Program Director

Who is COVE?

Since its inception in 2018, COVE has dedicated itself to fostering collaboration among individuals, concepts, resources, and assets to drive solutions and sustainable advancement within Canada’s marine sector. At the forefront of building a thriving network, COVE has played a pivotal role in cultivating a robust cluster of companies and cultivating a premier startup environment. Through strategic initiatives, COVE facilitates invaluable networking opportunities, fosters connections, and leads discussions within the global ocean technology community. Moreover, COVE spearheads programs aimed at nurturing talent, expediting the release of ocean technology products, and bolstering the success of emerging ventures by startups, scaleups, and SMEs. These initiatives, coupled with COVE’s ability to harness diverse skills and expertise nationally within the marine ecosystem, serve as an enabler for overcoming industry challenges, driving economic growth, and delivering value to investors.

As COVE experiences rapid expansion, we are actively seeking to expand our team to further bolster our transformative influence on the marine sector. With a thriving community of over 60 companies onsite and a global network encompassing over 400 organizations engaged in marine technology, we stand poised to emerge as a premier global hub for industry-driven innovation. We recognize that our journey toward this goal hinges on the strength of our team—a group of individuals who collaborate, innovate, and continually strive for excellence. Join us as we embark on this exciting journey of discovery and advancement.

Reporting to the VP of Major Projects & Innovation, the Program Director, MTAS is responsible for leading the successful planning and execution of COVE’s Marine Technology for Arctic Surveillance (MTAS) program. This high-impact role manages a portfolio of complex, multi-year projects both onshore and offshore, involving a dynamic mix of government, industry, and academic stakeholders. The Director will lead an agile, matrix-structured team of high-performing professionals, ensuring the delivery of testing and validation activities aligned with project scope, timelines, and budgets. The role includes the planning and execution of innovation challenges, technical trials, and system tests, as well as coordinating logistics for deployments, including missions to Canada’s North. Serving as the primary point of contact for project sponsors, the Director will provide strategic guidance on project delivery, implementation, resource planning, risk mitigation, and future-phase development to support long-term program success.

What You’ll Do

• Lead end-to-end delivery of the MTAS program, from planning through deployment, testing, and validation.
• Oversee a portfolio of complex marine technology projects (onshore and offshore), ensuring alignment with scope, budget, and schedule.
• Plan and manage all logistics for system tests, technical trials, and field deployments—including missions to Canada’s North.
• Build and maintain strong, productive partnerships with government, industry, and academic stakeholders to advance program goals.
• Provide clear, timely updates, performance metrics, and strategic recommendations to internal leadership and external partners.
• Identify, establish, and manage relationships with third-party providers, researchers, and vendors.
• Ensure compliance with safety, regulatory, and operational standards.
• Support field operations and partner engagement through regular travel, including to remote and Arctic regions.
• Contribute to COVE’s broader strategic initiatives as needed.

Who You Are

• Highly motivated, analytical, logical thinking with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities and/or unexpected deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Strong understanding of systems integration, innovation processes, and operational logistics in remote or offshore marine environments.
• Demonstrated experience working with or alongside government agencies, particularly defence R&D or similar organizations.
• Willingness and ability to travel, including to remote/Northern locations.
• Ability to work autonomously or in a collaborative team environment.
• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
• Strong technical skills with the ability to learn new processes and systems quickly.
• Eligibility for a Government of Canada security clearance is preferred.

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in science, engineering, environmental studies, or a related discipline. Equivalent experience will be considered.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in complex project or program management, preferably within marine technology, defence, innovation, or R&D sectors.

Assets:

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
• Experience with Agile or other project management frameworks.
• Background in R&D or innovation-focused projects/programs.
• Experience working in a defence context.

Why Join COVE?

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of Canada’s ocean economy from the heart of Atlantic Canada. You’ll work alongside innovators, industry leaders, and mission-driven professionals who are unlocking the potential of the blue economy every day. Interested candidates can reach out to Shardeigh McGillivray at [email protected] & Anna Bryant at [email protected]