Director, International Relations

National Research Council of Canada; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pension plan

Health and dental coverage

Disability and life insurance

Relocation assistance

Year-end office closure

Job summary

National Research Council of Canada (NRC) seeks a dynamic Director for our International Relations Office in Ottawa. You will lead strategies, negotiations and partnerships to maximize NRC’s global impact on science, technology and innovation.

Working with senior leadership, you’ll build a high-performing team and deliver international programs crucial to Canada’s innovation agenda. You'll oversee advisory briefs, strategy development, and agreements while navigating complex stakeholder

Qualifications

• Significant recent experience in leading teams working in international relations especially within an STI context.
• Significant recent experience in leading and managing human and financial resources.
• Significant recent experience in providing advice and services in international issues to a diverse client mix including: Senior Managers, Executives, and/or Ministerial staff or their equivalents, on complex sensitive issues.
• Significant experience in designing international strategies, developing opportunities and negotiating agreements within an innovation context.

Responsibilities

• Lead international relations strategies and programs to maximize NRC’s global impact.
• Oversee advisory notes, briefings and presentations for executives and senior management.
• Build and lead a high-performing, cross-functional team across NRC and partners.
• Negotiate agreements with diverse groups within NRC and around the world.
• Drive continuous improvement in project management practices and tools.

Skills

Science & Tech knowledge

Communications skills

Analytical skills

Briefing & presentations

International programs knowledge

Inspirational Leadership

Strategic outlook

Drive for results

Collaborative relationships

Client relationship management

Education

University degree in a relevant field

Graduate studies preferred

Job description

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Priority may be given to the following designated employment equity groups: women, Indigenous Peoples* (First Nations, Inuit and Métis), persons with disabilities and racialized persons*.

* The Employment Equity Act, which is under review, uses the terminology Aboriginal peoples and visible minorities.

Candidates are asked to self-declare when applying to this hiring process.

OrganizationalUnit:Business and International Innovation

Classification:MGT-1

Tenure:Continuing

Work arrangements:

• Due to the nature of the work and operational requirements, this position will require full-time physical presence at the NRC work location identified.
  At the NRC, we recognize that Indigenous candidates may have important connections to their communities and you may be eligible for an exception to this work arrangement. Alternative work arrangements may also be considered to accommodate candidates as required. To learn more about these options, please contact the NRC Hiring team using the contact information below.

Discover the possible

The role

Help bring research to life and drive your career forward with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), Canada's largest research and technology organization.

Are you passionate about helping Canadian innovators access global resources, tools and collaborators? Do you have a solid track record of making things happen on the international stage? Are you a polished negotiator and communicator adept at implementing strategies?

If so, help the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) maximize the impact of its international relations. We are looking for a vibrant and driven Director for our International Relations Office. The successful candidate will be someone who shares our core values of impact, accountability, leadership, integrity and collaboration and who thrives in a fast-paced high-pressure environment.

Working closely with your Director General, Director colleagues and with senior managers and executives across the organization, you will use your own STI network, understanding and relationships to design and execute international advice, briefings, strategies and agreements that are important to NRC and to Canada. As a natural leader, you will energize and build a strong team to serve the corporation and you will negotiate with diverse groups within NRC and around the globe to bring ideas and strategies to life. Committed to excellence, you will use your initiative to make recommendations for continuous improvement project management practices and tools.

Screening criteria

Applicants must demonstrate within the content of their application that they meet the following screening criteria in order to be given further consideration as candidates:

Education

A university degree, preferably in engineering, sciences, public or business administration, international relations, or other relevant fields.

Preference may be given to those with graduate studies in relevant fields.

• Significant recent experience in leading teams working in international relations especially within an STI context;
• Significant recent experience in leading and managing human and financial resources;
• Significant recent experience in providing advice and services in international issues to a diverse client mix including: Senior Managers, Executives, and/or Ministerial staff or their equivalents, on complex sensitive issues;
• Significant experience in designing international strategies, developing opportunities and negotiating agreements within an innovation context.

Significant means at least 3 years.
Recent means within the past 3 years.

Condition of employment

A thorough security clearance process will be applied.

For a Secret Clearance, verification of background information over a period of 10 years is required. Individuals must have lived in Canada for a sufficient period of time to enable the security screening process.

Language requirements

Note: In the event that no qualified bilingual candidates are identified, NRC may consider unilingual candidates who will be required to commit to achieving these levels within two years.

Candidates will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:

• Extensive knowledge of science and technology and innovation concepts and their applications to partnerships for organizations like NRC.
• Extensive communications and analytical skills, including the ability to influence others.
• Extensive ability to prepare strategies, briefing notes and presentations for executives.
• Extensive knowledge of international STI organizations of potential benefit to NRC
• Knowledge in developing and implementing leading edge international programs, practices and tools within an innovation organization.
• Inspirational Leadership (Level 3)
• Strategic Outlook and Alignment (Level 3)
• Drive for Results and Efficiency (Level 4)
• Leverage Collaborative Relationships (Level 3)
• Client Relationship Management (Level 3)

NRC employees enjoy a wide-range of competitive benefits including a robust pension plan, comprehensive health and dental coverage, disability and life insurance, office closure at the end of December, and additional supports to enhance your well-being throughout your career and beyond.

Notes

• In 2026, the NRC was chosen as one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People, a National Capital Region Top Employer and Forbes Canada’s Best Employer.
• In order to ensure a prompt and efficient processing of applications, candidates are encouraged to provide, along with their résumé, a detailed covering letter explaining how they meet each of the requirements of this position (education, experience, language requirements) by providing concrete examples. In addition, the candidate is encouraged to describe in detail when, where and how he/she gained the experience.
• Candidates who have Second Language Evaluation (SLE) test results with the Public Service Commission should include these results with your application.
• Travel may be required.
• Relocation assistance will be determined in accordance with the NRC's directives.
• A pre-qualified list may be established for similar positions for a one-year period.
• Preference will be given to Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents of Canada. Please include citizenship information in your application.
• The incumbent must adhere to safe workplace practices at all times.
• We thank all those who apply, however only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Please direct your questions, with therequisition number (26332) to:

Closing Date: 19 November 2026 - 23:59 Eastern Time

*If you are currently a term or continuing employee at NRC, please apply through the SuccessFactors Careersmodule from your NRC computer.