Chief Historian

Employment and Social Development Canada; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 118,000 - 136,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and dental insurance

Pension plan

Leave entitlements

Job summary

National Defence is seeking a Chief Historian in Ottawa to lead the official history and archival programs for the Department and CAF. You will oversee a team of historians, archivists and information professionals, shaping major research initiatives, publications, and public engagement on Canada’s military history.

You will provide high-level strategic direction, manage resources, and advise senior leadership on sensitive historical and commemorative issues while guiding digital transformation

Qualifications

• Experience conducting original historical research using primary sources.
• Ability to communicate results to expert peers at national and international levels.
• Proven ability to establish partnerships with stakeholders.
• Experience leading teams of historians, archivists or information professionals.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for official history, research and archival programs.
• Direct planning, delivery and publication of major research initiatives.
• Advise senior leaders on policy and program issues related to military history.
• Oversee digital transformation for accessibility of historical information.

Skills

Research leadership

Strategic advisory

Written communication

Oral communication

Partnership building

Education

Masters in History

Job description

National Defence- Directorate of History and Heritage

Closing date:August 17, 2026 - 23:59, Pacific Time

Reference number
DND26J-117798-000051

Selection process number
26-DND-EA-MPC-552142

Salary
$117,703 to $135,867

Level
HR-05

Who can apply
Persons residing in Canada, and Canadian citizens and Permanent residents abroad.

Organization information
For further information on the organization, please visit National Defence .

Duties
Reporting to the Director of History and Heritage, the Chief Historian provides strategic leadership for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces (DND/CAF) official history, research and archival programs. The Chief Historian leads a growing team of more than twenty historians, archivists and library and information professionals. They are responsible for the planning, direction and delivery of major research, analysis, publication, advisory and public consultation activities related to Canada’s military history and operations. Combining both scholarly and management expertise, the Chief Historian ensures the creation, preservation and accessibility of an authoritative historical record of Canada’s military activities. This includes oversight of official history publications, major research initiatives, and stewardship of a unique collection of military operational records. The role provides expert advice to senior leaders on complex and sensitive issues related to military history and commemoration. They conceive and implement digital transformation initiatives to improve the accessibility, preservation and use of historical information in a rapidly changing information environment.

Work environment
Who are we? The Directorate of History and Heritage (DHH) is mandated to preserve and communicate Canada’s military history, and foster pride in our military heritage. The Directorate is accountable for providing a coherent, horizontal perspective to, and strategic integration of, the management of programs and initiatives related to CAF history, dress, ceremonies, Group honours, museums, heritage, music and historic casualty identification. DHH maintains strategic-level collaborative networks and partnerships within DND/CAF, with the Office of the Chancellery (Rideau Hall), with Canadian Heritage, with Veterans Affairs, and with other government departments and institutions. The Chief Historian leads a multidisciplinary team of professionals in an intellectually rigorous environment. The work involves managing multiple large-scale, multi-year projects and priorities, often in collaboration with other government departments, allied nations, academic institutions and external stakeholders. This position requires the ability to balance academic excellence with strategic leadership, including setting direction, managing resources and guiding complex research programs that operate at the national and international level. Work involves frequent interaction with senior officials and partners. It requires sound judgment, discretion, the ability to address sensitive or high-profile issues, and a willingness to act as a departmental spokesperson on history and heritage matters. Work is primarily conducted in an office setting, with opportunities for travel related to research, stakeholder engagement and international collaboration. Together, DND and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) form the largest and most complex organization in Canada. DND's role is to provide services and support to the CAF in their operations and missions at home and abroad. DND and the CAF work side-by-side to fulfill the Government of Canada’s mission to defend Canada and Canadians and contribute to international peace, security, and stability efforts.
You’ll enjoy:

• A career among a dynamic and dedicated team.
• Opportunities for advancement.
• A diverse, respectful, and inclusive work environment.
• A total benefits package including a competitive salary, health and dental insurance plans, pension plan and a variety of leave entitlements.

Intent of the process
The immediate need of this process is to fill one (1) Bilingual imperative CBC/CBC position on an indeterminate (permanent) basis in Ottawa, ON. A pool of partially or essentially qualified candidates may be established through this process and used to staff identical or similar positions with various employment tenures (temporary and permanent), language profiles, operational requirements, and conditions of employment at the Department of National Defence.
Positions to be filled: 1

Positions to be filled
1

Conditions of employment

Top Secret security clearance - To learn more about obtaining a security clearance through the Department of Defense personnel security screening processes, please use the following resource:

Operational Requirements

Willing and able to travel.

You need (essential for the job)

Your application must clearly explain how you meet the following

• EDUCATION
  Graduation with a Masters degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with acceptable specialization in history, history of art, anthropology or some other specialty relevant to the position. Note: The courses for the specialization must be acceptable and must have been taken at a recognized post-secondary institution, but not necessarily within a degree program in the required specialization.
• EXPERIENCE (ESSENTIAL)
  Experience conducting original research, using unpublished primary sources, into the history of Canadian or allied armed forces.
  Experience communicating the results of original historical research to expert peers at the national and international levels.
  Experience in establishing or maintaining partnerships or collaborative relationships with various stakeholders.
  Experience leading teams of technical experts specializing in military archives, history or heritage.
  Experience briefing and providing strategic advice to senior management regarding policy or program issues.
  Experience managing human and financial resources. Senior management is defined as the Director level or equivalent and above.
• COMPETENCIES (ESSENTIAL)
  Create Vision and Strategy
  Mobilize People
  Uphold Integrity and Respect
  Collaborate with Partners and Stakeholders
  Promote Innovation and Guide Change
  Achieve Results
• ABILITIES (ESSENTIAL)
  Ability to communicate effectively in writing
  Ability to communicate effectively orally

Language requirements (essential for the job)

• ASSET EDUCATION
  Graduation with a Doctoral degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with acceptable specialization in military history or some other specialty relevant to the position.
• ASSET EXPERIENCE (ESSENTIAL)
  Experience managing a scholarly research program resulting in peer-reviewed publications.
  Experience conducting or managing editorial and quality control activities to prepare original research products for publication or presentation.
  Experience representing governmental organizations at national or international forums and with diverse stakeholders.
  Experience delivering services to the public.
  Experience implementing digital transformation initiatives.
  Experience conducting or managing oral history initiatives.
  Experience managing library or archival programs.
  Experience handling, downgrading or declassifying sensitive government information.
  Experience working in a mixed military and civilian environment.

Our commitment

We're committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please contact the hiring organization below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

The Department of National Defence is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive team that reflects Canada's population. To achieve a representative workforce, selection may be based on qualified candidates self-declaring as belonging to one or more of the following EE designated groups: Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, women, and visible minorities. We encourage you to indicate if you belong to one or more of the designated groups when you apply. As means to support our military families and linked with the Department of National Defence priorities, consideration may first be given to the spouses or common-law partners of serving Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members.

Preference will be given to veterans first, followed by Canadian citizens and permanent residents, with the exception of jobs located in Nunavut or Yukon. For positions located in Nunavut, qualified Inuit enrolled under the Nunavut Agreement will be appointed first. For positions located in Yukon, qualified Yukon First Nations will be appointed first, followed by qualified Indigenous persons.

We'd like to thank all those who apply. However, only the people selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Additional links

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