Chief Operations to Deputy Secretary NSSG

The Role

Operating at the centre of the Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Group, this role provides direct support to the Deputy Secretary and sits at the centre of strategy, operations, and enterprise performance.

The position plays a critical role in shaping decision-making at the most senior levels of Defence by integrating insights across policy, capability delivery, workforce, and risk in a complex and high-profile national security environment.

In this role, you will:

• Act as a trusted advisor to the DEPSEC NSSG on business operations, governance, workforce, and organisational performance.
• Integrate insights across NSSG to provide clear, actionable advice on complex, time-critical issues.
• Drive enterprise governance, reporting and assurance, ensuring visibility of priorities, risks and delivery performance.
• Coordinate and align Group-wide priorities, on behalf of the DEPSEC, supporting alignment across divisions and translating strategic direction into coherent focus areas.
• Provide advice on emerging issues, workforce pressures, and delivery performance in a high-tempo environment.
• Lead a small and dynamic team to provide high-level executive support and advice, executive coordination, including high-quality briefings, submissions, and senior stakeholder engagement.
• Enable collaboration across NSSG and manage sensitive and strategic issues with discretion and sound judgment.

About our Team

The Office of the Deputy Secretary (ODEPSEC) sits at the centre of Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Group’s executive coordination, governance, and enterprise performance. Led by the Chief Operations, the function directly supports the Deputy Secretary to integrate strategy, operations, and delivery oversight across the Group.

The team provides high-level executive support to the Deputy Secretary, driving alignment of priorities, coordination across divisions, and visibility of performance, risk, and delivery. It plays a central role in shaping senior decision-making by synthesising insights across capability delivery, workforce, policy, and governance in a complex and high-tempo environment. Operating in a high-visibility environment, the team manages sensitive issues and drives disciplined coordination across the Group, ensuring effective governance and clear, actionable advice to support decision-making and delivery outcomes.

Our Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Exceptional judgement and strategic awareness, with the ability to provide clear, considered advice in a complex environment.
• Experience operating at senior levels, supporting decision-making through influence rather than direct authority.
• Highly developed analytical and advisory skills, including the ability to synthesise complex information into clear, actionable insights.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships across senior Defence leadership and key partners.
• Experience supporting senior executives in a chief of staff, governance, or coordination role within a large organisation.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and ambiguity in a high-tempo environment, maintaining responsiveness and attention to detail.
• Strong organisational skills, adaptability, and a collaborative approach aligned to Defence Values and Behaviours.
• Candidates will be resilient, prepared to engage with risk and demonstrate the highest levels of professionalism.

Application Closing Date: Thursday 23 July 2026

For further information please review the job information pack, reference NSSG/03855/26 on https://defencecareers.nga.net.au/?jati=8D9E1996-0F44-278E-86B5-ED1BAE430142