Senior Manager, Major Projects

COVE; Dartmouth; Hybrid; CAD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Comprehensive paid time off

Medical & dental benefits

RRSP matching program

Job summary

COVE is seeking a Senior Manager, Major Projects to provide strategic leadership for a portfolio of complex testing, validation, and innovation programs. You will oversee project governance, financial performance, and cross-functional delivery across defence, applied tech, and dual-use initiatives.

You will lead a team of Project and Technical Managers, drive workforce planning, establish standards, and present portfolio results to senior leadership in a matrix, hybrid work environment.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a related technical discipline (Business Admin, Engineering, Science, Planning).
• 6+ years of progressively responsible experience in project, program, or portfolio management.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of a portfolio of complex multidisciplinary projects with governance and metrics.
• Oversee portfolio financial management including budgeting, forecasting, and reporting.
• Provide leadership, supervision, and coaching to Project and Technical Managers.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Budgeting & forecasting

Project governance

Team development

Education

Undergraduate degree

Tools

Jira

Microsoft Excel

MS Office

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

Reporting to the Director, Project Delivery, the Senior Manager, Major Projects provides strategic leadership and oversight for COVE's portfolio of complex testing, validation, and innovation programs. The role is accountable for leading and developing a team of Project Managers while ensuring projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with contractual, technical, quality and stakeholder requirements. Working across a diverse portfolio of defence, applied technology, and dual-use initiatives, the Senior Manager oversees project governance, financial performance, resource allocation, risk management, and stakeholder engagement to achieve successful portfolio outcomes.

What You'll Do:

Operating within a matrix organization, the Senior Manager collaborates with Project Engineering, Data, and technical teams to establish priorities, optimize resources, and enhance project delivery practices. The role is accountable for portfolio delivery, people leadership, organizational capacity, financial stewardship and continuous improvement. Through effective leadership, cross-functional coordination, team performance, and continuous improvement, the Senior Manager ensures COVE delivers on its strategic and operational objectives.

• Lead the delivery of a portfolio of complex, multidisciplinary projects using effective oversight and governance, alignment with organizational goals, resource optimization, and high-quality project outcomes to ensure the successful delivery of COVE’s testing, validation, and innovation programs throughout the full project lifecycle.
• Establish and maintain project performance measurement frameworks, including project metrics, dashboards, and reporting mechanisms to support effective project and portfolio oversight.
• Lead portfolio financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, resource planning, financial reporting, and performance monitoring.
• Promote and foster a collaborative team culture that encourages innovation, accountability, knowledge sharing, and professional growth.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with internal departments, external partners, clients, vendors, researchers, and other stakeholders to ensure successful project delivery and collaboration.
• Provide leadership, supervision, and coaching to a team of Project and Technical Managers, fostering accountability, employee engagement and continuous improvement.
• Lead workforce planning activities, workload balancing, and resource allocation to support organizational objectives.
• Develop project management capability, methodologies, standards, and tools that improve organizational effectiveness.
• Prepare and present portfolio performance, risks, and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Establish and maintain project governance, ensuring compliance with organizational policies, industry standards, regulatory requirements, and project management best practices.
• Ensure compliance with COVE’s policies and procedures, including human resources, safety, and operational standards.
• Take on additional responsibilities as required to support the success and growth of COVE’s programs and strategic initiatives.

What You Bring:

• Undergraduate degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Science, Planning, or a related technical discipline.
• 6+ years of progressively responsible experience in project, program, or portfolio management
• Eligibility to obtain and maintain a Government of Canada security clearance is required.
• Demonstrated experience managing technology, innovation, research, engineering, or financial-sector programs.
• Strong leadership, people management, stakeholder engagement, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to lead and develop high-performing teams.
• Experience establishing project governance structures, performance management systems, and accountability frameworks.
• Proven experience managing financial performance across a portfolio of projects, including financial reporting, budget oversight, forecasting, variance analysis, cost control, and communicating financial results to senior leadership and stakeholders.
• Experience developing project management plans, including objectives, resource requirements, governance structures, and terms of reference for project teams.
• Experience managing subcontractors, consultants, vendors, and external partners.
• Ability to work autonomously and effectively within a collaborative, matrix-based environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office applications, including Word and PowerPoint.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Excellent communication, presentation, facilitation, and reporting skills.

Additional Assets:

• Project Management Professional (PMP) designation or equivalent project management certification is considered a strong asset.
• Experience with defence, marine, research, innovation, testing and validation, or complex technology projects.
• Experience working within government procurement, standards, regulatory, or compliance-driven environments.
• Experience and proficiency in Jira.

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.

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.

For more information about COVE: www.coveocean.com. Salary will be commensurate with experience, relocation costs are not supported.