Head of Special Aviation Missions
Group Overview
Metrea is actively building its presence in Australia as part of a deliberate, globally coordinated expansion into the Asia-Pacific region. Our Asia-Pacific Market Group, headquartered in Brisbane with an additional office in Perth, is the enterprise's dedicated regional interface — connecting Australia's national security community with Metrea's full suite of capabilities across three core domains: Aerospace, Electromagnetic & Cyber, and Digital & Synthetic. Metrea is now bringing that same depth of mission expertise and proven operating model to Australia.
Underpinning these capabilities is a global network of Support Groups spanning people, finance, platform, operations, legal, and engagement — ensuring that as we grow in Australia, we do so with the full weight of an established global enterprise behind us.
Position Summary
The Head of Special Air Missions (Australia) is a newly created senior leadership role responsible for shaping and leading Metrea’s Australia SAM organisation. This leader will define the structure, capabilities, and culture (we call it FIRMWARE) of our aviation organization while ensuring operational excellence and safety across high-value aerospace programs in Australia.
This is a builder-and-operator role: someone who can design and build scalable systems, frameworks, and teams (“working on the Group”), while being deeply engaged in delivering results day-to-day (“in the Group”). The Head of SAM (Australia) will scale a team, influence the wider business, and operate effectively in ambiguity, all while cultivating a culture aligned with Metrea’s FIRMWARE.
This role leads through collaboration rather than hierarchy, building trust and influence across geographies and functions. It requires identifying and developing top talent while driving alignment across the enterprise, and is central to achieving Metrea’s vision of safe, assured, and scalable global aviation operations.
What You'll Do
Design and implement the Australia SAM organization, creating a scalable and efficient structure that supports long-term growth across a range of complex aviation missions
Collaborate with Metrea’s other SAM groups to maximise alignment despite regulatory differences
Build frameworks, financial models, and digital systems—working with Operations—to streamline workflows and meet government contracting requirements
Identify capability, skills, and cultural gaps; lead professional development and targeted hiring to build a high-performing, resilient team
Foster a unified One Team culture grounded in humility and aligned with Metrea’s core attributes: entrepreneurial, systematic, discerning, and over-delivering
Provide decision support and guidance to enable effective leadership across the organization
Lead execution of the Group’s strategy through the annual Enterprise Value Case cycle, delivering strategic milestones and measurable objectives across SAM Capability Areas
Contribute to enterprise planning, including campaign, capability, and marketing plans relevant to Special Air Missions
Be responsible for the delivery of safe, effective and efficient aviation operations under the CASA regulatory environment
Oversee performance management across Australia SAM capability areas, ensuring progress against OKRs and KPIs and taking corrective action when necessary
Support reporting with strategic insight, risk analysis, and mitigation planning
Manage risk and opportunity across the portfolio including aviation and business risk, influencing internal programs and supporting acquisition considerations
Apply market and customer expertise to de-risk current programs and validate new opportunities
What You Bring
Senior leadership experience in aerospace and defense, with proven experience building and scaling teams across geographies
Track record of identifying, developing, and retaining top talent
Comfortable operating in ambiguity and complexity, with the ability to drive results without relying on hierarchy
Strong understanding of aviation regulations: CASA essential; hands-on experience in an operational CASA environment, prior accountable executive responsibility preferred
Extensive special mission aircrew experience; ISR background preferred
Working knowledge of CASA airworthiness and maintenance requirements
Proven ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders across functions, geographies, and external partners
Experience leading teams, managing budgets, and delivering measurable results
Familiarity with Australian government budget cycles and procurement processes
Strong judgment, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills; adaptable and intellectually curious
Highly organized, execution-focused, and collaborative across boundaries, inspiring teams and aligning stakeholders to shared goals
Emotionally intelligent, humble, and able to challenge assumptions constructively
Willingness to travel frequently, often on short notice
Benefits
Private healthcare
Generous PTO
Superannuation
Annual incentive plan
Fully paid parental leave for all new parents
Life and disability insurance
Long-term and Short-term disability coverage
Employee Assistance Program
Work Authorization / Security Clearance
Role may require adherence to export control regulations (ITAR/EAR and equivalent). Employment is contingent on meeting all clearance and adjudication requirements.
Inclusion Statement
We are committed to building a team that reflects a broad range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and make hiring decisions based on capability, potential and alignment with our values. If you require any adjustments throughout the recruitment process, please let us know.
Position Type and Expected Hours of Work
This is a full-time position with typical working hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Hours and work shifts may change in accordance with department and business needs.
Work Environment
Whilst this job primarily operates in an office setting must be flexible to operate in aviation operations, maintenance and other environment as required.
Travel
30% of your time will be spent travelling both internationally and domestically.