Manufacturing Program Manager

Randstad Defence are seeking a driven Manufacturing Program Manager to lead a critical portfolio within advanced Defence and Engineering manufacturing operations.

Reporting to the Portfolio Director, this pivotal leadership position sits at the intersection of high-level strategy and operational execution. You will hold overarching accountability for a portfolio of complex, interconnected manufacturing projects, driving delivery excellence while balancing priorities, resources, and commercial growth.

If you are a seasoned program or manufacturing leader capable of navigating multi-project interdependencies, and shaping future business opportunities, this role offers an exceptional platform to influence Australia's sovereign defence capabilities.

About the role:

As the Manufacturing Program Manager, you will be responsible for working closely with cross-functional technical teams and executive leadership. You will directly manage 3 Operations Managers while steering a broader indirect footprint of approximately 300 personnel across Defence Engineering, Manufacturing, Electrical, Electronics, and technical trades.

You will:

• Drive Program Delivery: Direct manufacturing performance across cost, schedule, quality, and safety to ensure total alignment with strategic targets, corporate governance, and stakeholder commitments.
• Provide Portfolio Oversight: Lead robust, cross-functional project and manufacturing reviews, establishing total performance visibility and proactive risk management.
• Embed Quality Excellence: Act as a champion for Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) principles, driving a culture of continuous improvement across all manufacturing streams.
• Optimise Resources & Interdependencies: Make high-stakes trade-off decisions, balancing cross-project priorities to optimize resource utilisation and streamline execution.
• Sustain Business Growth: Take ownership of the manufacturing pipeline by proactively identifying, shaping, and capturing new business opportunities to support continuous growth.
• Engage Senior Stakeholders: Build and leverage strong, collaborative relationships across key internal leaders, external customers, and defence industry partners.

About You

We are seeking an accomplished program leader who combines operational delivery expertise with strong commercial judgment and strategic vision.

Your background will ideally include:

• Industry Leadership: A proven track record of managing large-scale programs or project portfolios within Defence, Aerospace, or similarly complex advanced manufacturing environments.
• Interdependency & Risk Mastery: Demonstrated expertise in identifying, managing, and mitigating program-level risks across complex, interrelated projects.
• Quality & Governance Focus: Hands-on experience applying governance frameworks and embedding APQP or equivalent quality assurance systems.
• Commercial & Growth Mindset: Sound commercial acumen with a history of building trusted stakeholder relationships and actively expanding operational pipelines.
• Leadership & Influence: Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, influence key decision-makers, and drive a culture of performance and accountability.

Security & Requirements

Security Clearance: Australian Citizenship is mandatory. Candidates must hold, or be eligible to obtain and maintain, an NV1 Security Clearance.

How to Apply

If you are ready to take ownership of a critical manufacturing portfolio and lead high-impact outcomes, we welcome your application.

Click APPLY NOW or contact Lynette Cardinal ([email protected]/ 0422094848) for a confidential conversation regarding your background and the role.

At Randstad, we are passionate about providing equal employment opportunities and embracing diversity to the benefit of all. We actively encourage applications from any background.