarded the highest level of compliance to this important initiative, proactively assisting veterans transitioning from the forces to civilian roles. We’ve been lucky enough to win industry awards for our high level of process compliance and are ISO 9001 certified. Our commitment to reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions has been accredited in line with large global organisations.
• We value diversity and welcome applications from Indigenous Australians, people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and people living with a disability.

 
Location: The role is based in Canberra ACT.
Contract terms: 12 months from commencement date, plus 2x 12 month extensions
Experience Level: Senior – EL2 Equivalent
Security Requirements: Candidates must hold an active or reactivatable Top Secret Positive Vetting (TSPV) Security Clearance on submission. Our client is not prepared to upgrade an existing clearance for this position. An OSA (Organisational Suitability Assessment) will be required for this position.
How to Apply: Please upload your resume to apply. Please note you will need to complete selection criteria to complete this application process. We will be in touch with instructions for suitably skilled candidates.
 
Candidates will need to be willing to undergo pre-employment screening checks which may include, ID and work rights, security clearance verification and any other client requested checks.
 
Applications open until  8am 25 November 2026.
Reach Damien on 0480 002 503 or damienm@whizdom.com.au for any further information