Senior Project Manager

The Senior Project Manager will work under the direction of the Program Manager with considerable autonomy and accountability. The role will provide end-to-end project management for assigned projects across planning, delivery, governance, finance, resources, risks, dependencies, stakeholder engagement and reporting in accordance with the Bureau Delivery Framework. The role will apply and promote proportionate agile, predictive or hybrid ways of working to improve collaboration, prioritisation, delivery visibility, adaptability and continuous improvement. Key duties and responsibilities The Requirement   Introduction  The Science and Innovation Group (SIG) requires an experienced Senior Project Manager to lead the delivery of nominated complex projects and science-based initiatives across the Bureau. The role will also support improved project delivery through practical agile ways of working across projects and delivery teams, including the design and establishment of a cadence-based, multi-team planning approach for the SIG portfolio of projects.   Background to Requirement  The Senior Project Manager will work under the direction of the Program Manager with considerable autonomy and accountability. The role will provide end-to-end project management for assigned projects across planning, delivery, governance, finance, resources, risks, dependencies, stakeholder engagement and reporting in accordance with the Bureau Delivery Framework. The role will apply and promote proportionate agile, predictive or hybrid ways of working to improve collaboration, prioritisation, delivery visibility, adaptability and continuous improvement.   Objectives and Outcomes  Deliver assigned projects in SIG against approved scope, schedule, budget, resources and quality expectations.  Maintain effective governance, project controls, stakeholder engagement and transparent reporting to support timely decisions and successful delivery.  Strengthen coordination across projects and delivery teams by improving visibility of priorities, capacity, dependencies, risks and milestones.  Apply practical agile ways of working to improve planning, collaboration, adaptability and delivery outcomes.  Support the SIG Project Office to design and run a cadence-based planning cycle, such as Program Increment Planning, and hand it over so that Bureau personnel can run subsequent events.  Build sustainable project delivery capability through practical coaching, documentation, knowledge transfer and continuous improvement.   Detailed Requirements  Plan and drive assigned projects, maintaining fit-for-purpose plans for scope, milestones, deliverables, schedule, budget, resources, quality, benefits, risks, issues and dependencies.  Coordinate multidisciplinary project teams and work package leads, monitor performance against approved baselines and implement or recommend corrective action.  Manage projects through relevant Bureau Delivery Framework stages, including transition into operations or business-as-usual arrangements where applicable.  Select and apply agile, predictive or hybrid delivery methods proportionately to each project’s characteristics, maturity and risk profile.  Establish practical planning and delivery rhythms that support clear priorities, manageable work, regular review and timely decision-making.  Design a PI Planning (or equivalent) cycle suited to the program’s funding, governance and reporting rhythm, including cycle length, roles, agenda, planning artefacts and tooling.  Lead readiness for, and facilitate, multi-team planning events, including business context and priorities briefings, team breakouts, program board and dependency mapping, risk handling (resolved, owned, accepted or mitigated), management review and confidence voting.  Run inspect-and-adapt reviews after each planning cycle and report predictability measures, including objectives achieved against plan, confidence trend and dependency performance.  Facilitate collaborative planning, prioritisation, dependency and risk discussions, reviews, retrospectives and other delivery forums as appropriate.  Use iterative planning, feedback and continuous improvement to adapt delivery approaches and improve outcomes.  Provide consolidated visibility of priorities, progress, capacity, milestones, dependencies and risks across relevant projects and delivery teams.  Prepare high-quality project and planning artefacts, governance reports, briefings, recommendations and decision papers for sponsors, governance bodies, senior management and ACS stakeholders.  Develop and maintain budgets, forecasts and resource plans; identify pressures early and provide evidence-based options.  Build productive relationships across scientific, technical, policy, corporate and partner organisations, and facilitate complex consultations and decision forums.  Coach project managers, work package leads and delivery teams in practical project delivery, agile ways of working and continuous improvement.  