ADF Commercial Lead (AU)

About the role

The ADF Commercial Lead is a senior, hands-on commercial role responsible for building and executing DroneShield’s Australian Defence Force go-to-market activity as a focused capability provider. The role will lead day-to-day sales engagement with Defence, CASG and Australian prime contractors, with a strong emphasis on Defence procurement execution, ASDEFCON processes, stakeholder mapping and disciplined opportunity management. Reporting directly to the Chief Commercial Officer, this position will work closely with the tendering team and internal technical stakeholders to engage the Defence market, build credible pathways into priority programmes, and convert adjacent activities into funded opportunities.

The role can be based in Canberra, Adelaide or Sydney.

Responsibilities, Duties and Expectations 

• Own the Australian Defence Force commercial account strategy and day-to-day sales activity, positioning DroneShield as a focused capability provider to Defence and as a sub-tier capability partner to Australian primes
• Lead Defence procurement execution for relevant opportunities, ensuring clear understanding of tender pathways, procurement requirements, response timelines and evaluation expectations
• Apply strong ASDEFCON knowledge to support compliant, commercially sound and competitive tender responses, working with the tendering team and internal subject matter experts
• Identify, qualify and progress opportunities to sell directly into Defence or through Australian prime contractors, with disciplined pipeline tracking and clear next steps for each opportunity
• Develop and maintain a clear stakeholder and opportunity map for priority Defence programs, and adjacent pipeline-building initiatives
• Build and manage relationships with Australian primes to support teaming arrangements
• Convert periphery activities and credibility-building engagements into funded follow-on opportunities wherever there is a clear commercial pathway
• Provide concise commercial updates, risks, blockers and recommendations to the Chief Commercial Officer, including escalation of decisions  to progress opportunities
• Work closely with product, engineering, delivery, marketing and tendering stakeholders to ensure customer requirements are understood and translated into credible commercial responses
• Represent DroneShield professionally in Defence and industry engagement forums

Qualifications, Experience and Skills 

• Significant commercial, sales, business development or capture experience within Defence, government procurement, primes, defence technology or a closely related environment
• Proven track record of commercial sales into the Australian Defence Force
• Existing Australian Government security clearance, or the ability to maintain the required clearance level for Defence customer engagement
• Mandatory experience with ASDEFCON frameworks and Defence/CASG procurement processes
• Strong understanding of how to navigate Australian Defence procurement pathways, stakeholder networks, tender requirements and prime contractor ecosystems
• Proven ability to operate at a senior level while remaining hands-on and comfortable running day-to-day sales and stakeholder engagement activity
• Demonstrated ability to build stakeholder relationships, develop account maps and create structured engagement plans in complex customer environments
• Commercially astute, with the ability to qualify opportunities, understand customer drivers, manage pipeline discipline and translate technical capability into customer value
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to contribute to tenders, briefing materials, customer correspondence and internal commercial updates
• High level of resilience, judgement and professionalism when operating in high-stakes, high-scrutiny customer environments
• Ability to work cross-functionally with tendering, technical, product, delivery and executive stakeholders
• Tertiary qualification in business, engineering, defence, law, public policy or a related field is desirable

Note for recruitment agencies: We do not accept unsolicited candidates from external recruiters unless specifically instructed.

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