Azooa is preparing a response for RFQTS 17303 – Senior Project Scheduler, Level 3 for the Australian Submarine Agency and is seeking a suitably qualified contractor to support the SSN-AUKUS Acquisition Branch in Port Adelaide.OverviewThe Australian Submarine Agency requires 1 x Senior Project Scheduler – Level 3 Advanced Practitioner to provide advanced project scheduling, analysis, assurance, and advisory services in support of the SSN-AUKUS Phase 3 program.This is a senior scheduling role supporting one of Australia’s most significant Defence capability programs, requiring strong experience in complex major acquisition environments, schedule governance, schedule assurance, stakeholder engagement, and executive-level reporting.Core purposeThe core purpose of this role is to support the SSN-AUKUS Acquisition Branch by leading the development, maintenance, assurance, and analysis of the SSN-AUKUS Acquisition Schedule.The Senior Scheduler will provide authoritative planning and scheduling advice to support program delivery, senior decision-making, risk-informed planning, schedule integrity, governance forums, and internal scheduling capability uplift.Scope / responsibilitiesThe Senior Project Scheduler will be expected to:Lead the development, maintenance, and assurance of the SSN-AUKUS Acquisition Schedule.Apply advanced scheduling techniques to ensure schedule integrity, including logic validation, constraints management, and baseline control.Provide authoritative planning and scheduling advice to support program delivery and senior-level decision-making.Oversee task coordination, dependencies, critical path monitoring, and near-critical path monitoring.Conduct detailed schedule analysis to identify schedule drivers, float erosion, slippage, and emerging risks.Perform regular schedule health checks to ensure compliance with established standards and methodologies.Perform Schedule Risk Analysis where appropriate.Integrate schedule outputs with program risk registers to ensure alignment between schedule risks, mitigation activities, and program reporting.Support the development of risk-informed schedules and provide insights into probabilistic completion dates and confidence levels.Develop high-quality schedule reporting products, including dashboards, status reports, executive briefings, and governance updates.Establish and refine schedule performance metrics, including Schedule Performance Index, float trends, milestone adherence, and other schedule health indicators.Ensure scheduling governance, controls, business processes, and scheduling methodologies are defined, documented, maintained, and continuously improved.Engage effectively with stakeholders across ASA, Defence, Australian shipbuilders, and international shipbuilders.Review and assure stakeholder schedule products, including Contract Master Schedules, Contract Work Breakdown Structures, and the SSN-AUKUS Integrated Master Schedule.Translate complex scheduling data into clear, actionable insights for technical and non-technical audiences.Support program reviews, planning cycles, scheduling governance, and program management forums.Mentor and transfer knowledge to APS staff within the SSN-AUKUS Acquisition scheduling team.Promote consistent use of best-practice scheduling methodologies and scheduling tools.Interpret and analyse multiple quantitative and qualitative information sources to support evidence-based decision-making.Contribute to continuous improvement of scheduling practices, tools, processes, and methodologies.Perform other scheduling and program support tasks as reasonably directed, consistent with the seniority and expertise of the role.Key deliverablesExpected deliverables may include:SSN-AUKUS Acquisition Schedule development, maintenance, and assurance outputs.Schedule health checks and schedule integrity assessments.Critical path and near-critical path analysis.Schedule driver, float erosion, and emerging risk analysis.Schedule Risk Analysis outputs where required.Schedule baseline control and constraints management outputs.Risk-informed schedule insights, including probabilistic completion date and confidence-level analysis.Schedule dashboards, status reports, executive briefings, and governance reporting products.Schedule performance metrics including SPI, float trends, and milestone adherence.Reviews and assurance of Contract Master Schedules, Contract Work Breakdown Structures, and Integrated Master Schedule inputs.Updates to the Commonwealth Representative covering current work activities, forecast upcoming work, and critical issues and risks.Timesheets detailing hours worked during the reporting period.Knowledge transfer, mentoring, process documentation, and scheduling capability uplift