Stakeholder Engagement and Communications Manager

Location: Adelaide, SA, AU, 5000 Barton, ACT, AU, 2600 Sydney, NSW, AU, 2000 Keswick, SA, AU, 5035 Abbotsford, VIC, AU, 3067 Henderson, WA, AU, 6166 Onsite or Hybrid: Hybrid H\&B Defence is seeking a Stakeholder Engagement \& Communications Manager to lead high‑impact engagement strategies, strengthen relationships across our ecosystem, and support strategic pursuits that shape the future of Australia’s defence capability. This is a role for someone who thrives on influence, clarity, and connection — and who wants their work to matter.

About You

You’re a natural connector — someone who builds trust quickly, communicates with purpose, and navigates complex stakeholder environments with confidence. You bring a strategic mindset, a steady hand under pressure, and a genuine commitment to integrity and excellence.

You will excel in this role if you:

• Have extensive experience in stakeholder management or strategic communications
• Communicate with clarity, empathy, and influence
• Enjoy working across diverse teams and senior leaders
• Can translate complex issues into clear, compelling messaging
• Are motivated by mission‑driven work and values‑based leadership
• Bring strong judgement, professionalism, and a proactive approach to problem‑solving

About the Role

Reporting to the Chief Strategy Officer, the Stakeholder Engagement \& Communications Manager plays a pivotal role in shaping how H\&B Defence engages with customers, partners, suppliers, employees, and government stakeholders.

You will design and deliver engagement strategies that strengthen relationships, support business growth, and ensure our stakeholders are informed, aligned, and confident in our mission. You will also support strategic pursuits and campaigns that influence public opinion, policy, and customer decision‑making.

Key elements of the role include:

• Developing and executing stakeholder engagement strategies aligned to organisational priorities
• Identifying, mapping, and prioritising stakeholders based on influence and impact
• Building strong, positive, and enduring relationships across the defence ecosystem
• Leading communication efforts to ensure stakeholders understand our products, services, and initiatives
• Managing feedback, concerns, and issues with professionalism and care
• Coordinating closely with corporate parent communications teams to ensure alignment
• Preparing the Managing Director and CSO for public, client, and strategic engagements
• Supporting campaigns that shape opinion, behaviour, and policy
• Monitoring and reporting on engagement effectiveness
• Contributing to a strong safety culture and modelling H\&B Defence Pty Ltd values

To be successful in this position, you will bring;

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, communications, or related field
• Extensive experience in stakeholder engagement, communications, or a related discipline
• Strong project management capability
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders
• Experience with stakeholder management tools
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills
• Experience with risk communication, including nuclear or radiological contexts

About H\&B Defence

H\&B Defence was established in 2024 as a joint venture between HII and Babcock. Together, we bring world leading expertise from Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States to support the development of critical sovereign capability for Australia’s once in a generation AUKUS nuclear powered submarine program.

H\&B Defence is positioned to support every stage of Australia’s optimal pathway under AUKUS Pillar 1, including workforce development, nuclear infrastructure, submarine defueling and decommissioning, nuclear waste management, and long term sustainment, ensuring Australia is ready for Virginia, Astute, and SSN-AUKUS class submarines.

We are committed to building Australian workforce sovereign capability. Come and join our team and work along-side nuclear subject matter experts within H\&B Defence in Australia, with significant knowledge of the UK and US Naval Nuclear Eco-system.

Your future with us – what we offer you

• Our structured Naval Nuclear mentorship program where you can engage as either a Mentor or Mentee. Our mentors are Nuclear experienced professionals and mentees being new to the Naval Nuclear industry.
• Access to Nuclear expertise across UK, US, and embedded Nationally within H\&B across Australia
• We will provide you with a supportive and engaging environment where you can grow your career, supported by our capability framework and undertake professional learning and development opportunities
• Your wellbeing is supported through our Employee Assistance Program to ensure your wellness includes mind, body and soul. Job req #73854

The employer for this position is HII.

The H\&B Defence Talent Engagement Services are provided by Babcock and they lead all Australian-Based recruitment for H\&B Defence, an HII and Babcock joint venture.

When you explore vacancies and register for job alerts you will be directed to a Babcock page

About HII

We build the world’s most powerful, survivable naval ships, submarines, and defence technology solutions that safeguard our seas, sky, land, space and cyber. Our workforce includes skilled tradespeople; artificial intelligence, machine learning (AI/ML) experts; engineers; technologists; scientists; logistics experts; and business administration professionals.

We are a values and ethics driven organisation that puts people’s safety and well-being first. Regardless of your role or where you serve, at HII, you’ll find a supportive and welcoming environment, competitive benefits, and valuable educational and training programs for continual career growth at every stage of your career.

Together we are working to ensure a future where everyone can be free and thrive.

We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds and experience however, due to the defence orientation of this role, the successful candidate must be eligible to obtain an appropriate level of Commonwealth Personnel Security Clearance, as defined in the AGSVA guidelines.

Please note, should your application progress you may be required to complete pre-employment checks. These checks may include but not limited to, reference checks, police check, security check, qualifications and right to work.

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