Program Director, NWS Defence Operations
Ottawa, ON
Nasittuq Corporation (from the Inuktitut word meaning “looking out from the highest point”) operates and maintains the North Warning System (NWS)—a joint Canada-United States early-warning radar system with 47 sites across Northern Canada, a Control Centre and Support Centre located in North Bay, ON and a Contract Management Office located in Ottawa, ON.
OUR CORE VALUES:
Safety, Diversity, Integrity, Social Responsibility, Environmental Stewardship, and Agility—guide everything we do.
NATURE AND SCOPE:
Reporting to the President, the Program Director is responsible for the overall delivery and performance of the North Warning System (NWS) contract. This senior leadership role oversees operational execution, business planning, client relations and cross-functional teams supporting critical northern operations.
Acting as the key liaison with the Government of Canada, the Program Director ensures contractual, operational and service delivery requirements are met while promoting a results-orientated and collaborative operating environment.
The ideal candidate is a senior leader with strong business acumen, experience overseeing complex remote operations and the ability to drive operational excellence and cross-functional alignment.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provides leadership and oversight to cross-functional managers, compliance (safety, environmental, quality), project management and sustainment/engineering operations
- Develop and execute annual business plans and strategies to ensure effective financial and human resources planning
- Oversee allocation of all resources to achieve program and contractual deliverables
- Lead and mentor a diverse team of leaders, fostering a culture of trust, accountability to deliver results aligned with strategic and contractual goals
- Provide operational discipline, ensuring the organization’s goals are sustainable and aligned with mission and values
- Serve as the key liaison with the NWS client and other external stakeholders
- Anticipate and manage organizational risks including financial and operational, to ensure sustainability and effectiveness
- Establish and monitor KPIs to evaluate operational performance and drive continuous improvement
- Apply technical and operational acumen to effectively oversee operations and support informed decision making across the program
Core Competencies:
- Strategic leadership & vision–translates strategy into actionable operational plans and measures results
- Operational excellence–ensures efficiency, quality and accountability across multi-site operations and aligns operations to meet SOW deliverables
- Financial acumen–strong fiscal acumen with proactive risk and compliance oversight
- Regulatory & contract compliance–develops deep of GOC procurement and defense operations
- Cross-functional collaboration– fosters integration and communication across diverse departments and locations to enable seamless program execution
- Stakeholder & relationship management– builds and maintains trusted relationships with government partners, clients and internal teams
- People leadership– coaches leaders and holds teams accountable
- Change & crisis leadership– leads through transformation and operational challenges with adaptability and composure
Qualifications:
- Post-secondary degree in Engineering or Science, or a related technical post-secondary education
- Minimum 10 years’ experience in an engineering or technical services environment and minimum 5 years’ experience managing large, complex programs
- Project Management Professional (PMP) or eligible to obtain
- Proven success delivering large-scale, federally regulated technical services programs
- Demonstrated understanding of Government of Canada procurement DND operations and regulatory compliance
- Superior analytical, problem solving and decision-making skills
- Advanced proficiency in MS Office applications
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a SECRET (Level II) Security Clearance
Why Join Nasittuq?
At Nasittuq, we believe that our team is our greatest asset. We are committed to creating an environment where our employees can thrive both professionally and personally.
Here are some reasons why you should consider joining us:
1. Work-Life Balance:
We offer flexible working hours and encourage our employees to take time for themselves and their families.
2. Interesting Work:
You will be involved in exciting and challenging projects that push the boundaries of innovation.
3. Hybrid Work Policy:
Our hybrid work policy allows you to work from home or from our office facilities.
4. Facilities and Experience:
Our office is equipped with modern amenities designed to enhance your work experience.
5. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:
We prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring a welcoming environment for all employees.
6. Inuit Priority Wording:
As part of our contractual Land Claim Beneficiaries of the Nunavut, Inuvialuit, and Nunatsiavut Land Claim Agreements, encouraging applicants to self-identify.
Qualified and interested candidates, please apply!
Are You an Inuit Beneficiary from the Nunavut, Inuvialuit, or Nunatsiavut Land Claim Agreements and Seeking a New Opportunity?
Nasittuq is committed to providing employment opportunities for Land Claim Beneficiaries, contributing to a skilled workforce in the regions we serve. We prioritize and review all applications from Inuit Land Claim Beneficiaries for vacant positions and offer comprehensive training and development programs.
Nasittuq is committed to employment equity and encourages applications from all qualified groups. Inuit Land Claim Beneficiary applicants are encouraged to apply and self-identify.
IQQANAIJAAQTAARASUAQTUT ILAGIJAUQATAULLUTIK INUIT NUNANGANNI NUNALIRINIRNMUT ANGIRUTIUSIMAJUNUT SIVULLIQPAUTAUNIAQTUT IQQANAIJAAQTAARTITAUJUNNAQTUNUT. IKAJUQTURPATSI
IQQANAIJAAQTAARASUAQATAUJUSI NALUNAIQSIQULLUSI ILAGIJAUQATAUNITSINNIK.
ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖅᑖᕋᓱᐊᖅᑐ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᖃᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᖏᕈᑎᐅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐸᐅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖅᑖᕐᑎᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᓄᑦ. ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᕐᐸᑦᓯ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖅᑖᕋᓱᐊᖃᑕᐅᔪᓯ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᖁᓪᓗᓯ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᖃᑕᐅᓂᑦᓯᓐᓂᒃ.
Nasittuq provides accommodation during all parts of the hiring process, upon request, to applicants with disabilities. If contacted to proceed to the selection process, please advise us if you require any accommodation.
ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔪᖅᑐᖅᐸᒃᑲ ᐃᓄᑖᖃᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦᒍᑎᒥ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᐅᔾᔭᐅᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ!
Translation: We invite you to join us and embark on a rewarding career journey!
We thank you for your interest, however, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
Key words
Arctic operations, Northern infrastructure, Defence operations, Government of Canada (GoC), Department of National Defence (DND), Federal procurement, Remote site operations, North Warning System (NWS), Aerospace and defence, National security, Surveillance systems, Radar systems, Program management, Large-scale program delivery, Technical services, Engineering leadership, Sustainment operations, Asset management, Cross-functional leadership, Regulatory compliance, Contract management, Stakeholder engagement, Indigenous partnerships, Inuit employment, Environmental stewardship, Logistics and supply chain (remote), Risk management, Operational excellence, Mission-critical operations, Security clearance (Secret Level II)
Hashtags
#ArcticOperations #DefenceCareers #GovernmentJobsCanada #NationalSecurity #DND #FederalCareers #ProgramDirector #EngineeringLeadership #RemoteOperations #NorthernCanada #AerospaceDefense #InfrastructureProjects #ProjectManagement #PMP #OperationalExcellence #SecurityClearance #IndigenousCareers #InuitEmployment #DiversityAndInclusion #Sustainability #EnvironmentalStewardship #STEMCareers #LeadershipHiring #OttawaJobs #MissionCritical
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Dental care
- Disability insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Extended health care
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
