Chief Operating Officer

VenorTalent; Bedford; On-site; CAD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Commissionaires Nova Scotia (CNS) seeks a strategic and hands-on Chief Operating Officer to join the executive team in Bedford, Nova Scotia. Reporting to the CEO, you will translate strategic priorities into actionable operational plans and drive service delivery across the province with a workforce of about 1,300 Commissionaires.

You'll lead province-wide operations, oversee contracts, budgeting, and staffing, and collaborate with District Managers, the CFO, and partners to ensure growth,

Qualifications

• Experience leading large, complex operations where service quality and employee performance are critical.
• Strong experience in contract management, client relationships, budgeting, and people leadership.
• Skilled negotiator and decisive problem-solver with knowledge of relevant regulations and collective agreements.
• Proven ability to drive data-driven decisions through technology.

Responsibilities

• Lead province-wide operations and strategic planning across CNS.
• Oversee contract negotiations, RFPs, and contract delivery.
• Manage district budgets, revenue, and financial performance with the CFO.
• Develop staff, governance processes, and cross-department collaboration.

Skills

Senior leadership

Contract management

Budgeting

People leadership

Stakeholder management

Education

University degree

Master’s degree (asset)

Tools

CRM systems

Data analytics tools

Job description

Venor is proud to partner with Commissionaires Nova Scotia in the search for its next Chief Operating Officer (COO). Based in Bedford, Nova Scotia, Commissionaires Nova Scotia (CNS) is the province's leading not-for-profit security provider, delivering guarding, monitoring, investigative, and specialized security services to more than 200 sites across the province. With roughly 1,300 employees, a large share of them veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP, CNS is the largest private-sector employer of veterans in Nova Scotia. As part of the national Commissionaires federation of over 22,000 security professionals across Canada, CNS reinvests more than 90% of its annual revenue directly into employee wages, training, and benefits. On their behalf, we are seeking a strategic and hands-on Chief Operating Officer to join the executive team. Reporting to the CEO and serving as second-in-command, you'll work closely with the CEO to set and drive CNS's operational vision, strategy, and employment capacity across the province. You'll translate the organization's and Board of Directors' strategic priorities into actionable operational plans, goal setting, service delivery standards, performance management, and budget and operational planning. This is a critical leadership position within the management team, accountable for the effective, consistent delivery of security services across Nova Scotia through a workforce of approximately 1,300 Commissionaires. You'll work closely with District Managers, the Contract Officer, and other operational leaders, while building strong relationships with clients, government partners, and staff across the organization. In the CEO's absence, you'll assume the responsibilities of Acting CEO, making this a role of significant scope, visibility, and impact on CNS's continued success.

What You’ll Be Doing

In this role, you'll lead the organization's province-wide operations and provide executive-level advice on operational strategy, service delivery, and organizational growth. You'll oversee the delivery of security services across district operations, major federal and commercial contracts, and other operational areas, establishing service standards, operational goals, and performance measures to support consistent delivery across the province. You'll provide executive oversight of the RFP process for new and renewed contracts, playing a key role in contract negotiations and leading operational planning for new contracts, including guard recruitment, staffing, and training needs. You'll also lead operational and district budget planning, oversee annual revenue, and work closely with the CFO to establish contract earning rates and monitor financial and operational performance. You'll ensure policies, training, equipment, leased properties, and operational capabilities are effectively managed and positioned to meet current requirements and support future growth, including opportunities to strengthen and expand service offerings. You'll ensure CNS meets its contractual, legislative, collective agreement, policy, and ISO certification requirements, while providing executive guidance on complex operational, workforce, and performance matters. Externally, you'll build and maintain strong relationships with clients, government partners, the national Commissionaires federation, and other key stakeholders, and represent CNS at industry, community, and stakeholder events. Internally, you'll lead, mentor, and support District Managers and operational leaders across the province, working with the team to establish clear roles, processes, and procedures that promote alignment and prevent silos across departments. You'll work closely with People and Culture on employee relations, performance management, grievances, and discipline, while fostering accountability, consistency, and operational excellence across the organization.

What You’ll Bring

You bring a university degree or an equivalent combination of education and senior leadership experience, with a professional designation or master's degree considered an asset. You have demonstrated experience leading large, complex operations where service quality, client satisfaction, and employee performance are critical to success, along with strong experience in contract management, client relationship management, budgeting, and people leadership. You're a skilled negotiator and sound decision-maker with the ability to navigate complex operational and employee matters, balance competing priorities, and interpret and apply relevant legislation, regulations, policies, and collective agreements. You bring strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, and you're highly organized and comfortable using technology to support data-driven decision-making. You must hold a valid Nova Scotia Driver's Licence, and the required federal NATO Secret-level security clearance. The ideal candidate is a collaborative, hands-on executive with an adaptable leadership style who combines strategic, innovative thinking with strong operational judgment and a genuine commitment to service excellence. You're comfortable leading through others while staying connected to what's happening across the organization, and you bring the relationship-building skills to work effectively with employees, clients, government partners, and other stakeholders. You're equally comfortable addressing immediate operational needs and looking ahead to the systems, capabilities, and opportunities that will support CNS's continued growth.