Manager, Defence Strategic Initiatives

Job Information

Job Title:

Manager, Defence Strategic Initiatives

Job Requisition

Ministry:
Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration

Location:

Ottawa, Ontario

Full or Part-Time:
Full Time

Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week

Permanent/Temporary:
Temporary (2 years)

Scope:
Open Competition

Closing Date:
Open Until Filled

Classification:
Manager, Zone 2

Salary: $3,920.66 to $5,276.07 bi-weekly ($102,329 - $137,705/year)

• Lead defence strategy development and alignment activities.
• Develop networks and partnerships to ensure strategic advice and perspective are integrated across GoA defence activities.
• Develop strategic, customized options for Government of Canada and private sector defence investments and priorities.
• Advance leadership, mentorship and employee development.

• Systems Thinking – This role requires the ability to understand and operate across federal, provincial, and industry systems, with particular emphasis on Government of Canada decision‑making structures. The Manager must be able to map how defence policy, procurement, and funding decisions flow through departments such as DND, PSPC, ISED, and central agencies, and identify where Alberta can intervene to influence outcomes.
• Creative Problem Solving – The Manager must be able to identify non‑obvious entry points into federal processes, particularly in complex and opaque environments such as defence procurement and program design. This includes developing strategies to position Alberta‑based opportunities within federal priorities, overcoming structural barriers, and advancing initiatives where formal pathways may not be clearly defined. Ability to anticipate federal constraints (policy, procurement, political) and design workable approaches around them is essential.
• Build Collaborative Environments – This role requires advanced relationship‑building with senior federal officials, defence stakeholders, and industry leaders, particularly within the Ottawa ecosystem. The Manager must demonstrate the ability to establish credibility quickly with DND, CAF, and federal partners, and sustain relationships that enable access, influence, and coordination.
• Agility – The Manager must operate effectively in a rapidly evolving federal defence environment, where priorities shift due to political direction, budget cycles, procurement timelines, and geopolitical events. Requires the ability to adjust strategies in real time based on changes in federal direction, including shifts in DND priorities, Treasury Board decisions, or procurement timelines. Comfort operating with incomplete information and informal processes is essential.
• Drive for Results – The Manager must lead their team through a variety of initiatives to provide smart, strategic and timely advice and solutions for rapidly evolving and varied issues, while driving for solutions and demonstrating accountability.

University graduation in a field related to the position assignment, supplemented by four years related experience.

• Direct experience working within or closely with the Government of Canada, preferably in Ottawa, with demonstrated exposure to federal decision‑making processes, central agencies, and interdepartmental coordination.
• Experience engaging with or working within the Department of National Defence (DND), Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), or related federal defence organizations (e.g., DRDC, PSPC Defence Procurement, ISED ITB Policy).
• Demonstrated understanding of federal defence policy, procurement frameworks, and funding mechanisms, including familiarity with programs such as:
  • Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS)
  • Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy
  • Major Crown Projects and defence procurement processes
• Proven ability to navigate federal stakeholders, influence decision‑making, and advance initiatives within a complex Ottawa‑based policy and procurement environment.

• Strong political acumen with a clear understanding of how decisions are shaped and advanced within the federal system, including Cabinet processes, Treasury Board submissions, and interdepartmental alignment.
• E…