Program Manager

Program Manager

COVE

Dartmouth, NS

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 Program Director | Test & Validate, the Program Manager plays a key role in the planning, development, and performance of a complex portfolio of innovative and strategic initiatives. Working collaboratively with stakeholders, work package leads, scientific teams, delivery teams and industry partners, the Program Manager translates emerging opportunities, operational requirements and strategic priorities into structured project plans and executable work packages.

The Program Manager serves as a central coordination point across internal and external partners, fostering collaboration, enabling informed decision making, and supporting the successful delivery of innovation programs that advance organizational and stakeholder objectives.

What You'll Do

The Program Manager is responsible for developing statements for work, project proposals and project agreements, budgets, schedules, and performance frameworks that support successful program delivery. The role advances project opportunities from concept through to implementation, ensuring alignment of scope, resources, risks, financials, and expected outcomes.

• Lead the definition, planning, and scoping of strategic projects and innovation initiatives with internal and external stakeholders
• Translate operational and technical requirements into clear proposals, statements of work, scopes, schedules, budgets, and delivery plans
• Develop proposal summaries, project documentation, and briefing materials to advance initiatives into approved projects and formal agreements
• Manage program and project planning, execution, and reporting to ensure alignment of scope, resources, schedules, budgets, risks, and performance objectives
• Support development of program governance processes, reporting frameworks, and decision support materials for senior leadership
• Lead cross-functional collaboration across internal teams, industry, academia, and ecosystem partners to achieve program outcomes
• Monitor project progress, identify risks and issues, and implement mitigation strategies to maintain delivery commitments
• Support development and management of partner relationships to drive opportunities, project execution, and long-term collaboration
• Prepare and deliver project, program, and portfolio-level reporting, including performance metrics, financial updates, and milestones
• Represent the organization in meetings, workshops, and industry engagements related to innovation and defence initiatives
• Contribute to continuous improvement of program management practices, processes, and tools

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Management, Engineering Science, or a marine-related field
• 5–7 years’ experience in a similar role or related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience)
• Eligible to obtain and maintain a Government of Canada security clearance
• Proven ability to collaborate with partners to translate operational and technical needs into clear taskings, scopes, schedules, budgets, and delivery plans
• Experience managing multiple strategic initiatives in complex, multi-stakeholder environments
• Strong knowledge of the Canadian defence, innovation sectors, and related stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong working relationships
• Excellent client-facing communication skills, including presenting to diverse audiences and senior executives
• Highly motivated, analytical, detail-oriented, with ability to meet multiple or unexpected deadlines in fast-paced environments
• Strong initiative, judgment, work ethic, and ability to identify and mitigate risk proactively
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with ability to convey complex information to technical and non-technical audiences
• Strong organizational and coordination skills, with ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and projects
• Ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams to support program planning, delivery, and operations
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) with strong technical aptitude and ability to quickly learn new systems

Additional Assets

• Experience developing Statements of Work, project plans, RFIs, evaluation frameworks, or government funded project documentation in technical and systems domains.
• Experience working with Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), or related defence and security organizations.
• Knowledge of defence innovation, dual use technologies, or maritime security and surveillance programs.
• Direct experience working in the marine technology or marine sector.
• Experience handling controlled or classified information.

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.

Benefits

• 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
• Competitive salary

Talent Pool

As part of our ongoing recruitment efforts, we continually identify candidates who demonstrate the skills, experience, and potential to contribute to our organization. By submitting your application, you will be considered for current and future opportunities that match your qualifications and interests.

Should your profile align with our current or future needs, a member of our recruitment team may reach out to you to discuss potential opportunities and to further assess your fit for specific roles within our organization.

Don’t meet every single requirement? At COVE, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role, but your past experience does not align with every single qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

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.

The deadline for submission is July 3, 2026 at 5pm (Atlantic). We thank all candidates for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.