Commercial and Finance Director

The Role

As the Hunter Class Frigate Commercial and Finance Director, you will play a critical leadership role in Defence's most complex warship acquisition program. You will lead high-level finance and contract management functions, providing expert advice on procurement, policy, commercial and finance matters. Operating within established legislative and policy frameworks, you will manage a diverse team of professionals across finance and commercial disciplines, from graduates to senior staff. You will be responsible for planning, resourcing, and delivering business outcomes, while driving continuous improvement and aligning work with strategic objectives.

This role requires initiative, sound judgement, excellent relationships management, and the ability to manage multiple competing priorities in a dynamic environment. You will foster collaboration, guide performance, and build strong stakeholder relationships to support program success. If you are a strategic thinker with deep commercial and financial expertise, and a passion for contributing to national capability, we encourage you to apply.

This role is eligible for an additional remuneration benefit known in Defence as a Building Defence Capability Payment (BDCP). This enables Defence to provide a premium, in addition to the base salary otherwise payable under the Defence Enterprise Collective Agreement (DECA), for positions in occupational disciplines/classifications that are critical to Defence capability. For further information, please contact the contact officer.

About our Team

The Hunter Class Frigate (HCF) is one of the world's most advanced warships, and the project is Australia's largest shipbuilding project. The HCF program provides the foundation for Continuous Naval Shipbuilding and is bringing together global expertise from the UK, USA, Canada, Europe, and Australia to solve complex design and construction challenges.

The HCF program has introduced new approaches to Defence project and engineering management. Whilst built on traditional systems engineering and contract management approaches, Defence and the shipbuilding industry are evolving to meet the demands associated with growing and sustaining a skilled, sovereign workforce.

As a member of Team Hunter, you will be contributing to a high-impact, national capability, while fostering innovation and collaboration, and demonstrating decisive leadership. As an Australian Public Servant in Defence, you will benefit from flexible working arrangements, generous conditions, and a competitive remuneration package, including 15.4% superannuation, as outlined in the Defence Enterprise Agreement.

Our Ideal Candidate

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced person to lead critical Commercial and Finance functions in a complex and fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate will have previous experience in an acquisition category (ACAT) 1 program and bring strong commercial and financial acumen. They will have proven leadership abilities across finance and contract management, and a demonstrated ability to deliver in a complex, ambiguous environment.

They will be highly organised, resilient, and capable of managing blended teams consisting of APS, military, external service providers and industry personnel. Strong stakeholder engagement, negotiation and influencing skills are essential, along with a demonstrated ability to work independently and with integrity. Previous experience in an alliance or collaborative contracting environment is highly valued. The successful candidate will be a leader who thrives in a high-tempo environment, fosters a positive team culture, and understands Defence's mission and legislative frameworks.

Application Closing Date: Sunday 12 October 2025

For further information please review the job information pack, reference NSSG/07688/25 on