materials for APS staff.Mandatory / essential criteriaCandidates should demonstrate:Significant experience in project schedule management at Level 3 / Advanced Practitioner level.Demonstrated experience working in complex major acquisition programs.Strong capability in developing, maintaining, analysing, and assuring complex schedules.Advanced understanding of schedule logic, schedule constraints, baseline control, critical path analysis, near-critical path analysis, float analysis, schedule drivers, and schedule health checks.Experience integrating schedule data with program risk registers, mitigation activities, and program reporting.Ability to produce high-quality schedule reporting products for senior technical and non-technical audiences.Demonstrated ability to lead, establish, and maintain constructive cross-team communications.Ability to engage and represent scheduling matters at senior executive levels across Government and industry.Strong analytical and evidence-based decision-making capability.Ability to support program reviews, planning cycles, governance forums, and executive briefings.Ability to mentor and transfer knowledge to APS staff to build internal scheduling capability and maturity.Ability to work full time from Port Adelaide, South Australia.Ability to comply with Defence security, confidentiality, probity, conflict of interest, and supplier conduct obligations.Desirable criteriaHighly regarded experience includes:SSN-AUKUS, submarine, naval, maritime, Defence acquisition, or major Defence capability program experience.Experience with Australian Submarine Agency, Defence, shipbuilding, or complex platform acquisition environments.Experience with Open Plan Professional or similar enterprise scheduling platforms.Experience reviewing Contract Master Schedules, Contract Work Breakdown Structures, and Integrated Master Schedules.Experience supporting Australian and international shipbuilder stakeholder environments.Experience producing executive-level scheduling dashboards, briefings, and decision-support material.Experience with Schedule Risk Analysis and probabilistic schedule forecasting.Active or recently held Defence security clearance.Engagement detailsRFQTS: 17303Role title: Senior Project SchedulerClient: Australian Submarine AgencyBranch: SSN-AUKUS Acquisition BranchProject: SSN-AUKUS Phase 3 ProgramSkill set: Project Schedule ManagementSkill level: Level 3 – Advanced PractitionerService category: Program Management ServicesNumber of roles: 1Commencement: 27 July 2026, or as close as possible depending on Commonwealth approvalsInitial term: To 30 June 2027Extension options: 2 x 12-month extension options at the Commonwealth’s discretionLocation: ASA Port Adelaide, South AustraliaWorking arrangement: Full time on-site in AdelaideWorking days: Based on no more than 230 working days per financial yearClearance requirementsThe specified personnel must hold, or be eligible to hold and maintain, a minimum NV1 security clearance or an equivalent clearance recognised and approved by Defence.Evidence of the proposed personnel’s Defence security clearance will be required. The role may involve access to Defence networks, ASA networks, export-controlled information, and ITAR-controlled information.RFQTS relevanceThis opportunity is directly aligned to the SSN-AUKUS Acquisition Branch requirement for a Senior Scheduler to provide advanced scheduling, assurance, analysis, risk-informed schedule advice, stakeholder engagement, executive reporting, and scheduling capability uplift for the SSN-AUKUS Phase 3 program.Candidate suitability will be assessed strongly against scheduling expertise, major acquisition program experience, ability to communicate at senior levels, availability, clearance, and value for money.Rate guidanceMaximum rate: $160.02/hour including superAzooa recommends positioning rates competitively below the maximum where possible, as price and value for money form part of the RFQTS evaluation.Indicative competitiveness guide:Lower end: Stronger chance of winningMid-range: Competitive if the profile is well alignedHigher end / close to $160.02/hour: Less competitive unless specialist SSN-AUKUS, Defence acquisition, integrated master scheduling, schedule risk analysis, Open Plan Professional, shipbuilding, or active clearance experience strongly justifies the rateHigher rates may still be considered where niche skills, clearance, or strong Defence domain fit outweigh rate.How Azooa Can Support YouAzooa can support you by:Positioning your profile to maximise win probabilityHelping align your rate with market expectationsAssisting with tailored responses and submission strategyProviding access to similar Defence and Federal Government opportunities