Senior Project Manager

Defence Industrial Strategy

The NRC has an important role within the Government of Canada's Defence Industrial Strategy, accelerating research and innovation, and helping Canadian businesses develop leading-edge technologies for civilian and military use.

With expertise across fields such as transportation, quantum science, medical countermeasures and advanced manufacturing, the NRC is hiring to drive the development of national sovereign defence capabilities. The following role will support the NRC’s contributions to defence priorities.

The role

The NRC is building new capabilities to help Canada accelerate the development, integration and adoption of emerging drone, counter-drone and autonomous systems technologies. At the centre of this effort is the Drone Innovation Hub (DIH) and its Aurora Shield program—bringing together NRC researchers, engineers and facilities with the Canadian Armed Forces, Department of National Defence, industry, academia and other partners to tackle some of Canada's most important defence and security technology challenges.

We are looking for a Senior Project Manager to help turn that ambition into action.

Working alongside the Aurora Shield Program Director, the successful candidate will help shape and deliver a rapidly growing portfolio of research, technology development and innovation activities. This is not a traditional project management role. Individual projects are led by researcher and engineer Project Managers from across the NRC; the Senior Project Manager will work across those projects—helping PMs succeed, maintaining coherence across the portfolio, solving problems and ensuring that the program delivers as a whole.

The role also extends beyond the individual projects. Aurora Shield is developing new ways for NRC, DND, the Canadian Armed Forces and industry to work together, including major ecosystem wide initiatives. The successful candidate will help take these initiatives from ambitious concepts to executable activities—working through the plans, partnerships, budgets, documentation and details required to make them real.

The result is a role with an unusually broad range: from strategy to execution, and from individual projects to the broader Canadian defence innovation ecosystem. On any given day, the Senior Project Manager might help a Project Manager resolve a delivery challenge, work through program budgets and priorities, develop the implementation plan for a new Aurora Shield initiative, prepare material for senior decision-makers, or engage with DND, other government departments and Canadian industry and academia.

We are looking for someone who thrives in that environment—someone who can bring structure to complexity, move comfortably between technical and programmatic discussions, build relationships across organizations, and turn good ideas into delivered outcomes. The Senior Project Manager would be someone who shares our core values of Integrity, Excellence, Respect and Creativity.

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

Bachelor or Master’s Degree in engineering management, systems engineering, engineering, business/project management or related discipline.

For information on certificates and diplomas issued abroad, please see Degree equivalency

Experience

• Significant* experience managing complex, multi-disciplinary projects or programs involving science, engineering, technology development or innovation;
• Significant* experience working with multi-disciplinary teams of engineers, scientists, technical specialists, project managers and/or business professionals;
• Significant* experience in program or project management, including planning, budgeting, scheduling, risk management, reporting and delivery;
• Experience coordinating a portfolio of related projects or activities and identifying dependencies, risks and opportunities across multiple projects;
• Experience developing detailed implementation plans, project documentation, business cases, proposals, plans or similar products from higher-level concepts or strategic direction; and
• Experience engaging and coordinating with multiple internal and external stakeholders.

Assets:

• Experience in aerospace, defence and security, autonomous systems, drones or other complex technology-development environments;
• Experience working with the Department of National Defence, Canadian Armed Forces, other government departments or the Canadian defence industry;
• Experience with intellectual property, collaborative research agreements, contracting, procurement or other mechanisms supporting complex research and development activities.

*Significant experience is referring to between 2 to 6 years.

Condition of employment

Secret clearance

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

English

Information on language requirements and self-assessment tests

Assessment criteria

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

Technical competencies

• Ability to manage and integrate a complex portfolio of research, engineering and technology-development projects, including budgets, schedules, risks, dependencies and deliverables;
• Ability to translate strategic objectives and emerging concepts into structured plans, requirements, activities and executable projects;
• Ability to support and enable technical Project Managers while maintaining visibility and coherence across a broader program;
• Ability to analyze complex technical, programmatic and organizational issues, identify practical solutions and drive issues toward resolution;
• Ability to communicate complex technical and program information effectively amongst teams, organizations and stakeholders with varying levels of familiarity with the domain;
• Ability to develop high-quality plans, briefing materials, decision documents, proposals and other written products for technical and senior audiences;
• Ability to establish and maintain productive relationships with government, industry, academic and other external stakeholders; and
• Knowledge of aerospace, defence and security, autonomous systems, drones and/or emerging technology development ecosystems would be considered an asset.

Behavioural competencies

Competency Profile(s)

For this position, the NRC will evaluate candidates using the following competency profile: Technology Extension

View all competency profiles

Compensation

The intent of this hiring action is to staff this position at the RCO-2 to RCO-4 level, which is an intermediate to senior-career level position with a salary range of $83,985 to $168,192.

NOTE: Please note that the full RO/RCO salary scale has five levels. Salary determination will be based on a review of the candidate’s expertise, outcomes and impacts of their previous work experience relative to the requirements of the level. As such, the initial salary could be within another level of the RO/RCO salary scale (i.e. above or below the intended level for this position).

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.

Discover the possible

Anything is possible at the NRC, named in 2026 one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People, Top Employer in the National Capital Region and Forbes Canada’s Best Employers!

As Canada’s largest research and innovation organization, our world-renowned research pushes the boundaries of science and engineering to make the impossible, possible. Every day we explore new ideas through innovative research and help companies discover possibilities that impact Canada’s future and the world.

At the NRC, you’ll also discover new possibilities. Our supportive workplace fosters a culture of creativity, welcoming fresh perspectives and innovation at all levels. We value teamwork. You’ll collaborate across multiple fields and with the brightest minds to find creative solutions. Most importantly, you’ll discover what’s possible within you as you grow, make valuable contributions and progress in your professional journey. From ground-breaking discoveries to a life-changing career, discover your possible at the NRC.

Notes

• 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.