Amentum is a global leader in advanced engineering and innovative technology solutions, trusted by Australia and its allies to address their most significant and complex challenges in science, security, and sustainability. Our people apply undaunted curiosity, relentless ambition, and boundless imagination to challenge convention and drive progress. Our commitments are underpinned by the belief that safety, collaboration, and well-being are integral to success. Headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia, we have more than 53,000 employees in approximately 80 countries across all 7 continents. We are seeking a highly organised and results‑oriented Defence Capture Manager to lead the pursuit of major below‑the‑line service delivery opportunities in complex, highly technical environments. In this pivotal role, you will work hand‑in‑hand with business development, marketing and technical teams to shape opportunity strategies, craft persuasive capture narratives and drive the development of winning proposals that deliver sustainable business growth. You will report to the Growth and Strategy Group Director and partner closely with a supportive team of proposal specialists and business development managers to communicate compelling, customer‑focused solutions to our clients’ toughest problems. In this role you will own the capture of major Defence opportunities end‑to‑end, applying recognised Shipley‑style capture management disciplines to turn client needs and insights into clear win strategies and successful outcomes. Your Role and Responsibilities In this role you will own the capture of major Defence below‑the‑line service delivery opportunities in complex, highly technical environments, applying recognised Shipley‑style capture management disciplines. You will: Lead the full capture lifecycle for priority pursuits – from opportunity qualification and Bid/No‑Bid recommendation through to proposal submission and post‑award debriefs – using structured capture plans and reviews. Develop and maintain written Capture Plans covering customer analysis, requirements and issues, competitive assessment, discriminators, price‑to‑win inputs, win themes and action plans. Work closely with sales, delivery and technical teams to execute the capture plan: shaping customer perception, validating requirements, and maturing the solution, teaming and pricing strategy ahead of RFT release. Oversee the creation of compelling, compliant proposal content that clearly reflects agreed win themes, value propositions and discriminators, ensuring strong alignment between the capture strategy and the written response. Coordinate inputs from subject matter experts across engineering, operations, commercial, supply chain, legal and finance, ensuring accuracy, consistency and clear traceability to Defence (including ASDEFCON) requirements via compliance and response matrices. Run structured colour‑team reviews (e.g. Black/Blue/Red/Gold) for both capture and proposal phases, translating review findings into concrete improvement actions and holding owners to account. Ensure adherence to Defence solicitation requirements and internal governance, including risk management, commercial approvals and margins, while maintaining a competitive, price‑to‑win‑informed position. Coach and mentor bid and proposal team members in Shipley‑aligned capture and proposal best practice, helping to lift overall organisational capture maturity. Maintain and continuously improve capture and proposal artefacts – opportunity qualification tools, capture plan templates, content libraries, lessons‑learned – to support repeatable success on complex service delivery projects. Qualifications and Experience To thrive in this position, you will bring: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, Engineering or a related discipline, and/or recognised industry qualifications (e.g. APMP). At least five years’ experience in capture and/or proposal management, preferably in the Defence sector and complex technical service delivery environments. Demonstrated experience applying structured capture methodologies (ideally Shipley or equivalent), including opportunity qualification, capture planning, win‑strategy development and colour‑team reviews. Proven track record leading capture and proposal activities on multiple concurrent opportunities and meeting demanding schedules. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a strong focus on persuasive, customer‑focused messaging and win‑theme development. Strong understanding of compliance tools such as response and compliance matrices and their role in aligning solution, strategy and proposal content. Proficiency with CRM platforms (e.g. Salesforce or Microsoft Dynamics) to manage pipelines and capture activities. Solid project management skills and familiarity with broader Shipley‑style proposal development best practices. Australian citizenship and NV1 security clearance as a minimum Flexible Working This position offers the flexibility of remote working, with the expectation that most days will be spent in the Canberra office during critical proposal development periods to foster teamwork and timely communication. Your Package We offer a competitive salary package that is commensurate with experience and qualifications. Our compensation structure is designed to attract and retain top talent, with opportunities for growth and advancement. Amentum: Trusted Partner in National Security Amentum is a key service provider to the Australian Government, supporting critical national security and Defence capabilities across land, air, maritime, cyber, space, nuclear, and digital domains. With over 880 professionals nationwide, we deliver complex infrastructure, logistics, and technical solutions with a strong focus on quality, safety, and innovation. With 27 years of experience and a presence in major cities and regions, we’re proud of our people—our greatest asset. Join us and be part of a high-performing team with exceptional benefits and career opportunities, https://www.amentumcareers.com. Apply directly or reach out to Jeremy Parkinson, jeremy.parkinson@global.amentum.com.
