Head of Defence Security - Governance, Risk & Assurance

_{02nd September, 2026}

This is a senior leadership opportunity to shape and mature the Defence security function within a large, complex organisation with a significant presence across the Australian Defence sector.

The role will lead the organisation’s approach to Defence security governance, risk, assurance and DISP compliance, ensuring security obligations are well understood, consistently applied and able to stand up to scrutiny.

Importantly, this isn’t simply a compliance role. The successful candidate will be expected to position the organisation to pursue increasingly complex Defence and national security opportunities by building a mature, defensible and continuously improving security environment.

Canberra is the preferred location, however candidates based in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide or Queensland will also be considered, with regular travel required given the national scope of the role.

The Role
Working across senior leadership, security teams and operational business units, you will:

• Set the strategic direction for Defence security governance, risk and assurance.
• Lead and maintain the organisation’s DISP compliance and broader protective security obligations.
• Lift security maturity across the business, identifying gaps and establishing practical plans to address them.
• Develop a strong assurance framework that provides confidence security controls and obligations are operating effectively.
• Support and enable Chief Security Officers and business leaders to understand and meet their security responsibilities.
• Identify, manage and escalate material security risks across Defence-related operations.
• Provide senior leadership with clear advice on security risk, compliance, maturity and areas requiring investment or attention.
• Build strong relationships across Defence, industry and relevant national security stakeholders.
• Ensure security is positioned as an enabler of future Defence growth rather than simply a compliance function.

About You
You will bring senior-level experience across Defence security, protective security, governance, risk or assurance, with a strong understanding of the environment in which Defence industry operates.

You will understand DISP and the broader Defence security landscape, but just as importantly, you will be comfortable working across a large and complex organisation where responsibility for security sits across multiple stakeholders.

This role will suit someone who can move beyond interpreting policy and frameworks to establishing the governance, accountability and assurance required to make them work in practice.

You will need the credibility to engage senior executives, security professionals and operational leaders, while being prepared to challenge existing approaches where security maturity needs to improve.
Qualifications & Clearance

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in security, risk, governance, business or a related discipline will be highly regarded.
• Strong knowledge of DISP, DSPF and broader Australian Government protective security requirements is essential.
• Applicants must hold a current NV1 security clearance, with NV2 preferred.
• Australian citizenship is required due to the nature of the Defence environment.

What Next? 
If you are interested in being considered for this position apply to the link below. If you want to have a confidential conversation before applying - please contact Liam Gates from Approach Consulting on 0466 603 659.