About the role
Expression of Interest: Lead Strategic Naval Capability Delivery at Saab Australia!
Saab Australia is seeking Expressions of Interest from experienced, strategic and people-focused Program Directors to lead Saab’s Australian involvement in the General-Purpose Frigate (GPF) program.
This is a high-impact leadership role where you will be responsible for the local program delivery, governance, and strategic direction of Saab’s GPF commitments — supporting a broad range of local and international stakeholders and representing Saab Australia at the highest levels of engagement.
In this pivotal role, you will provide local leadership for Saab Australia’s program delivery, acting as the key interface with Defence, industry partners, and Saab's global stakeholders.
As Program Director, you will:
- Provide senior leadership and accountability for Saab Australia’s involvement in the GPF program, delivering complex technical, commercial, and capability outcomes.
- Act as the primary point of contact for Saab Australia’s GPF delivery and a deputy to the global Program Director.
- Lead the coordination of cross-functional teams across engineering, delivery, commercial and customer engagement, ensuring all program activities are executed on time, within scope and budget.
- Develop and maintain effective stakeholder engagement strategies, fostering trust and ensuring alignment between Saab, the customer, and program partners.
- Promote active collaboration between internal and external stakeholders to achieve shared program outcomes.
- Manage risk proactively, drive program controls, and oversee contractual compliance and performance across multiple work streams.
- Mentor, develop and lead a team of Senior Project Managers and project staff in a high-performance, values-driven culture.
Key responsibilities:
Customer & Stakeholder Management
- Maintain strong customer relationships, ensuring priorities are clear and issues are addressed early.
- Lead critical customer engagement, managing expectations and ensuring obligations are met on both sides.
- Foster constructive relationships with internal Saab stakeholders and delivery organisations in Australia and international partners.
Program & Commercial Management
- Ensure all GPF projects are aligned to schedule, scope, and budget expectations through disciplined program governance.
- Monitor and guide project performance through risk identification, resource optimisation, baseline planning, and quality oversight.
- Manage contractual obligations, scope variations, financial controls, and profit optimisation across multiple contract streams.
Leadership & Collaboration
- Provide strategic and operational leadership to the local program organisation.
- Champion collaboration, continuous improvement, and alignment across global Saab teams and partner organisations.
- Support internal initiatives including mentoring, onboarding, and graduate development.
People & Performance
- Lead resource planning and program recruitment to meet capability demands.
- Build and maintain a high-performance culture, actively driving accountability, engagement, and career development.
- Ensure safety, wellbeing and diversity initiatives are embedded throughout the team environment.
About you
You are a respected and experienced program leader with a proven track record delivering major, multi-stakeholder defence, engineering, or infrastructure programs. You excel in navigating complexity, leading teams through change, and building meaningful partnerships with senior internal and external stakeholders.
Essential Qualifications & Experience:
- Leading large, complex, and technically challenging programs in Defence, shipbuilding, or systems integration environments.
- Demonstrated expertise in project governance, planning, scheduling, and risk/commercial management across multiple contract streams.
- Outstanding stakeholder management skills with the ability to resolve issues and influence across technical, commercial, and government sectors.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across internal and external stakeholder groups to achieve strategic objectives.
- Proven track record of developing high-performing teams and building leadership capability.
- Deep understanding of Defence project lifecycles, commercial frameworks, and Commonwealth program requirements.
- Strong commercial and financial acumen with hands-on experience in managing project budgets, contract performance and value delivery.
Education & Credentials:
- Tertiary qualifications in engineering, project management or business are essential.
- Postgraduate qualifications (MBA or similar) and relevant professional registration (e.g., IPMA Level A, AiPM CPPD) highly regarded.
What’s In It for You:
- Lead a strategically important naval capability program on behalf of a globally trusted Defence partner.
- Collaborate across nations and disciplines, with the opportunity to influence sovereign capability outcomes at scale.
- Be part of a workplace that values innovation, inclusion, and the pursuit of excellence.
- Access flexible working arrangements, career development pathways, and comprehensive employee benefits.
As Defence security clearance is required for this role, applicants must be Australian citizens and eligible to obtain and maintain an NV1 clearance.
About us
Saab Australia is a defence, security and cyber solutions provider, specialising in the development and integration of major defence and security systems. For over 30 years in Australia, we have built a reputation for delivering complex systems integration projects that provide proven and advanced capabilities to keep us ahead of today’s challenges.
From combat, communications, security and underwater systems to mixed reality, cyber security and deployable health solutions, our extensive portfolio of products and services provide high-technology solutions for defence forces and civil industries across the globe.
Apply today to join our crew and deliver solutions with purpose.
Culture and benefits
We employ over 1000 Australians and are committed to fostering a culture of excellence and enriching the employee experience.
By joining Saab, you’ll be a part of a collaborative and supportive organisation, where your professional growth and work-life balance are emphasised. You’ll work within an innovative and vibrant workplace, while having the opportunity to develop a long-term, fulfilling career.
As a valued team member of Saab Australia, you’ll access a variety of perks and benefits to support you and your family including:
- 6 weeks paid leave each year
- 13.5% Superannuation
- Free Income Protection Insurance
- Flexible working options
- Access to the Saab shares matching scheme
- Access to MySaab; our online store offering everything from cash back at hundreds of stores to discounts from exclusive partners
For further information about a career at Saab, visit the page adjacent:
https://www.saab.com/markets/australia/careers/saab-life
Applications
Click ‘Apply’ to submit your CV and cover letter in support of your application. Kindly observe that this is an ongoing recruitment process and in exceptional circumstances, the position might be filled before the closing date of the advertisement. We encourage applications as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
By submitting an application to Saab, you consent to undertaking workforce screening activities including, but not limited to: reference checks, Australian Federal Police check, verification of working rights and qualifications, sanctions screening and a pre-employment medical declaration.
Saab Australia is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to apply. We also welcome applications from individuals with culturally diverse backgrounds.
Saab Australia is a nationally recognised Veteran Employer of Choice and welcomes the interest of ex-service members, veterans and their families