Program Manager

Location: Sydney or Melbourne

Position Overview

Skytraders is seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead the successful delivery of aviation and defence programs, including the mobilisation and transition of new operational capabilities.

Acting as the primary interface between Skytraders, our customers, suppliers and subcontractors, you will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of program delivery, ensuring contractual, operational and commercial objectives are achieved.

This role requires a highly organised and commercially minded professional with the ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders, manage competing priorities and drive successful outcomes in a dynamic operational environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Contract & Commercial Management: Manage long-term commercial obligations, including financial tracking, milestone invoicing, and complex performance monitoring and reporting.

• Stakeholder Interface: Act as the primary point of contact and lead liaison between Skytraders, government customers, and Tier 1 subcontractors / suppliers.

• Transition & Sustainment Leadership: Lead the transition-in and operational readiness phases of new capabilities, and smoothly transition these programs into sustainable, long-term operational delivery.

• Program Governance: Oversee overarching program schedules, milestones, risk registers, and deliverables. Ensure all contractual commitments and customer expectations are consistently achieved.

• Operational Integration: Drive the implementation and ongoing management of overarching program frameworks, such as the Operation Support Plan (OSP), to ensure all operational entities are fully integrated.

• Risk & Compliance: Identify, mitigate, and manage program risks and issues. Work closely with Safety, Quality, and Airworthiness managers to ensure robust regulatory compliance (e.g., CASA, DISP) across all program phases.

• Continuous Improvement: Drive continuous improvement initiatives that support operational excellence, dispatch reliability, and customer satisfaction.

Qualifications & Attributes

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Project Management, Engineering, Business Administration, or related discipline or equivalent professional experience.

• Experience: Minimum 7 years' program management experience in the aerospace or defence industry.

• Complex Program Delivery: Demonstrated experience managing complex, multi-phased programs involving multiple stakeholders, Tier 1 subcontractors, and government clients.

• Commercial Acumen: Strong commercial, contractual, planning, and organisational skills, with specific experience in performance-based contracting and milestone reporting.

• Communication: Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship management capabilities, with the ability to influence at the executive level..

• Resilience & Agility: Proven ability to manage competing priorities, problem-solve under pressure, and deliver outcomes in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment.

• Clearances & Employment Suitability: Australian Citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a Defence Security Clearance.

Desirable

• Experience within aviation regulatory frameworks (e.g., CASA Part 138, Part 145, Part 42) or government security frameworks (e.g., DISP, PSPF).

• Experience supporting mobilisation, transition-in, or capability implementation activities for special mission or aerial surveillance aircraft.

• PMP or equivalent certification.