Key Responsibilities & Operational Scope

The core responsibilities and primary duties for this position within Australian Submarine Agency include:

• The acquisition of conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines is an historic and transformative endeavour for Australia. The whole-of-nation effort to safely and securely deliver the cutting edge nuclear-powered submarine program will transform Australia’s economic and national security landscape for decades to come.
• The EL 1 Assistant Director Quality Management plays a critical role in supporting ASA’s quality, governance and continuous improvement functions. Operating under broad direction, the role is responsible for working with stakeholders to establish a cross-organisational quality assurance and performance excellence framework befitting a 21st century sovereign nuclear enterprise.
• The position requires strong technical and analytical capabilities, sound judgement and the ability to provide specialist advice across a range of quality, assurance and continuous improvement functions. Working in a dynamic environment, the EL1 Assistant Director Quality Manager will oversee and lead assurance reviews, support reform initiatives, manage change arising from policy and process updates, and help uplift capability across the team through coaching and guidance. The role requires autonomy, accountability and the ability to collaborate effectively with stakeholders to support the delivery of ASA’s priorities and contribute to high quality organisational outcomes.
• An EL 1 Assistant Director Quality Management will have a considerable level of stakeholder engagement and will liaise with stakeholders in relation to complex issues. They will be required to identify, anticipate and respond to stakeholders’ needs and expectations to achieve work-unit and the Australian Submarine Agency outcomes.
• The duties of an APS EL 1 Quality Manager include but are not limited to:
• Establish and implement the ASA Quality Management Framework, ensuring it captures standards that align with Defence best practice, Australia’s regulatory requirements within the Nuclear context, and recognizable to our trilateral partners.
• Liaise with internal and external stakeholders to provide specialist quality management advice, guidance and training, ensuring activities align with the quality framework. This includes developing productive working relationships, influencing outcomes, and supporting stakeholder capability development through clear and timely communication.
• Develop relevant policy and procedures to operationalise the quality function across the organisations quality workforce and manage the ongoing conformance to the quality requirements.
• Lead and contribute to ASA’s lesson’s learned program, ensuring quality and reform initiatives, such as planning, delivery and documentation of assurance reviews, to validate compliance, enhance governance and identify continuous-improvement opportunities. Apply analytical reasoning to interpret findings, develop evidence-based insights and support decision-making.
• Facilitate ASA’s change-management activities that arise from policy, system or business-process updates, ensuring effective integration into the Quality Management System (QMS). Provide guidance to stakeholders, monitor implementation progress, and support sustainable adoption of improved processes.

Mandatory Eligibility & Security Clearance

Applicants must satisfy the following statutory and organizational requirements:

• Citizenship: Under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, candidates must generally be Australian citizens to be eligible for engagement.
• Security Clearance: The successful candidate must be able to obtain and maintain an Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) security clearance (Baseline, Negative Vetting 1, or Negative Vetting 2 as required by the agency).
• Probationary Period: Employment may be subject to a probationary period, character checks, and pre-engagement screening.
• Demonstrated ability to apply quality management principles and align quality activities with established compliance frameworks, particularly within a Nuclear context, using sound analytical skills to interpret policy, assess risks and ensure practices support organisational objectives. Formal quality management qualifications and experience highly desirable!
• RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy. Under the RecruitAbility scheme you will be invited to participate in further assessment activity for the vacancy if you choose to apply under the scheme; declare you have a disability; and meet the minimum requirements for the job. For more information visit: https://www.apsc.gov.au/recruitability. This initiative/program is only applicable where the successful applicant will be employed under the Public Service Act 1999. Similar conditions may apply when employed under other Acts. For clarification please contact the advertising agency.

Working Arrangements & Public Sector Benefits

Work Model: Flexible;Hybrid. Details: Candidates may negotiate a flexible arrangement (WFH or other Defence sites). Merit Pool used for vacancies at any location supporting flexibility..

Australian Public Service positions provide comprehensive Commonwealth benefits including a standard 15.4% employer superannuation contribution, attractive leave provisions, and structured career progression pathways across the Australian Public Service.