Program Manager, DIANA

COVE; Dartmouth; Hybrid; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work

Medical & dental benefits

RRSP matching

Parental leave

Job summary

COVE is seeking a skilled Accelerator Program Manager to lead the NATO DIANA accelerator initiative from Canada. You will coordinate regional teams, mentors, investors, and defence end users to drive commercialization and international growth for dual-use technologies.

We value strong program management, stakeholder engagement, and a track record in defence or dual-use sectors, with excellent communication and executive presence.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years in managing complex innovation, defence, or accelerator programs.
• Confident public speaker with executive presence.
• Experience with defence and/or dual-use technologies.
• Understanding NATO, DND, CAF and allied defence organisations.
• Experience supporting technology startups and scale-ups.

Responsibilities

• Lead NATO DIANA accelerator program planning and delivery.
• Coordinate activities across regional teams, accelerator sites, test centres, mentors, investors, defence end users, government partners, and internal teams.
• Develop annual program plans, schedules, resource requirements, and delivery frameworks.
• Monitor program performance metrics and drive continuous improvement.
• Support participant onboarding, mentoring connections, and market readiness for defence opportunities.
• Build strategic relationships with NATO, DIANA partners, and innovation ecosystem players.

Skills

Public speaking

Stakeholder management

Project management

Strategic thinking

Budgeting

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

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. Leveraging its networks and mission-driven platform, COVE connects investors, innovators, industry, and the research community to drive cutting-edge capabilities for commercial and defence applications.

Based in Canada and operating internationally, COVE supports the full lifecycle of maritime and multi-domain technologies - from research and development to manufacturing, integration, and export - linking Canadian innovation to global markets. COVE has built a globally recognized innovation platform, with an ecosystem of more than 700 organizations spanning startups, multinational firms, researchers, Indigenous partners, and public sector collaborators.

Through its programs, facilities, and partnerships, COVE enables real-world testing and validation, strengthens supply chains, and accelerates technology adoption in complex operating environments. With strong connections across the North Atlantic, the United States, and the Arctic, and as part of international networks including NATO's Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA), COVE plays a key role in advancing technologies that support economic growth, environmental sustainability, and global security.

As COVE experiences rapid expansion, it is actively seeking to expand its team to further bolster its transformational influence as a global technology partner in advancing high-impact solutions. COVE recognizes that its journey toward this goal hinges on the strength of its team - a group of individuals who collaborate, innovate, and continually strive for excellence. Join COVE as it embarks on this exciting journey of discovery and advancement.

The Opportunity

The role is responsible for delivering a world-class accelerator experience while coordinating activities across regional teams, accelerator sites, test centres, mentors, investors, defence end users, government partners, and internal teams. This position requires a highly organized and collaborative leader who excels at managing complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives, building trusted relationships, and helping high-potential dual-use technology companies accelerate commercialization, defence capability adoption, investment readiness, and international growth.

What You'll Do:

The role is responsible for delivering a world-class accelerator experience while coordinating activities across regional teams, accelerator sites, test centres, mentors, investors, defence end users, government partners, and internal teams. This position requires a highly organized and collaborative leader who excels at managing complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives, building trusted relationships, and helping high-potential dual-use technology companies accelerate commercialization, defence capability adoption, investment readiness, and international growth.

Accelerator Program Management

• Lead the planning, delivery, continuous improvement, and evaluation of COVE's NATO DIANA accelerator program.
• Serve as the trusted point of contact for participating companies and represent COVE across the NATO DIANA ecosystem and broader NATO Alliance.
• Develop, adapt, and execute accelerator programming to ensure high-impact outcomes and best-in-class participant experiences.
• Develop annual program plans, implementation schedules, resource requirements, and delivery frameworks.
• Build and strengthen strategic relationships with NATO DIANA, test centres, defence stakeholders, investors, mentors, and innovation partners.
• Lead end-to-end program delivery, including the recruitment and coordination of experts, evaluators, mentors, and speakers.
• Collect, analyze, and report on program performance metrics and deliverables to drive continuous improvement.

Participant Success and Commercialization

• Champion participant success by understanding founder needs and supporting their entrepreneurial journey.
• Lead cohort onboarding and orientation.
• Connect companies with mentors, investors, industry partners, government supports, and testing opportunities.
• Monitor company progress, coordinate regular check-ins, and support commercialization and defence market readiness.

Partnership & Ecosystem Development

• Develop and maintain strategic relationships across industry, government, academia, investors, NATO, and innovation ecosystem partners.
• Strengthen Canada's dual-use innovation community by organizing engagement opportunities and supporting startup cohorts.
• Identify and leverage networks, resources, and opportunities to accelerate company growth and scale.

Other Accountabilities

• Develop and manage program budgets, expenditures, and forecasts.
• Ensure compliance with COVE policies, procedures, and operational standards.
• Contribute to the success and growth of COVE through additional responsibilities and strategic initiatives as required.
• Travel nationally and internationally as required.

What You Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Science, Public Policy, Defence Studies, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 5–7 years of experience managing complex innovation, defence, commercialization, or accelerator programs.
• Confident public speaker and facilitator with the executive presence to lead high-profile events, moderate discussions, engage diverse audiences, and represent COVE across the NATO DIANA Alliance.
• Experience within the defence and/or dual-use technology sectors, with knowledge of the Canadian defence ecosystem and acquisition practices.
• Familiarity with NATO, DND, CAF, and allied defence organizations.
• Experience supporting technology startups, scale-ups, or innovation-driven SMEs.
• Understanding of innovation ecosystems, accelerator programming, and technology commercialization pathways.
• Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships and collaborate effectively with industry, government, investors, researchers, and entrepreneurs.
• Strong business acumen, strategic thinking, sound judgment, and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and facilitation skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including advanced skills in PowerPoint, Excel, and Word.
• Eligibility to obtain and maintain a Government of Canada security clearance.

Additional Assets:

• Previous accelerator management experience.
• Ability to speak a second language.

Working at COVE

At our core, we are a team driven by our passion for empowering marine tech innovators, serving as unwavering advocates for every visionary who walks through our doors. Integrity, creativity, and diversity are not just values to us - they are the bedrock of our identity. We thrive within an integrated team environment, where collective efforts culminate in tangible results. Embracing diversity in our workforce is paramount for fostering genuine collaboration and fulfilling the impactful responsibilities we hold within our community. We cultivate a workplace culture that celebrates individual differences, ensuring that each person's unique talents and strengths are fully recognized, appreciated, and utilized. Operating within a hybrid and flexible work environment allows us to optimize the collective potential of our highly collaborative team, enabling us to achieve the best possible outcomes.

• Opportunity to learn and make an impact by working for a dynamic, growing company on meaningful projects that find solutions to real-life problems.
• Comprehensive paid time off including vacation, personal sick time, and additional days for family illness or medical appointments.
• Hybrid work model with flexibility to work remotely 1 day/week.
• Team wide bonding activities and casual work environment.
• Tech focused office location, convenient via transit and bike paths.
• Employee wellbeing including full medical & dental benefits and a health spending account.
• Group RRSP matching program & Income Insurance Plans.
• Maternity & parental leave top-up allowance
• Learning and growth opportunities.
• Employee referral program.

Talent Pool

We are committed to ensuring accommodations are made available to persons with disabilities during the recruitment, assessment and selection processes and will provide reasonable accommodation upon request.

We offer an excellent working environment where life balance is valued. Our people and their commitment to quality work is what drives our success. You can find out more information about COVE at www.coveocean.com. Salary for this position will be commensurate with experience, note that relocation costs are not supported.