Production Operations Manager - AIR6500 Production Operations

The Opportunity

Eligibility: Applicants must be Australian citizens and be eligible to obtain and maintain an active Australian Government Defence security clearance at the level required for the position.

AIR6500 is the RAAF’s $3 billion program to develop a joint air battle management system that builds on the capabilities offered by Next Generation sensor and command and control systems. AIR6500 will create a fully networked ‘system of systems’ that synchronises air and missile Defence operations in joint and coalition environments, maximising situational awareness and enhancing the speed of decision making across the battlespace.

The AIR6500 Production Operations Manager is the single point of contact for all manufacturing‑operations matters on the AIR6500 program. The incumbent establishes and leads the production capability for the Program, and is accountable to program management for delivering hardware on schedule, cost and quality. Additionally the role will be responsible for managing production requirements for program from concept to execution. This role bridges the Production, Engineering, Sourcing and Quality functions within the Program to ensure a seamless transition from concept through production at the Adelaide and Newcastle facilities.

This role can either be based from Adelaide or Newcastle with some travel as required.

Key responsibilities

* Support Design To Production - Advise and support the AIR6500 Engineering and Technology (E&T) team members in design of product via Integrated Product Team (IPT) support to ensure alignment with the program’s overall schedule and cost targets.
* Lead Production Execution \- Lead the production team to meet program production milestones, resolve production issues, and drive continious improvement across Production disciplines
* Production Planning & Scheduling Deliver successful execution of the production schedule through the MRP system – load demand, manage material procurement, and drive internal build execution to meet milestone dates and cost targets.
* Make/Buy Policy Enforcement – Champion the Make/Buy policy, conduct value‑engineered trade studies and present formal business cases to senior leadership.
* Financial & Earned‑Value Management – Serve as Control Account Manager (CAM) for AIR6500 Production. Own budgeting, cost‑accountability (CAM) and Earned‑Value reporting.
* Stakeholder & Interface Management – Serve as the primary liaison between the AIR6500 Hardware Factory leadership, Platforms IPT members (Engineering, Sourcing, and Quality) and the AIR6500 Production team.
* Mentorship & Workforce Development – Lead, coach and develop AIR6500 Production Operations staff; foster a culture of continuous improvement.
* Risk & Opportunity Management – Lead AIR6500 Production Team risk‑and‑opportunity identification, mitigation and reporting in line with AS4360.

What you'll bring

To be considered, it is essential you demonstrate the following skills and experience:

* Extensive experience leading Production and Manufacturing for Defence Programs
* Establishment and management of a Production Capability for Defence programs
* Extensive experience in leading production teams on development programs
* Advanced planning, stakeholder engagement and execution of an ERP rollout
* Expert planning, organisational, and management skills within multi-discipline project teams
* Extensive experience with the development of Business Cases and Proposals
* Expert demonstrated understanding of the interfaces between stakeholders in Production, Procurement, Quality, ILS and Engineering
* Expert demonstrated experience in financial management and reporting
* Expert demonstrated understanding of the interactions between the Production, Engineering, Program Management, Finance, commercial, Quality and support areas

About Lockheed Martin Australia

Lockheed Martin is a dynamic organisation, providing stimulating and challenging opportunities with a global team of over 122,000 professionals. We embrace flexibility, so our people can be their best inside and outside of work. As a leader in national security, our innovative and diverse programs create a more secure future for Australia across space, air, land, sea, and cyber domains.

Special Requirements

Applicants must be eligible to obtain and maintain an Australian Defence Security Clearance and employment may be contingent on the provision of further personal information including citizenship to ensure compliance with international export control legislation and regulations.

Veteran Friendly Workplace

Veterans are encouraged to apply. We highly value the unique skills and experiences that veterans and transitioning service members can contribute to our team. We are proud to be recognised as a Veteran Friendly Employer by the Australian Government.

Equal Opportunity

Lockheed Martin Australia supports Equal Employment Opportunity and values diversity in the workplace by creating a place of employment that is, free of unlawful discrimination and is harassment free, fair, ethical, inclusive, and values the contribution of all its employees. By leveraging our employees’ unique talents and experiences, we will deliver innovative, affordable solutions and unparalleled customer value.

As part of our endeavours to increase participation of Indigenous Australians, we welcome applications from all people, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone can thrive. If you are selected for this role, we would be happy to discuss any adjustments that will help you to be successful.