Job Description

Hello. We’re Virgin Australia. We’re the airline that’s always done things a little different. Our way. The Virgin way. We’re on a mission to make flying better than ‘nice’. And to do that, it takes a team of talented people who are passionate about customer experience, doing the right thing always, with a focus on safety – in the air, on the ground and in our workplaces. A team who values real diversity and inclusion, in a big brand with big ambitions.

What you’ll be doing:

The Program Director will oversee successful planning and delivery of all projects and programs within the Airline Operations portfolio in alignment with the IT Project Delivery Framework. This role is accountable for ensuring alignment, consistency, and integration across all Operations Technology programs and projects, as well as their coordination within the broader IT portfolio.

The role will set direction for portfolio delivery, overseeing planning, resourcing, tooling, and execution to ensure initiatives are effectively prioritised and delivered in line with business objectives. This includes establishing strong governance and maintaining clear visibility of budgets, schedules, and RAIDD elements.

Working closely with executive sponsors and cross-functional stakeholders, the Program Director will manage dependencies, align priorities, and support informed decision-making at a portfolio level. The role will also lead key vendor and commercial engagements and drive organisational change to ensure successful adoption and realisation of benefits across the portfolio.

You’ll be great in this role if you:

• Bring tertiary qualifications in Project or Business Management, with a strong strong people management skills, planning, prioritisation, vendor and contract management experience/skills,
• Come with strategy and roadmap for portfolio delivery planning along with strong reporting and commuication skills
• Have proven experience as a Program Director (or similar), delivering large scale programs valued at $50M+ or comprising multiple project streams
• Demonstrate strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting and financial modelling to support decision making
• Can build and maintain trusted relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including executive leadership
• Can confidently influence across all levels of the organisation and effectively manage expectations, risks and reporting outcomes
• Showcase exceptional leadership, organisational and time management skills, with the ability to lead and inspire large complex teams
• Apply strong stakeholder engagement skills with a flexible and collaborative approach
• Operate with integrity, discretion and the highest ethical standards when handling sensitive information
• Use critical thinking and analytical skills to interpret data, generate insights and enable fact based decisions
• Have a solid understanding of financial governance, controls and project/change management methodologies

Bonus points if you also bring:

• A Master’s degree in Business Administration or a related field
• Extensive experience (15+ years) in program/project management and leading large teams (50+ people)
• Experience within the airline industry or complex, operational environments
• Knowledge of technology delivery, SDLC and both Agile and waterfall methodologies
• Familiarity with tools such as Jira, Confluence, ChatGPT, DevSecOps, MS Project, and Power BI

We’re committed to looking after you, with some of the best benefits and conditions in the industry – including (but not limited to):

• Discounted flights for you and your loved ones (including $1000 worth of travel credits per year)
• A flexible, hybrid work style. Work from home or the office, adapt your location to suit your style and needs
• One of Brisbane’s most admired head office locations, with South Bank train station, a supermarket, pharmacy, and lunch options downstairs plus a 5-minute walk to the Busway, a rooftop restaurant and onsite gym (with a low membership fee) and South Bank Parklands just across the road
• Discounts on travel insurance, lounge membership, car hire, accommodation, and experiences worldwide
• Cheaper hospitality, retail, technology, beauty and wellness services
• Free counselling and access to a wellbeing app to support your physical, mental, social and financial health
• ‘Dress for Your Day’ – enjoy the freedom to wear whatever makes you feel great for the type of work you do and the day you have ahead of you.

When everyone is included, everyone wins:

We’re all individuals. And we love that. That’s why we encourage applications from Indigenous Australians, people with disability, those from diverse cultural backgrounds, our friends in the LGBTQI+ community, and anyone else who wants to join our family.

Ready to apply? We’re ready to hear from you. Apply now.