About AARNet

Australia’s Academic and Research Network (AARNet), founded in 1989, has played a pivotal role in shaping Australia’s digital landscape as the pioneers of the country’s Internet. Our mission extends beyond mere connectivity; we are the architects, builders, and operators of a world-class network infrastructure that fuels critical research and learning. At AARNet, innovation thrives within a vibrant community.

Connecting a Million Minds: Our extensive reach interconnects over one million users—from researchers and faculty to staff and students—across institutions throughout Australia. Whether it’s high-energy physics, climate science, genomics, radio astronomy, or the arts, we serve as the backbone supporting education and research across diverse disciplines.

Our Culture: At AARNet, we’re a dynamic team of innovators, doers, and courageous thinkers. We don’t settle for the status quo; instead, we anticipate the future needs of our customers and build solutions today. If you share our imagination, foresight, and drive to shape the future, consider joining us on this exciting journey

The Role

AARNet is seeking an experienced and highly focused Program Director to lead the Infrastructure groups PMO, successfully delivering AARNet’s portfolio of large-scale Telecommunication construction projects across Australia.

Drawing on your extensive experience managing and delivering complex, high value infrastructure projects, you will demonstrate excellent leadership skills and thrive guiding a high-performing project delivery team. As Program Director, your primary responsibility will be to deliver high-quality project management services for the Major Infrastructure Construction division. Brining to the role considerable project management experience, your excellent interpersonal skills will empower you to engage meaningfully at a senior leadership level, contributing to pivotal business decisions, fostering sound portfolio governance, and guiding a diverse team of Project Managers.

You are articulate and perceptive, with an excellent ability to effectively listen and understand key requirements. Your career background in linear Infrastructure Construction projects such as Telecommunications, Rail, Road or Energy will equip you with the knowledge & ability to navigate a dynamic range of stakeholders and distil complex information into meaningful insights. You are highly skilled at communicating complex information clearly and concisely and have meaningful influence effect.

Your ability to take decisive action, drive resolutions, and network positive outcomes with a variety of internal and external stakeholders will be instrumental to your success. As a Program Director, you will demonstrate accountability for the successful delivery of large fibre infrastructure project(s).

Risk management is a key accountability for the role, identifying, evaluating, and managing risks both within & across projects and sub-projects as well as highlighting and managing potential inter-project dependencies. Empowered by your ability to think critically, you will successfully anticipate project challenges and take proactive action

Sydney or Melbourne based.

Responsibilities

Portfolio Delivery

• Lead the PMO team: Foster a culture of collaboration and engagement with all projects and relevant functions to ensure the successful delivery of AARNet’s major infrastructure works. This involves coordinating with various teams, managing resources, and overseeing project timelines.
• Drive Efficiency: Develop and implement robust strategies for quality and consistency within the Portfolio, steering improvements in program and project management, governance, and delivery efficiency across the PMO and broader Project Delivery Teams.
• Portfolio Management: Maintain a comprehensive understanding of project interdependencies, proactively managing competing priorities to effectively schedule and prioritize key portfolio activities.
• Deliver Value: Execute scheduling, resourcing, and budget management activities across major construction projects, tracking value management across the infrastructure portfolio to ensure optimal resource allocation and cost-effectiveness.
• Problem Solving: Analyse, develop, and implement creative and innovative solutions to complex project and portfolio challenges, leveraging critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Facilitate Solutions: Drive the facilitation of resolutions for project delivery tensions across the Major Infrastructure Construction division, ensuring smooth operations and timely project completion.
• Risk Management: Utilise project management principles and frameworks to proactively identify, assess, and manage risks across the Portfolio, ensuring the mitigation of potential issues.
• Executive Reporting: Deliver professional presentations and reports to the AARNet Executive and Board, and external customers, providing comprehensive overviews of major risks, requirements, costs, and progress of the national infrastructure works portfolio.

Management, Mentorship, and Development

• Engage with Project Delivery Teams to provide support and guidance, ensuring the successful execution of projects.
• Motivate and mentor Project Managers of varying skill levels and industry experience, fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional growth.
• Monitor, review, and manage staff performance, identifying opportunities for professional development to support the achievement of performance objectives and drive continuous improvement.
• Foster an environment that facilitates productive working relationships with stakeholders, both internal and external, building a shared commitment to project goals and fostering a sense of ownership and accountability.
• Develop and implement progress initiatives within the team to drive continuous improvement, promoting a culture of excellence and innovation.
• Collaborate with executive and senior management to provide technical expertise for strategic planning activities and improvement recommendations, leveraging industry knowledge and insights to inform decision-making processes.

Expertise, experience & qualifications

• You are an Australian Citizen
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Project Management Town Planning or a related field will be highly regarded
• Proven experience as a Project Manager on large-scale projects, including knowledge of linear construction methodologies (knowledge/experience with infrastructure and construction You have a reasonable
• You have excellent time management skills
• You are confident leading and working within teams and can multi-task against competing priorities
• You are competent using a broad range of office software applications including Microsoft Word, Excel & Project and are comfortable using scheduling software applications
• You have a career of acquired business and commercial knowledge including a solid understanding of business economics, contract management, financial management as well as legal and regulatory frameworks.
• You understand commercial agreements and have experience in contract negotiation, comfortable with terms, definitions, implications, and common commercial lingo.

Conditions of employment

AARNet is committed to diversity and providing equal opportunity to all. We’re a great place to work if you want to make a difference. 

AARNet provides competitive remuneration and a host of other benefits including:

• Superannuation: Enjoy a 17% superannuation contribution.
• Parental/Adoption Leave: We offer 24 weeks of paid parental leave and superannuation top-up.
• Secondary Carer Leave: 16 weeks of paid parental leave for secondary caregivers.
• Wellness Leave: 2 days per month paid Women’s wellness leave.
• Family & Domestic Violence Leave: 20 days of paid leave.
• Other Supportive Leaves: Paid leave for various life events such as weddings, deaths, trauma, and disasters.
• Purchased Leave: Options to purchase additional Annual Leave.
• Flexible Work Options: We support work-life balance.
• Equal Opportunity Focus: We value diversity and inclusion.
• Social Responsibility and Ethics: We lead by example.
• Cutting-Edge Technologies: Access to work with the latest industry technology.