Mandatory experience: at least five years’ demonstrated experience managing complex multidisciplinary projects, including the application of agile or hybrid methodologies, and experience preparing or facilitating at least one multi-team planning event (such as a PI planning or an equivalent scaled agile planning event).  Required capability: strong project delivery, project controls, governance, financial and resource management, facilitation, stakeholder engagement and executive communication skills; demonstrated ability to tailor agile ways of working to complex delivery environments; experience with Microsoft 365 and tools such as Jira, Confluence and Microsoft Project or equivalent; and relevant tertiary qualifications or equivalent professional experience. Recognised project management or scaled agile certification (eg, SAFe) is desirable.  Comply with Bureau work health and safety requirements and demonstrate conduct consistent with APS Values, Employment Principles and the APS Code of Conduct.   Key Performance Indicators  Assigned project deliverables and milestones are completed on time, within approved tolerances and to the quality accepted by the Bureau representative.  Project plans, budgets, forecasts and resource information are reliable, with material risks, issues, dependencies and decisions escalated early.  Governance artefacts, reports and briefings are accurate, concise, complete and fit for purpose.  Stakeholder feedback demonstrates effective leadership, engagement, facilitation and working relationships.  Agile ways of working are applied proportionately and contribute to improved collaboration, delivery visibility, adaptability and continuous improvement.  The first PI Planning (or equivalent) event is delivered by May 2027, with the program board, dependency register and risk register complete at the close of the event.  Planning and delivery information provides clear visibility of priorities, progress, capacity, dependencies, risks, milestones and decisions.  Knowledge and capability are progressively transferred to Bureau personnel such that Bureau personnel can facilitate the second planning cycle with limited contractor support.  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 criteria 1. Mandatory qualification and suitability requirements At least five years’ demonstrated experience managing complex multidisciplinary projects. Experience preparing or facilitating at least one multi-team planning event (for example PI Planning, quarterly planning or an equivalent scaled agile approach), including dependency mapping, capacity planning and risk handling. Relevant tertiary qualifications or equivalent professional experience. Recognised project management or scaled agile certification (for example SAFe) is not mandatory and will be considered favourably under the weighted criteria. Ability to satisfy the required police check, security, citizenship and onboarding requirements applicable to the engagement. 2. Project delivery and governance experience Demonstrated success delivering complex multidisciplinary projects, including multiple concurrent projects. Strong project controls, governance, financial, resource, risk, issue and dependency management capability. Ability to prepare concise, evidence-based reporting, briefings, recommendations and decision papers for senior stakeholders and governance forums 3. Scaled agile and multi-team planning capability Demonstrated experience applying agile, predictive and hybrid approaches to improve delivery in complex, multidisciplinary environments. Demonstrated experience designing, establishing or running a PI Planning (or equivalent) cadence across multiple interdependent teams, including readiness, program board and dependency management, risk handling and reviews. Strong facilitation skills across collaborative planning, prioritisation, dependency and risk discussions, delivery reviews and retrospectives. Ability to tailor practical ways of working that improve visibility, adaptability, stakeholder engagement and continuous improvement without imposing unnecessary process. 4. Collaboration, coaching and communication Ability to build alignment and resolve priority, capacity and dependency conflicts across multidisciplinary teams and organisational boundaries. Strong executive communication skills, including confidence working with sponsors, senior leaders and partner stakeholders. Demonstrated ability to coach teams, document practical ways of working and transfer knowledge to Bureau personnel. 5. Professional approach and APS Values Demonstrates sound judgement, initiative, adaptability, integrity and a constructive approach to resolving issues. Commitment to APS Values, the APS Code of Conduct, diversity and inclusion, and Bureau work health and safety requirements. Opportunity summary Sellers can submit Up to 3 candidates Number of sellers invited Between 5 and 10 Number of candidates submitted Fewer than 10 RFQ closing time 01 Weeks 00 Days 06 Hours Send us feedback About Accessibility Privacy Terms of use Disclaimer and copyright An initiative of the Digital Transformation Agency The Australian Government acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the Elders past and present. © Commonwealth of Australia