3 Program Managers
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Role details
- Estimated start date
- 16 November 2026
- Experience level
- EL2 equivalent
- Initial contract duration
- 12 months
- Maximum hours
- 40 hours per week
- Extension term
- 12 months
- Number of extensions
- 2
Working arrangement detail
The roles are on-site Canberra based (5 days in office).
About the Role
The ICT Portfolio Management Office within the Digital and Service Delivery Branch of DFAT's Information Management and Technology Division have a requirement for up to (3x) ICT labour hire resources to fill the role of Program Manager.
Program Managers provide strategic oversight and leadership for the planning, execution, and delivery of complex programs (Consular, Data and AI and Enterprise Applications). The role ensures alignment with organisational objectives, oversight of project governance, and effective vendor and stakeholder management. Acting as the key escalation point for Project Managers, the Program Manager drives the successful delivery of program outcomes, manages interdependencies, and ensures risks are identified and addressed.
The successful candidate/s will:
- be required to undertake work that is very complex or sensitive and operate under broad direction;
- exercise a considerable degree of independence and perform a leadership role;
- exercise sound decision making and judgement to produce high level policy advice;
- engage in complex problem solving and issues management and may coordinate and undertake detailed or sensitive projects that impact on strategic, political or operational outcomes for the agency;
- be responsible for actively managing key stakeholder relationships within and outside the agency and may manage one or more work teams; and
- provide assurance and support compliance with governance frameworks while promoting collaboration across teams and agencies.
Key duties
Job specific role description:
- Managing interdependencies in support of specific project or program outcomes, business benefits and objectives.
- Maintain a strategic view over the assigned set of projects, deliver monthly status reporting in the form of a program dashboard highlight financial, milestone, and achievement updates for the reporting month and providing insights into key risks and issues for program delivery.
- Supports project managers in being aware of and engaging in the various governance and delivery processes and forums within IMD including the IMD Project Board, Monthly Project Management Forums, Architecture Review Board.
- Support iterative/agile working practices for relevant projects and participate in key playback and review sessions.
- Support project managers in determining, monitoring, and reviewing program scope, costs, schedule and expected benefits as required.
- Ensuring program activities adhere to DFAT IMD governance standards and practices.
- Prepare material as required to support communication of program outcomes, benefits, and status.
- Support project managers with confirming agreement on business requirements and opportunities to rationalise delivery across the program to deliver against project outcomes.
- Facilitate scheduling of program resources.
- Support and coordinate organisational change management resources and activities.
The Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA) has been used to inform the requirements. In summary, DFAT seeks suitable candidates with the following relevant skillsets:
Skills/Levels:
- Portfolio, Program and Project Management - Program Manager - Programme Managememnt (PGMG) - Level 6/7
Requirements
Criteria
The buyer has specified that each candidate must provide a one page pitch to address all criteria specified. This is equal to 5000 characters.
Essential
Applicants must have a minimum of 5 years delivering IT projects of various size and complexity, applying a variety of delivery approaches.
Applicants must have prior experience managing multiple projects or managing programs.
Experience working in complex ICT environments.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
Excellent written skills with the ability to write clearly, concisely, and persuasively. Experience leading teams and/or coaching staff.
Minimum active NV1 security clearance.
Desirable
Experience working in complex global ICT environments.
Experience delivering secure government systems.
Knowledge of and experience applying legislative and compliance controls required for government services including but not limited to the Archives Act 1983, Privacy Act 1988, Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2014, Data Availability and Transparency Act 2022, Commonwealth Procurement Rules, Protective Security Policy Framework, Information Security Manual (ISM) and Essential 8.
Experience in complementary or related streams such as business and systems analysis, organisational change management, software testing, applications or infrastructure engineering or support.
Apply for this role
Share your contact details and any supporting information you would like us to consider. A resume is optional. If there is a fit, we will be in touch to discuss the role further.
If there is mutual interest, we will talk you through the rate structure and next steps in more detail.