Senior Manager, Defence Industry Security Coordination

Classification: Senior Manager 1 (Administration)
Salary package: Competitive Salary and Benefits, including 17% superannuation (loadings considered)
Term: Full time, Continuing
Location: Canberra, ACT. We offer flexible working arrangements and are open to remote work.

Are you ready to make an impact in the defence sector while safeguarding cutting-edge research? The Australian National University seeks a dynamic leader for the role of Senior Manager, Defence Industry Security Coordination (DISC).

• Contribute to meaningful projects that address global challenges and make a positive difference in the world.
• Enjoy a healthy work-life balance with flexible working arrangements and be part of a supportive and inclusive team that fosters your professional development.
• Benefit from the conveniences of on-campus amenities, including cafes, bars, supermarkets, childcare centres, a newsagency, post office, bank, and even a medical centre, all within a vibrant community setting.

About the Role
The Senior Manager, DISC, oversees the University’s clearances and Defence Industry Security Program (DISP) membership. This role requires a strategic thinker with defence industry knowledge, exceptional leadership, an innovative approach, and commitment to security and compliance, all while maintaining agility to achieve best practice outcomes. Leading a small team, the manager ensures DISP obligations are met, collaborates with staff, the ANU community and external partners to safeguard people, ideas, and information, and maintains the integrity of the University’s research. Responsibilities include maintaining a secure information environment, advising on DISP settings, assisting with threat analysis, driving policy development, and providing security advice across the University and with external stakeholders.

Key Duties:

• Develop and implement security strategies to protect sensitive information and technologies.
• Collaborate with stakeholders and partners to assess and mitigate security risks.
• Liaise with government and industry partners to ensure compliance with evolving security standards and regulatory changes.
• Provide security training and guidance to university stakeholders.
• Manage security clearances for the University.
• Oversee Defence Industry Security Program (DISP) membership.
• Serve as the main contact for security inquiries and audits.
• Prepare and submit DISP and security compliance related documentation and reports.

About You
We seek a dynamic leader with proven success in managing security programs and compliance initiatives, demonstrating professionalism and an excellent ability to negotiate and influence peers, University Executives and senior Defence staff. The ideal candidate excels in cultivating productive relationships with key stakeholders, using sound judgement to navigate risk and impact, and driving strategic operational and policy outcomes. You’ll bring strong leadership and team management skills, outstanding time management and organisational abilities, and resilience and adaptability to changing priorities. To succeed, you will be able to work autonomously and proactively and adopt strategic risk management to influence and deliver DISP outcomes. A can-do attitude when tackling complex problems, a commitment to growing capability, excellent communication and public speaking skills, attention to detail, and the ability to interpret and comply with legislative, policy, and regulatory frameworks are crucial. If you’re ready to protect groundbreaking research and shape the future of defence industry security in Australia, we want to hear from you!

Mandatory:

• Security Clearance: Candidates must be Australian Citizens and either possess or be eligible to obtain and maintain an NV1 (or higher) security clearance.
• Qualifications: Candidates must have a postgraduate qualification in a related field with 2-5 years of relevant professional experience and management expertise, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Expertise: Candidates must have a strong understanding of the Australian security environment, and in-depth knowledge of the role of the Department of Defence in securing Australia’s interests and Defence Export Control regulations.

Desirable:

• Certificate III or IV in Government Security Risk Management or equivalent.
• Expertise in personnel security, managing multiple stakeholders and complex scenarios, including familiarity with the Defence Security Policy Framework (DSPF).
• A strong understanding of Security Officer requirements under the Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF).

For more information about this position, please contact the Chief Information Security Officer, Shirley McCombe, at E: shirley.mccombe@anu.edu.au.

To apply for the role,  please refer to the ‘How to Apply’ section at the bottom of the page.

About the Information Security Office (ISO)
Established in 2020, the mission of the ANU Information Security Office (ISO) is to keep the ANU safe and credible through the delivery of coherent and sustainable capabilities aimed at building world-class information security infrastructure and culture. As an overarching approach, we view information security across all elements as a human-centric challenge, one which frames our behaviour and decisions at the intersection of people, process and technology within our threat environment.

About ANU
ANU is proud to be home to some of the world’s most remarkable individuals: visionaries, influential leaders, pioneering researchers and passionate advocates. Our community is dedicated to driving impactful change on national, regional and global stages. We empower our exceptional staff and students to achieve ambitious goals and pursue brilliant careers, maintaining our status as a leading academic resource for the region.

Our Vision: We are committed to fostering national unity and identity, deepening our understanding of ourselves and our neighbours, being at the forefront of research excellence and innovation, and providing world-class education in pivotal areas that shape our worlds future for the better. We strive to be world leaders, pushing the boundaries of knowledge to address global challenges.

What we can offer you
Our staff enjoy some amazing employee benefits:

• ANU offers competitive remuneration packages including 17% superannuation and regular increases, along with comprehensive benefits, including generous leave policies.
• We have many professional development initiatives including training, mentoring & upskilling opportunities.
• ANU offers salary sacrificing including laptops, childcare, novated car leasing, additional superannuation, and more!
• We offer affordable onsite parking, with salary sacrificing options.
• We support flexible and hybrid working arrangements, with access to our beautiful, green campus.
• We offer discounted study, with 75% off ANU courses for staff and 25% for your spouse and children (see eligibility).
• We have on-site Gyms with staff discounts as well as oval spaces and ANU sports clubs.
• We are a family friendly campus with access to childcare facilities, designated parent rooms and quiet spaces.
• We care about your wellbeing, with access to the Employee Assistance Program, on-campus Medical Services, and health insurance plan options.
• And we are one of the leading employers in Australia for parental leave entitlements.

ANU is committed to workforce diversity, creating an inclusive workplace, and providing equal employment opportunities to people with diverse backgrounds and identities. As part of this commitment, we welcome applications from all diversity groups. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability and people who identify as LGBTQIA+ are particularly encouraged to apply. Click here to learn more.

How to Apply
To apply for this role please ensure that your submission includes the following documents:

• A statement addressing the selection criteria showing how your skills, experience and approach align with the role in no more than two pages (see position description).
• A current curriculum vitae (CV).
• The names and contact details of two referees.

Applications that do not address the selection criteria may not be considered.

We are committed to ensuring an inclusive, fair and accessible recruitment process for all applicants. If you require a reasonable adjustment to support you during the interview or selection process, please contact the Recruitment Team. All requests will be handled with the utmost confidentiality and sensitivity.

Please note: The successful candidate must be an Australian citizen, able to obtain and maintain an NV1 (or higher) security clearance, and have rights to live and work in Australia. If successful, you will be required to undergo a background check, in accordance with the Background Checking Procedure. An offer of employment is conditional on satisfactory results.