Manager, Defence Technology Adoption & Supply Chain Development

Manager, Defence Technology Adoption & Supply Chain Development

Dartmouth, NS

COVE is a global technology partner advancing high‑impact solutions from seabed to space. COVE transforms innovation into market‑ready technologies through testing, commercialization support, market expertise and access to critical infrastructure.

Reporting to the Director of Venture Growth, the Manager leads the design and delivery of COVE’s mission‑driven innovation challenges that accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies to address Canada’s most pressing defence and security capability needs. The role involves working in partnership with the Canadian Armed Forces, the Department of National Defence, prime contractors, industry, and other key stakeholders to lead high‑impact innovation challenges that solve priority defence capability needs and accelerate the validation and operational adoption of emerging technologies.

• Lead the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of COVE’s Defence Innovation Challenges that address priority capability gaps for the CAF.
• Collaborate with military end users, DND, government partners, and prime contractors to identify operational challenges, emerging capability requirements, and technology priorities.
• Translate operational requirements into challenge statements, competitive calls, evaluation criteria, testing frameworks, and technology transition pathways.
• Facilitate technology validation, demonstration, experimentation, and pilot activities that accelerate the adoption of innovative technologies in the CAF.
• Develop challenge documentation, application processes, evaluation frameworks, and program delivery.
• Maintain ongoing engagement with participating companies and stakeholders to ensure results.
• Monitor participant progress against technology validation, commercialization, procurement, and adoption milestones, implementing mitigation strategies where required.
• Support the integration of successful technologies into procurement pathways, programs of record, and domestic and international defence supply chains.
• Lead all aspects of program planning and execution, including work plans, budgets, schedules, milestones, risk management, stakeholder communications, and performance reporting.
• Represent COVE at industry conferences, military engagements, trade shows, and ecosystem‑building initiatives to expand partnerships and identify strategic opportunities.
• Support the development of funding proposals, sponsorship opportunities, partnership agreements, and strategic initiatives that expand COVE’s defence innovation programming.
• Collaborate with COVE leadership to grow the Defence Innovation Challenges model into new capability areas, markets, and strategic initiatives while integrating with COVE’s broader commercialization, workforce development, ecosystem development, and venture growth activities.
• Prepare executive briefings, reports, presentations, and performance updates for leadership, funders, partners, and stakeholders.
• Track program performance against KPIs, contractual obligations, budgets, and strategic objectives, using data and insights to drive continuous improvement.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Defence Studies, Public Administration, Commerce, or a related field. Equivalent experience will be considered.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in defence, security, aerospace, technology commercialization, innovation programming, business development, supply chain development, or a related field.
• Experience managing complex programs, partnerships, or strategic initiatives involving multiple stakeholders.
• Experience working with the Canadian Armed Forces, Prime Contractors, defence industry, government departments, public safety organizations, or related sectors.
• Eligibility to obtain and maintain a Government of Canada security clearance is required.
• Strong understanding of the Canadian defence and security landscape, including Industrial & Technological Benefits.
• Knowledge of defence innovation, dual‑use technologies, emerging technologies, technology validation, and supply chain integration.
• Understanding of the challenges and…