Head of Sustainment

About Saab Australia

Saab Australia is a key contributor to the nation's sovereign defence capability, developing, integrating, and supporting advanced systems across naval, air, land, and security domains. Their portfolio includes the Australian Defence Force's naval combat management system and ground-based air defence solutions, all designed, adapted, and maintained within Australia.

Role Overview

The Head of Sustainment will lead the sustainment business unit within the Engineering and Sustainment Services (ESS) group, which is dedicated to maintaining Defence capabilities in a safe and available state. This leadership role involves owning the sustainment strategy, managing contract performance and budgets, and directing a dispersed team based in Rockingham and other locations close to customers and platforms. As part of the ESS Leadership Team, you will contribute to shaping the overall strategic direction beyond your direct area of responsibility.

Primary Responsibilities

• Create and execute sustainment strategies for ESS, expanding capabilities and market presence.
• Oversee delivery and contract management to ensure high performance across the sustainment portfolio.
• Manage budgets to achieve sustainment objectives efficiently.
• Lead and unify a geographically distributed team into a cohesive and high-achieving unit by addressing skill gaps, recruiting talent, and fostering resilience.
• Serve as the main point of contact with customers and internal stakeholders, engaging in negotiations to align objectives.
• Develop and implement scalable processes that integrate well with customer and Saab operational systems.
• Provide monthly reports on delivery performance to Steering Committees and during contract reviews.
• Continuously drive process improvements to respond effectively to changing customer requirements.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• At least 10 years of experience in managing major projects, programs, or assets within the Defence sector.
• Demonstrated success in overseeing Defence through-life support arrangements.
• Experience managing teams spread across multiple locations.
• Strong commercial acumen with the capacity to negotiate and influence at executive levels.
• Tertiary qualification in Engineering, Project Management, Logistics Management, or a related technical field.
• Australian citizenship or eligibility for NV1 security clearance.

Preferred Skills

• Familiarity with collaborative delivery models.
• Practical understanding of system safety standards.
• Insight into maritime technology trends.

Benefits and Perks

Saab offers a supportive workplace culture emphasizing flexibility and work-life balance, alongside structured professional development and an inclusive environment where all ideas are valued. Employees enjoy benefits including:

• Six weeks of paid annual leave.
• 14% superannuation contributions.
• Income protection insurance provided at no cost.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Participation in Saab's employee share matching program.
• Access to MySaab, an online benefits platform with cashback and exclusive discounts.

Additional Information

For confidential inquiries, the recruitment for this position is handled externally.