Chief Maritime & Chief Sensors and Effectors - Department of Defence - ExecutiveCareer

First listed on: 18 July 2022
Chief Maritime & Chief Sensors and Effectors


Chief of Division Grade 2
Fishermans Bend – VIC

Introduction
Defence is seeking exceptional senior executives to fill two positions at the Chief of Division Grade 2 level in its Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG). The ideal candidates are collaborative leaders, demonstrating a track record in a relevant S&T discipline or in delivering impact from S&T, and the ability to negotiate outcomes in contested spaces. Able to influence, negotiate and engender enthusiasm in others, the appointees will have astute judgement, political awareness and an inclusive leadership style, taking a proactive approach to professional and organisational development. Outstanding interpersonal and representational skills will be key to building strong relationships with Defence clients and national and international science partners.

Current Vacancies

Position 1 – Chief Maritime

The Chief Maritime is an enterprise leader in Defence, reporting directly to the Chief Defence Scientist. Chief Maritime has a key role in promoting and influencing the organisation, its people and the Division’s research agenda, achieving outcomes in an interdisciplinary, complex and changing environment. Chief Maritime is responsible for the cost, quality and impact of science and technology (S&T) products and services delivered to Defence capability programs in the Maritime domain.

In addition to contributing to the development and implementation of Defence’s innovation, science and technology strategy and capability plans, Chief Maritime – through their Scientific Advisors and Program Leaders – is responsible for:

  • Aligning with Defence Capability Managers to determine the S&T needs and requirements within the Maritime Domain to support Defence operations, sustainment and enhancement of current capability, and development and acquisition of future capability;
  • Managing and assuring the delivery of Maritime S&T Program outcomes within the cost, schedule and capability requirements specified in each Innovation and S&T Plan
  • Developing and maintaining strategic partnerships with industry, universities and the scientific community to enhance our combined ability to support Australia’s defence and national security capabilities and to contribute to national wealth;
  • Establishing and maintaining Innovation and S&T Plans (where there is a need) for all Defence Capability Programs within the Maritime Domain for all phases of the One Defence Capability System;
  • In consultation with the Chiefs of S&T Capability Development Divisions, build the set of activities necessary to deliver the Innovation and S&T Plans through projects and work packages (depending on the scale of S&T required);
  • Tasking the relevant S&T Capability Development areas to resource the projects and work packages to meet the Maritime S&T Program needs as stated in the Innovation and S&T program plans; and

As an S&T program division, Maritime Division will lead, shape and grow mission-directed research in the Division in accordance with More, together: Defence Science and Technology Strategy 2030, to ensure Defence is best positioned to realise capability advantage in a rapidly evolving environment.

Position 2 – Chief Sensors and Effectors
The Chief Sensors and Effectors is an enterprise leader in Defence, reporting directly to the Chief Defence Scientist. Chief Sensors and Effectors has a key role in promoting and influencing the organisation, its people and the Division’s research agenda, achieving outcomes in an interdisciplinary, complex and changing environment. Chief Sensors and Effectors is responsible for the quality, relevance and readiness of Defence’s science and technology (S&T) capabilities in sensors and effectors for Defence’s high priority capability and operational needs, both now and into the future. The Chief also contributes to the development and implementation of Defence’s innovation, S&T strategy and capability planning.

To fulfil the accountability and responsibilities, the Chief Sensors and Effectors Division will:

  • Align with Defence Capability Managers to determine the S&T needs and requirements for sensors and effectors in order to develop the Defence S&T workforce in areas of sensors and effectors to meet future Defence demand;
  • Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with industry, universities and the scientific community to enhance our combined ability to support Australia’s defence and national security capabilities and to contribute to national wealth.
  • Ensure that the current sensors and effectors S&T capabilities are relevant, and have the required capacity to meet Defence capability program and innovation, S&T program demands through shaping and leveraging the sovereign S&T ecosystem;
  • Allocate and apply sensors and effectors S&T resources into programs;
  • Ensure S&T excellence of selected, high-impact research areas of sensors and effectors; 
  • Anticipate, plan, manage and sustain relevant Defence sensors and effectors S&T and research infrastructure;
  • Support incubation of sensors and effectors low technology readiness level innovation through initial low-level funding into exploration of fresh ideas, allow fast fail, and sponsor higher technology readiness level projects into the Defence innovation, S&T program; and

Chief Sensors and Effectors will deliver to CDS a capability plan in sensors and effectors as part of the broader Defence Innovation, S&T Capability Management plan, and will be responsible for delivering outputs and outcomes within this plan. This plan will need to consider S&T elements within Major Science and Technology Capabilities (MSTCs), across Defence, partnerships with academia and industry, as well as partnerships with international organisations in areas aligned with total sensors and effectors S&T capability.

Additional Information
Application Closing Date: Sunday 21 August, 2022

A PhD in a relevant discipline, or demonstrated equivalent knowledge and experience in a science, technology and/or research environment will be essential.

Proven leadership and stakeholder management abilities of a high order desirable.

Prior to commencement, successful applicants will be required to undergo a psychological assessment and an extensive security clearance process. As a Positive Vetting clearance is required, applicants must be Australian Citizens, be able to account for their personal background for their whole life and be able to demonstrate suitability to work in a high security intelligence environment.

For further information please review the job information pack, reference DSTG/04817/22, on https://defencecareers.nga.net.au/?jati=F7CE0980-B35D-7C4A-69CE-C8BD0267BAEA.