Defence and Space Consultant

If you are excited to work across the defence and space domain, then we are very interested in having you on board.  We are seeking people with the passion, knowledge and ability to deliver partnerships that drive the growth of our defence and space science and innovation portfolio at Curtin University.

Importantly this includes the ability to collaborate across different research disciplines and industry sectors, where we can help boost capability, develop new products, grow business and create new jobs.  

Working in this dynamic environment, the Defence and Space Consultant, will apply their consulting and program management skills to plan, manage and coordinate a range of strategic initiatives across Curtin University’s Defence and Space portfolio.  This will include potential management of capital works in building new secure facilities to support classified defence and wider national security work.

Your role will report to the Director, Defence and Space, to identify, develop and manage large program opportunities that help the University translate world-class research and innovation to opportunities into the defence and space sector.

As this role will support national security and defence research, Australian Citizenship is a requirement, as is the ability to successfully apply for an ‘NV-1’ security clearance.

In this role you will need to:

• Develop a thorough appreciation of the depth and breadth of science and innovation research at Curtin University, and its application to resolving issues and/or deliver innovation in the defence and space domain;
• Develop an understanding of the needs of the defence and space domain, especially around Australia’s growth of sovereign capabilities, as well as potential funding models to develop research and innovation partnerships with government, civil and industry stakeholders;
• Identify and leverage opportunities to secure funding to support the growth of Curtin’s defence and space portfolio;
• Plan and undertake high level engagement with government, civil and industry leaders, in support of building effective engagement and collaboration models, including local WA ecosystems, for the development and delivery of superior defence and space outcomes; and
• Manage our Defence Industry Security Program (DISP) accreditation, and associated management, regulatory and reporting requirements.

Defence exposure is not a must, however, exposure to markets where technology and partnerships are key in delivering outcomes will help provide you with the fundamentals to succeed in this role. 

You will ideally bring:

• Exposure to government and industry engagement within complex organisations and ecosystems;
• Experience in relevant adjacent markets, such as resources, where you have delivered funded capabilities and partnerships involving research and/or development of solutions/services;
• Demonstrated commercial acumen and an ability to secure a client base, including development of local and wider ecosystems, across government, defence, civil and industry organisations;
• Demonstrated ability to work with a diverse group of teams, and individuals, in delivering effective outcomes for your organisation;
• Demonstrated high-level of oral and written communications, including the ability to engage and present information clearly and informatively to a diverse audience, as well as the ability to generate and deliver business cases and their associated outcomes;
• The ability to rapidly adapt to changes in the marketplace, new research and innovation opportunities, to prioritise workloads and multi-task opportunities and initiatives as they move through their lifecycle; and
• Prior involvement in a Defence Industry Security Program (DISP) setting (desirable).

To learn more about this opportunity, please contact

on

About us

Whether we’re developing new technologies or exploring the origins of the universe, strong academic, government, civil and industry partnerships lie at the heart of all our research endeavours.

Our ability to forge collaborations and share knowledge across faculties, campuses and external institutions enables us to take a ‘big picture’ approach to research and transform complex problems into innovative solutions with far-reaching impact.

The growth of Australian sovereign capability in defence and space has never had more attention.  This focus is accompanied by recognition of the important role universities have in developing science and innovation engines, underpinned by sovereign ecosystems and industry partnerships.  These engines exist to accelerate Australia’s future economic benefits through diversification of our economy, and to deliver outcomes that support Australia’s future national security needs.

Curtin has a significant presence in the international & domestic Space and Defence communities. The University has a strong reputation based on world-class research and innovation across domains spanning underwater surveillance, to probing the beginnings of the universe itself.   In space, our focus is not limited to applications for defence, but the importance of the foundation of science and discovery in expanding our understanding of the Universe, through leading programs in astronomy, planetary science, and earth observation.  Just last year Curtin University were one of the first Australian Universities to launch our own satellite, with many more to come, including future missions to the moon with stakeholders such as NASA.

Importantly, WA is well placed to pivot and grow its support to defence and space, due to its strength in adjacent markets such as mining, oil & gas, health, policing, maritime, ports and energy.  Technologies and operational concepts being deployed into these markets, especially involving remote and autonomous operations, are highly applicable to future defence and space capability needs.   Curtin University, in partnering with Government and Industry stakeholders, are building global-leading sovereign ecosystems that will provide a unique multi-lens insight into the next generation of operations centres, including sensors, data collection and processing, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and importantly, the workforce evolution required to support such operations.    

Right now is an exciting time to be in WA and join Curtin University in building Australia’s defence and space science and innovation ecosystems, capabilities and human capacity!

Our vibrant campus includes an art gallery, gym/childcare and medical centre, endless food options and great parking and public transport options.
For more info on our university visit www.curtin.edu.au
 
Join us!

Your application should include a cover letter, and your CV to allow us to assess your suitability for this role.
To view a copy of the Position Description, please copy and paste the following link into your web browser.
https://cloudstor.aarnet.edu.au/sender/?s=download&token=0b35b6a9-5154-4d2e-9a37-f0c57e57cc24

Applications close: 10pm AWST, Wednesday 6 July 2022
 
Applicants should note that prior to appointment, you will need to have a current National Police Records check, undergo character, integrity, and reference checks, and provide evidence of your COVID-19 vaccination and booster (if eligible).
Australian Citizenship is a requirement for this role, as is the ability to successfully apply for an ‘NV-1’ security clearance.

If you have any queries in relation to this application process, please contact our careers team on 08 9266 9000 (option 3, 1).