Head of Sustainment

We're proud to be partnering with Saab Australia, a genuine part of this nation's sovereign defence capability. Saab Australia develops, integrates and supports advanced systems across the naval, air, land and security domains, including the Australian Defence Force's world-class naval combat management system and ground-based air defence solutions, all built, adapted and sustained in Australia.

As Head of Sustainment, you will lead Saab Australia's sustainment business within the Engineering and Sustainment Services (ESS) group, the team responsible for keeping Defence capability available and safe in service. You will own the sustainment strategy, contract performance and budget, along with the team that delivers it, based in Rockingham and managing geographically dispersed teams, close to the customer and close to the platforms. As a member of the ESS Leadership Team, you will also help shape the direction of the wider group, not just run your part of it.

What you'll be doing

• Develop and implement the ESS sustainment strategy and grow the sustainment capability and market offering.
• Drive delivery and contract performance across the ESS sustainment portfolio.
• Deliver sustainment outcomes within approved budgets.
• Lead and develop a geographically dispersed team into one high-performing unit. This includes identifying skills gaps, recruiting, and building resilience.
• Act as the primary liaison with the customer and internal stakeholders, negotiating to keep both sides aligned.
• Design and roll out scalable processes that interface cleanly with customer and Saab systems
• Report delivery performance at monthly Steering Committee and contract review meetings.
• Drive ongoing process improvement to meet evolving customer needs.

What you'll bring

Essential

• 10+ years in major project or program management, or asset management, in the Defence sector.
• Proven delivery of Defence through-life support arrangements.
• Experience leading geographically dispersed teams.
• Commercial judgement, and the ability to negotiate and influence at executive level.
• Tertiary qualifications in Engineering, Project Management, Logistics Management, or a related technical discipline.
• Australian citizenship, or eligibility to obtain an NV1 security clearance.

Desirable

• Experience with collaborative delivery models.
• Working knowledge of system safety standards and how to apply them practically.
• Understanding of technology trends in the maritime domain.

What's in it for you

Beyond the significance of the work, Saab offers a workplace where support is taken seriously. You can expect genuine flexibility and work-life balance, structured investment in your growth, and a collaborative culture where ideas are heard regardless of where they come from. For the right person, this is a place to build a lasting career, not just take the next job.

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
• 14% 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

This role is being managed by Ben Stagg at Brunel - for a confidential discussion, please reach out via Sign in to view email or 08 9429 5619