Competency & Career Development Lead

Contract Type:

Permanent

Location:

Port Adelaide

Industry:

HR & Recruitment

Contact Name:

Mikki Apostolopoulos

Contact Email:

mikki.apo@harrisonmcmillan.com.au

Contact Phone

0468 097 503

Published

09-Sep-2026

Competency & Career Development Lead

Competency & Capability Development Lead
ASC - 18-Month Maternity Leave Contract - Port Adelaide, SA Location


Harrison McMillan is proud to partner with ASC to appoint a Competency & Capability Development Lead  for an 18-month maternity leave contract within their Talent & Performance team.

Reporting to the Talent & Performance Manager, you will lead the next phase of ASC's competency and career development program, driving adoption, capability uplift and workforce development outcomes across a complex and highly skilled workforce.
This opportunity will suit an experienced Organisational Development, Talent, Capability or People & Culture professional who enjoys balancing strategic thinking with practical delivery.

About the Role
This role is far more than framework design.
The successful candidate will inherit a substantial body of project work already underway and be responsible for driving adoption, stakeholder engagement, change management and practical implementation outcomes across the organisation.
ASC is seeking a pragmatic Organisational Development or People & Culture professional who can balance strategic thinking with hands-on delivery.
A key focus of the role is overseeing ASC's competency development program, including aligning competencies and proficiency levels to role architecture, facilitating assessment processes and supporting career development pathways across the organisation.

You will also manage an established external specialist provider that delivers benchmarking, implementation expertise and additional resourcing support. Strong vendor management capability, commercial awareness and stakeholder engagement skills will therefore be essential.
Key Responsibilities

  • Lead the implementation and ongoing enhancement of ASC's competency framework program

  • Align competency and proficiency frameworks with role architecture and business requirements

  • Facilitate self-assessment, cross-assessment and calibration activities

  • Develop practical tools, resources and implementation guides

  • Drive stakeholder engagement, communications and change activities

  • Support career development initiatives, career pathways and workforce capability planning

  • Manage project timelines, governance and delivery milestones

  • Manage external providers and support stakeholders through implementation and adoption

About You
We are seeking an experienced Organisational Development, Talent, Capability or People & Culture professional with a track record of delivering workforce capability initiatives within complex environments.
To be successful, you will demonstrate:

  • Experience implementing competency, capability or workforce development frameworks

  • Strong Organisational Development and/or People & Culture capability

  • Demonstrated project and program management experience

  • Excellent stakeholder engagement, communication and influencing skills

  • Experience leading change and adoption initiatives

  • Ability to translate concepts into practical business solutions

  • Experience developing implementation resources, frameworks and workforce tools

  • Strong vendor and consultant management capability

  • Ability to work effectively in environments experiencing ongoing change and competing priorities

Most importantly, you will bring the ability to keep momentum across a significant program of work, navigate stakeholder complexity and translate capability frameworks into practical business outcomes.
Experience within defence, government, infrastructure, utilities, resources, manufacturing or other large-scale organisations will be highly regarded.

Culture & Fit
ASC is seeking someone who is:

  • Collaborative, calm, adaptable and resilient

  • Pragmatic and outcomes-focused

  • Politically astute with strong stakeholder capability

  • Comfortable navigating ambiguity and organisational complexity

  • A genuine team player who builds credibility and trust

Importantly, ASC is seeking a practitioner who enjoys delivery and implementation, rather than someone focused solely on framework design or OD theory.
What's on Offer

  • 18-month maternity leave contract

  • Hybrid working arrangements

  • Port Adelaide location

  • Exposure to a significant organisational capability program

  • Opportunity to work alongside experienced OD, Talent and People leaders

  • Strong organisational culture focused on collaboration and continuous improvement

Eligibility & Application Requirements
As ASC operates within Australia's defence industry, the following requirements apply:

  • Australian Citizenship to obtain necessary security clearances

  • Ability to obtain and maintain Australian Defence Security Clearances

  • Ability to satisfy relevant National Police Clearance and employment screening requirements

  • Current resume and tailored cover letter required as part of application submission

  • Additional supporting documentation may be requested throughout the recruitment process

For a Confidential Discussion please contact;

Mikki Apostolopoulos
Account Manager HR Specialist Recruitment
Harrison McMillan

Direct: 0468 097 503
Mainline: (08) 7100 1823
Email: mikki.apo@harrisonmcmillan.com.au

Applications will be reviewed as received. Early applications are encouraged.

Apply Now
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