Senior Project Manager

At Coras, we fuse expertise with humanity, rigor with creativity and innovation with curiosity. At the core of our business is the belief that a diversity of perspectives is the key to new thinking. That’s why our team brings together deep industry experience with some of the brightest young minds in Australia. Our values are more than just words on an email signature; we’re driven by an ethos that inspires and governs everything we do.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced and trusted Senior Project Manager to join our Maritime Capability team in Sydney.

In this role, you will lead and influence complex Defence projects, support capability development and training systems, and work closely with senior ADF, APS and DSTG stakeholders to deliver high-quality outcomes. You will bring clarity, discipline and structure to Defence programs while contributing to the growth and capability of the Maritime Capability segment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage complex Defence projects and programs across the Maritime Capability domain.
• Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, governance frameworks and reporting products.
• Provide high-quality advice to senior Defence and industry stakeholders on project performance, risks, issues and opportunities.
• Coordinate and contribute to ADF training activities, including war game design, development and production, ensuring training products are operationally relevant and aligned to capability needs.
• Build and maintain strong relationships across ADF, APS, DSTG and Defence industry to support project integration and decision-making.
• Facilitate timely, structured and effective stakeholder engagement to support capability outcomes.
• Manage competing priorities and maintain project momentum across multi-disciplinary teams.
• Contribute to a culture of collaboration, curiosity and continuous improvement within the Maritime Capability segment and across Coras.

Our Ideal Candidate

You will thrive in complex, high-tempo environments and bring a blend of project leadership, Defence experience and strong interpersonal capability. You apply structure and critical thinking to ambiguous problems, communicate with clarity and confidence, and build trusted relationships across Defence and industry.

Required skills and attributes include:

• Significant project and/or program management experience within Defence, Defence Industry or a similarly complex environment.
• Demonstrated experience supporting or leading Maritime or broader Defence capability and training projects.
• ADF training experience, including involvement in war game design, development and production.
• Strong stakeholder engagement experience across ADF, DSTG and APS, with the ability to navigate Defence organisational structures and governance frameworks.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to distil complex technical, operational or strategic information into clear insights.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Tertiary qualifications in Project Management, Engineering, Management, Defence Studies or related disciplines.
• Familiarity with Defence project management and capability frameworks.
• Prior experience as a Principal Warfare Officer (PWO) or Maritime Warfare Officer - particularly where this includes operational planning, training system development or strategic decision-support.
• Current NV1 or higher AGSVA Security Clearance (or ability to obtain).
• Prior experience within Navy, CASG/NSSG, DSTG or Defence industry highly regarded.

Why join Coras?

Coras prides itself on being a management consultancy with a difference. Underpinned by our core values, we are trailblazers for innovative consulting models and strategic solutions. As a result, we have built a culture that has our people’s aspirations, development and wellbeing front and centre.

Some of our employee benefits include:

• Well defined pathway for advancement
• Access to SME coaches to support your development
• Paid parental leave provisions
• Access to external and internal training, including a consulting skills program
• An additional 5 days per year of professional development leave
• Whole of company annual conference
• The opportunity to work with like-minded people on exciting projects
• Access to our Employee Assistance Provider