Trade Manager, Defence

Work Type: Fixed-term - Full-time

Salary: $113,022 - $136,747

Grade: VPS 5

Occupation: Sales and business development

Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs

Reference: VG/026968AB

The Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR) is focused on growing Victoria's prosperity, building the productive capacity of our economy and increasing participation – by creating more opportunities for people through skills and jobs; helping businesses and industries to thrive; and building vibrant communities and regions. For more information, see the DJSIR Strategic Plan

Established on 1 January 2023, our work spans numerous portfolios, supporting departmental ministers and operating across metropolitan, regional and international offices. We oversee various public entities, including public corporations, regulatory authorities and specialist boards.

The Department welcomes and encourages applications from diverse applicants, including First Peoples, refugees or asylum seekers, people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, LGBTIQ+ people and people with disability. All roles at DJSIR can be worked flexibly and we offer reasonable adjustments for applicants with disabilities.

Our values are accountability, integrity and respect, and underpin everything we do. For more information about the department, please visit our website:

Trade Manager, Defence

• Salary: $113,022 - $136,747 (Plus Superannuation)
• Fixed-Term position until 30 September 2027
• Usual hours of work: Full time (flexibility may be available)
• Usual work location: 121 Exhibition Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 (flexibility may be available)

The Role

As a Trade Manager, Defence, you will be reporting to the Lead, Cleantech and Advanced Manufacturing, within the Trade Branch. The position will be responsible for delivery of Advanced Manufacturing trade initiatives.

You will enjoy flexible working arrangements and undertake a wide variety of work across the group, including delivery of key programs to assist businesses access export opportunities, provide expert advice and analysis to high-level stakeholders and represent Global Victoria in a variety of forums, both internal and external.

You will work effectively as a member of the Global Victoria team, including engaging with staff overseas in the international network of 23 Victorian Trade and Investment offices. The engagement will broaden to include other stakeholders within the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR) and other branches within the Victorian Government. The role provides a great opportunity to leverage existing, or further develop, Government networks.

Key accountabilities include:

• Implement market access and trade activities/projects on behalf of DJSIR directed at improving the export capability and performance of Victoria's Advanced Manufacturing sector, in conjunction with government and industry collaborators.
• Liaise with relevant Advanced Manufacturing industry, government and commercial stakeholders in Australia and export markets to promote Victoria's strengths and to facilitate trade development and investment and grow exports.
• Identify, develop and foster key relationships with key stakeholders such as Austrade, DFAT, foreign government trade offices, chambers of commerce, industry associations and consular representatives to target and maximise investment and trade opportunities for Victorian businesses.
• Provide timely and relevant information to a range of internal and external clients including market reports, briefs, technical reports, presentations and assessments of market trends and opportunities for the Victorian Advanced Manufacturing sectors.
• Meet budgetary, reporting and impact performance targets.

The Team

The position of Trade Manager, Defence will work within Trade, Global Engagement and International Education and Migration branch, which sits within The Industry, Trade and Investment group.

The Industry, Trade and Investment group works closely with businesses locally and globally to grow Victorian jobs, drive innovation and increase Victoria's international competitiveness. We champion Victoria as a destination of choice for trade and international investment, international education and innovation. ITI harnesses specialist knowledge of key industries and global markets to develop Victoria's priority sectors, boost trade activities, enhance productivity and contribute to economic growth.

We do this by: forming trust based relationships with businesses – from global enterprises to small businesses and startups; connecting the state to global opportunities, including through the Victorian Government Trade and Investment (VGTI) network; facilitating new investment and business expansion; developing and attracting world class talent; supporting key industry and manufacturing capabilities; supporting Victorian businesses to excel in global markets; strengthening the state's digital ecosystem and its linkages with industry; accelerating the growth and impact of Victoria's research translation an d commercialisation capabilities; and advocating for a competitive, fair and inclusive business environment.

About You

To be successful in this role you will have the following skills and experience:

• Extensive knowledge of and experience in the Advanced Manufactiring sectors, with a track record in delivering trade outcomes.
• Excellent interpersonal, analytical, networking and communication skills, including demonstrated experience in the provision of sector intelligence to a wide range of audiences.
• Stakeholder Management: Identifies issues in common for one or more stakeholders and uses to build mutually beneficial partnerships; Identifies and responds to stakeholder's underlying needs; Uses understanding of the stakeholder's organisational context to ensure outcomes are achieved; Finds innovative solutions to resolve stakeholder issues.
• Leadership: Works collaboratively; Builds team commitment by demonstrating personal conviction; Translates organisational strategy into meaningful long-term plans and objectives for own area of responsibility; Motivates others to deliver against goals.
• Planning and Organising: Sets clearly defined objectives and priorities and operates accordingly, reviewing and adjusting as required; Identifies processes, tasks and resources required to achieve a goal; Establishes systems and procedures to guide work and track progress; Recognises actual and potential barriers and finds effective ways to deal with them.

Further Information

For a confidential discussion, please contact Lisa Hui or George Di Scala on or

The department is committed to creating and maintaining a child safe organisation. We have zero tolerance of child abuse and are committed to taking the necessary steps to protect children from harm by adopting a preventative, proactive and participatory approach to child safety in accordance with the Child Safe Standards.

Successful candidates will be required to undergo a National Police Records Check prior to commencing employment with the Department. For further information on the position, please refer to the attached position description.

Please note: We are accredited as a Disability Confident Recruitment (DCR) organisation and committed to inclusive recruitment. If you require an adjustment to participate in any stage of the recruitment process or have a particular requirement to be communicated with by either telephone or email only, please notify the DJSIR Recruitment Team on , or via email at with the position number in the subject line. For additional contact details for our team please review the attached Position Description, located under Job Attachments in the right hand menu.

How to Apply

Please click the 'Apply Now' button. As part of the application process, you will need to provide a copy of your resume and respond to the key selection criteria outlined in the position description.

Applications close at 23:59pm on Thursday, 4 September 2025.

Applications close Thursday 4 September 2025 at 11.59pm

Posted

21 August 2025