About the Opportunity

As the Commercial Manager for Austal Defence Australia (ADA), you’ll be responsible for managing contractual and commercial risks between customer contracts and subcontract agreements, ensuring obligations, liabilities, and risks are appropriately flowed down and mitigated.

The role is a 12 month fixed term contract that leads end to end subcontract negotiations and contract execution activities in accordance with ADA governance processes, policies, and risk frameworks.

About Austal

Austal is Australia’s global shipbuilder, Defence prime contractor; and maritime technology partner of choice. We design, construct, and support defence and commercial vessels for the world’s leading operators with operations spanning Australia, the USA, Philippines, and Vietnam.

Under the Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement, Austal is leading a new era of continuous naval shipbuilding in Western Australia. We’re driving innovation, supporting sovereign capability, and creating long-term opportunities for Australian industry and workers.

Learn more at austal.com/ssa

This is your opportunity to contribute to projects of national significance. The maritime is now.

What’s Involved

Lead the development, negotiation, and execution of subcontract agreements, ensuring alignment with the commercial, legal, supply chain, finance, cost and operational requirements of the head contract;
Instrumental in developing subcontracting strategies that effectively flow down customer obligations, manage contractual gap risk, and protect ADA's commercial interests throughout the contract lifecycle;
Identify, assess, and manage contractual gap risks between customer contracts and subcontractor agreements, ensuring that obligations, liabilities, risks, and entitlements are appropriately flowed down and mitigated;
Ensure all commitments made by subordinate personnel e accurately presented and follow established approval and execution authorities contained in ADA policies and procedures;
Develop risk allocation strategies and commercial positions that protect ADA's interests while maintaining commercially viable subcontractor relationships;
Tracking identified gaps, mitigation actions, approvals, and residual risks throughout the subcontract lifecycle;
Project manage all subcontract procurement and negotiation activities from supplier down selection through to subcontract execution, ensuring delivery in accordance with ADA's governance framework, processes, and approval requirements;
Coordinate cross-functional stakeholder engagement across Commercial, Legal, Procurement, Operations, Estimation, Finance, and Project teams to ensure timely review, resolution, and approval of subcontract terms;
Prepare and present commercial risk assessments, negotiation strategies, approval papers, and recommendations to senior management;
Provide expert commercial advice to project teams regarding contractual obligations, risk exposure, change management, and supplier engagement strategies;
Drive continuous improvement of ADA's subcontracting, contract governance, and risk management processes, templates, and best-practice frameworks;
Maintain strong working relationships with key suppliers and internal stakeholders to facilitate effective contract outcomes and support project delivery objectives; and
Ensure all subcontract activities comply with ADA policies, delegated authorities, governance requirements, and applicable commercial, legal, and regulatory obligation

You’ll Need

Bachelor’s degree in commerce, Business, Law, Engineering, Procurement & Supply Chain, Finance or Quantity Surveying

10+ years’ experience in commercial, contracts, procurement, or subcontract management roles

Demonstrated experience managing complex subcontract negotiations and contractual risk within large-scale projects or programmes

Advanced commercial negotiation and influencing skills

Strong contract drafting, interpretation, and administration capabilities

Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to engage effectively across legal, procurement, project delivery, estimation, finance and executive teams

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to evaluate complex contractual and commercial issues

Strong project management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent negotiation activities and deadlines

Competent managing contractual gap risk between customer contract and subcontract agreements

Experience leading end to end subcontract negotiations from supplier down selection through to subcontract execution

Eligibility for a Defence Security Clearance

Why Join Us?

Competitive compensation and benefits package.

Professional development and training opportunities.

A supportive and dynamic work environment.

Opportunities for career advancement within our growing organisation.

At Austal we are committed to providing a safe and inclusive work environment for all. We believe that achieving greater diversity will enhance our operations and as such we actively encourage Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders, people of all backgrounds, ages, sexual orientation, and those with Disability to apply. Veterans are also encouraged to apply.

Learn more at Careers at Austal Australia | Austal: Australia.