Job Description

Acknowledgement of Country

CSIRO acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, sea and waters, of the areas that we live and work on across Australia. We acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. View our vision towards reconciliation.

Role highlights

• Lead strategic energy partnerships across Southeast Asia
• Coordinate high-impact programs with government, research, industry and regional partners
• Shape a growing portfolio delivering real-world energy transition outcomes

About CSIRO

As Australia's national science agency, CSIRO is solving the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. Many of our iconic innovations were once considered impossible until someone, just like you, joined us and took on the challenge. Visit CSIRO.au for more information.

The opportunity

Join CSIRO's Energy Systems Transition Program and play a key role in delivering collaborative programs that support the energy transition across Southeast Asia.

As Program Manager - Southeast Asia Energy Partnerships, you will lead the coordination and delivery of CSIRO's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)-funded regional energy program. Working across government, research, industry and multilateral organisations, you will help ensure program activities are well planned, effectively governed, contractually compliant, and delivered to client and partner expectations.

This is an opportunity to combine strategic stakeholder engagement, program leadership and international collaboration in a role with real-world impact. You will work with culturally diverse and geographically distributed teams, bringing together CSIRO researchers, government agencies, universities, contractors and regional partners to address complex energy transition challenges.

You will provide program-level leadership across planning, budgeting, procurement, contracting, monitoring, evaluation and learning, reporting, risk management and communications. You will also help strengthen governance, partner confidence and opportunities for future investment and regional collaboration.

While initially focused on CSIRO's DFAT-funded Southeast Asia energy portfolio, the role may support other strategic partnership programs and future externally funded initiatives as organisational priorities and opportunities evolve.

Your high-level duties will include:

• Leading the program-level coordination and delivery of CSIRO's DFAT-funded Southeast Asia energy program across agreed scope, schedule, budget, quality, risk and reporting requirements.
• Coordinating regional collaborations involving CSIRO research teams, DFAT, Australian Government partners, ASEAN and Southeast Asian partner organisations, universities, contractors and external delivery providers.
• Translating program objectives into clear delivery plans, milestones, work packages, reporting rhythms, governance arrangements and decision pathways.
• Managing program risks, dependencies and delivery issues in a complex and changing environment, escalating matters where required and progressing sensitive or contentious issues to resolution.
• Coordinating proposal development, budgeting, procurement, contract establishment and management, partner engagement and acquittal processes.
• Managing program budgets, forecasts and financial performance, ensuring effective stewardship and compliance with contractual, funding and organisational requirements.
• Designing and maintaining fit-for-purpose monitoring, evaluation, learning and reporting arrangements that demonstrate outcomes, impact and partner value.
• Building productive relationships with government agencies, research collaborators, regional bodies and energy system organisations, and representing CSIRO professionally in meetings, workshops and forums.
• Identifying and supporting opportunities for program growth, follow-on investment and new regional partnerships aligned with CSIRO's Energy Systems strategy and client priorities.

Role particulars

Location and office arrangements: Newcastle (NSW) preferred; Black Mountain (ACT); Clayton (VIC) may be considered. Hybrid working available up to 2 days per week.

Salary: AU$163k - AU$180k per annum (pro rata for part-time), plus up to 15.4% superannuation.

Tenure and work schedule: Indefinite; full-time or part-time (minimum 0.8 FTE / 4 days per week).

Reference: 103965

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

• Formal qualifications, such as a Diploma or bachelor's degree, in project, program or portfolio management, or equivalent relevant experience, with demonstrated ability to manage complex programs of work. This may include certification such as Certified Practising Senior Project Manager, Certified Practising Project Director, or the ability to obtain relevant certification.
• Demonstrated experience establishing, coordinating and delivering complex programs of work in uncertain, rapidly changing or ambiguous environments, including maintaining delivery momentum while managing risk, dependencies and stakeholder expectations.
• Demonstrated experience leading, facilitating and coordinating multidisciplinary delivery teams, including internal staff, contractors, external delivery providers and partner organisations, using contemporary project and program management approaches to align priorities, manage risk, provide visibility of progress and decision-making, and achieve cohesive and efficient program outcomes.
• Demonstrated experience in proposal development, budgeting, procurement, contract management, project governance, reporting and compliance with organisational, client and regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrated experience navigating complex stakeholder environments and building productive relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders across multiple organisations to achieve shared strategic outcomes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to facilitate engagement, alignment and decision-making, and to present complex technical, program and business information clearly to diverse technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated judgement and problem-solving capability in ambiguous situations, including the ability to evaluate complex information, identify practical options, manage risk and progress sensitive or contentious matters to resolution.

For full details about this role and the desirable criteria, please review the Position Description.

Not sure if you meet all the criteria?

While it is CSIRO policy that the successful candidate must meet all the essential criteria, there are many ways to demonstrate this. Don't let the list discourage you. If you are unsure about applying, please reach out to the contact person in the Position Description.

Setting you up for success

We are committed to providing a recruitment process that is fair, equitable and accessible to everyone. We recognise that it may be helpful for us to adjust our process to make it equitable for your individual situation. Please contact Cristina O'Brien at cristina.obrien@csiro.au and let us know how we can support you.

Life at CSIRO and flexible work arrangements

We work flexibly at CSIRO, offering a range of options for how, when and where you work. We can discuss flexible work arrangements with you during the recruitment process. CSIRO also offers a range of leave entitlements, benefits and career development opportunities. To find out more, visit Careers at CSIRO.

Inclusion and belonging

Solving Australia's greatest challenges takes a diversity of minds and lived experiences. We know diverse teams are more effective and deliver more innovative outcomes. As an equal employment opportunity organisation, we are committed to creating diverse and inclusive teams where people feel they belong. We focus on hiring people who share our values of People First, Further Together, Making it Real and Trusted.

CSIRO holds Gold Status for the Australian Workplace Equality Index for LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and a Science in Australia Gender Equity Bronze Award.

Eligibility

Applications for this position are open to Australian Citizens only. Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.

The successful applicant will be required to obtain and maintain a Baseline level security clearance

Child safety

CSIRO is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people involved in our activities and programs. View our Child Safe Policy.

How to apply

Please apply online and submit (1) a CV and (2) responses to each of the essential criteria (max 3 pages) as outlined in the position description.

Applications close

Monday 28 September 2026 at 11:00pm AEST