Who We Are
SCC is a small but impactful Crown corporation that reports to Parliament through Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. Using our expertise and vast network, SCC helps organizations by opening a gateway to possibilities, both at home and abroad. We bring people together, foster collaboration and expand their horizons in trade, sustainability and global connectivity. We represent and advance Canada’s interests on the international stage in ways no other organization can.
As Canada’s national standardization body, SCC offers more than a few pieces of the standards development and conformity assessment puzzle. We provide comprehensive strategies that allow Canadian businesses and innovators to contribute to shaping established and emerging markets. We help knock down trade barriers and create opportunities for businesses to innovate and expand into new markets by laying the foundation for their success.
SCC’s work also helps drive Canada’s health, well-being and economic prosperity. Whether it’s the food we eat, the products and technologies we use, or how we get to work, every aspect of our lives is touched by standards. Standards and conformity assessment not only provide confidence in the quality and safety of products and services, they also play an integral role in improving the overall health and safety of Canadians, and of their environment. At SCC, everything we do is aimed at improving Canadians’ quality of life and economic prosperity.
Our Culture
A recipient of Waterstone’s Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures award in 2023, 2024, and 2025, we foster a culture grounded in our core values of respect, professionalism, and integrity. Our culture continues to evolve as we adapt to new ways of working, strengthening our ability to collaborate, remain agile, and support one another. This sustained recognition reflects a workplace defined by compassion, flexibility, and a shared commitment to excellence.
A Day in the Life of a Lead, Strategic Standardization Initiatives
The Lead, Strategic Standardization Initiatives plays a central role in enabling the successful implementation of SCC’s priorities by translating commitments arising from business development and partnerships into coordinated, organization wide delivery.
Operating at the intersection of strategy and execution, this role ensures alignment between organizational commitments, governance structures, and delivery. The role is accountable for defining and advancing complex, high-impact strategic initiatives from early definition through to completion, meeting external commitments and delivering organization-wide outcomes with significant strategic, operational, and reputational implications for SCC and Canada.
Your Background
Requirements
Security clearance: Secret
Language: Bilingual Imperative (SISS)
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in political science, sociology, public administration or an equivalent combination of education and experience
Experience and skills
- 10 years of progressive experience related to standardization, strategic policy and/or stakeholder relations
- Exceptional analytical, critical thinking, and communication skills, with experience translating complex information into clear strategic recommendations
- Proven ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with senior leaders, external partners, and cross-functional teams to advance complex initiatives
- Experience conducting strategic research, environmental scans, jurisdictional comparisons, and evidence-based analysis to support the resolution of complex policy
- Strong knowledge and practical experience in policy analysis, policy development, and providing advice to a variety of stakeholders.
- Experience in: project management, research, strategic-thinking, report writing
You May Also Have
- Master’s degree in political science, sociology, public administration or other relevant area of knowledge
- PMP experience/certification or equivalent experience
Key Activities
- Leads the organization’s most complex, sensitive, and high visibility initiatives from definition through to completion, including international or cross jurisdictional work where enterprise risk, scale, or external visibility requires senior level direction.
- Translates commitments arising from business development, partnerships, and enterprise initiatives into clearly defined scope, delivery approaches, resourcing models, and accountabilities appropriate to the level of complexity and risk.
- Advances initiatives by defining scope, sequencing work, and aligning priorities across teams to enable coordinated, organization wide delivery.
- Leads the design and ongoing improvement of how work is coordinated, governed, and delivered across the organization to strengthen SCC’s ability to achieve its strategic priorities.
- Ensures new and evolving initiatives are integrated into enterprise planning, performance, and reporting processes, and aligned with standardization programs, so delivery expectations, organizational capacity, and accountabilities are clear and aligned
- Identifies and addresses structural, resourcing, and delivery barriers that impact the achievement of enterprise priorities, working with senior leadership to resolve issues and enable sustained performance.
- Assesses progress, risks, and dependencies across initiatives, and provides advice on course correction to safeguard delivery and outcomes.
- Exercises independent senior level judgement on complex issues, including those with international or cross jurisdictional implications, making recommendations that influence executive and external decisions.
- Leads the final positioning of high stakes deliverables and[A1.1] organization wide positions, ensuring clarity, credibility, and alignment with SCC’s strategic objectives and commitments.
- Sets direction for and leads the development of submissions, briefings, and strategic materials for executive consideration and external use, engaging internal and external partners to test and refine positions.
- Provides leadership continuity during periods of Director absence, exercising delegated authority to support executive decision making, engagement, and issue management.
A Final Note
Note 1: Priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
Note 2: SCC is responsible for the Personnel Security Clearance process. Typically to be eligible for a "Reliability" clearance, you must have five years of verifiable background information and to be eligible for a "Secret" clearance, you must have 10 years of verifiable background information. The process usually involves reference inquiries, verification of qualifications, criminal records checks, and credit checks (as required) and may require fingerprints. For more information about obtaining a security clearance, please review the Standard on Security Screening.
Please attach a detailed cover letter to your resume. In addition to learning about your education, training and experience, we want to hear your story! We’d love to hear about how your accomplishments, and the skills you applied to achieve them, relate to the role and why you think this opportunity is a good fit for you.
We are committed to creating and fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment that reflects the peoples’ lives that we impact and the Canadian community that we work within. We strive to create an environment where everyone is comfortable being their authentic selves. We welcome Indigenous peoples and persons from all races, ethnicities, gender identities and expressions, sexual orientations, and physical or mental abilities to be part of our team.
We strive to ensure a barrier-free selection process. If you are contacted regarding a job opportunity, testing or interview, please advise the HR representative of the accommodation measures that you require to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner.
Please complete all fields in this online application and submit before the closing date.
Upon our review of all applications, those who appear to be the best fit with the mandate of this role and with SCC’s mission and vision will be contacted. You will receive confirmation that your application has reached us.
Thank you for your interest in SCC and for taking the time to review this ad. We look forward to hearing from you!
