Director, Project Delivery

Who is COVE? 

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 

Reporting to the VP, Major Projects & Innovation, the Director, Project Delivery will lead a multidisciplinary team and oversee a diverse portfolio of complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives, Success in this role will come from your ability to build strong teams, establish clear structures, communicate effectively across stakeholders, and consistently deliver results. This is a high-impact leadership role at the intersection of people, process, and performance. 

You are someone who thrives in dynamic environments and brings a balance of strategic oversight and hands-on execution to ensure projects move forward with discipline, transparency, and momentum. 

What You’ll Do 

Lead People & Build a High-Performing Delivery Culture 

• Lead, mentor, and support a team of project managers, data and technical specialists, and project execution employees 
• Create clarity in roles, accountability, and expectations to enable strong individual and team performance 
• Foster a culture grounded in collaboration, ownership, and continuous improvement 

Bring Structure & Discipline to Delivery 

• Establish and evolve project governance frameworks, standards, and best practices 
• Ensure consistency in how projects are scoped, planned, executed, and reported 
• Drive clarity across priorities, timelines, and resource allocation 

Drive Strong Execution Across a Complex Portfolio 

• Own portfolio-level performance across scope, schedule, budget, risk, and quality 
• Oversee projects from early concept through execution and close-out, ensuring alignment with client expectations and funding requirements 
• Proactively identify risks, dependencies, and capacity challenges – intervening early to maintain momentum 
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and organizational policy requirements 

Enable Clear, Effective Communication 

• Serve as a key point of contact for internal leaders, clients, partners, and government stakeholders 
• Translate complexity into clear, concise updates and reporting for senior leadership and external partners 
• Ensure alignment across cross-functional teams and external collaborators 

Strengthen Systems & Integration 

• Provide strong technical oversight across complex programs, ensuring system architecture, integration, and delivery approaches are sound, scalable, and aligned with strategic objectives 
• Lead digital integration efforts across projects, ensuring systems, data, and platforms work seamlessly together 
• Continuously improve delivery tools, reporting mechanisms, and operational processes 

Support Strategic Growth 

• Partner with executive leadership to prioritize and shape new opportunities 
• Ensure delivery capability scales alongside COVE’s growth and evolving mandate 

Strengthen Delivery Alignment in Agreements & Proposals 

• Partner with internal teams to shape Project Agreements, contracts, and proposals with a clear and executable delivery plan. 
• Ensure all opportunities have the right resourcing,  budgets, and achievable timelines prior to commitment 
• Provide delivery-focused input during proposal development to identify risks, dependencies, and execution constraints early 
• Establish clear handover from proposal to execution, ensuring alignment between what is proposed and what is delivered 

What You Bring 

• Bachelor’s degree in science, engineering, environmental-related discipline, or equivalent experience. 
• 10+ years of progressive experience leading teams in project or program delivery 
• A proven ability to bring structure, organization, and discipline to complex environments 
• Strong people leadership skills that develop teams, build trust, and create accountability 
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to engage technical and non-technical stakeholders 
• Experience managing multiple projects or a portfolio of work, balancing competing priorities effectively 
• Strong financial and operational acumen (budgeting, forecasting, reporting) 
• Experience working with external partners, vendors, and/or government stakeholders 
• Eligibility to obtain and maintain a Government of Canada security clearance is required.   

Assets: 

• Experience in marine, digital, defence, or innovation ecosystems 
• Exposure to offshore or remote project environments 
• PMP or experience with Agile or other structured delivery frameworks 
• Experience handling controlled or classified information is considered an asset 

Why Join COVE? 

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape and advance high-impact solutions transforming innovation into market-ready technologies from seabed to space from the heart of Atlantic Canada. You’ll work alongside innovators, industry leaders, and mission-driven professionals who are driving meaningful change every day. 

Interested candidates can reach out to Shardeigh McGillivray at shardeigh@venor.ca & Anna Bryant at anna@venor.ca.