Manager, Defence Technology Adoption & Supply Chain Development

Manager, Defence Technology Adoption & Supply Chain Development

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 Director of Venture Growth, the Manager, Defence Technology Adoption & Supply Chain Development leads the design and delivery of COVE's mission-driven innovation challenges that accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies to address Canada's most pressing defence and security capability needs. Working in partnership with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), the Department of National Defence (DND), prime contractors, industry, and other key stakeholders, the Manager leads high-impact innovation challenges that solve priority defence capability needs by accelerating the validation and operational adoption of emerging technologies. These initiatives create new opportunities for Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to enter and grow within defence supply chains, strengthening Canada's defence industrial base and operational readiness.

What You'll Do:

Serving as a critical connector across Canada's defence innovation ecosystem, the Manager convenes military end users, DND organizations, procurement authorities, prime contractors, SMEs, innovators, and funding partners to identify operational capability gaps, connect innovative companies to defence opportunities, and accelerate the transition of emerging technologies from operational requirement through validation, procurement, fielded capability, and supply chain integration.

Combining strategic leadership with strong execution, business development, and stakeholder engagement, the Manager will continue to strengthen COVE's impact as a national leader in defence technology commercialization, supply chain innovation, and capability development.

• Lead the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of COVE's Defence Innovation Challenges that address priority capability gaps for the CAF.
• Collaborate with military end users, DND, government partners, and prime contractors to identify operational challenges, emerging capability requirements, and technology priorities.
• Translate operational requirements into challenge statements, competitive calls, evaluation criteria, testing frameworks, and technology transition pathways.
• Facilitate technology validation, demonstration, experimentation, and pilot activities that accelerate the adoption of innovative technologies in the CAF.
• Develop challenge documentation, application processes, evaluation frameworks, and program delivery.
• Maintain ongoing engagement with participating companies and stakeholders to ensure results.
• Monitor participant progress against technology validation, commercialization, procurement, and adoption milestones, implementing mitigation strategies where required.
• Support the integration of successful technologies into procurement pathways, programs of record, and domestic and international defence supply chains.
• Lead all aspects of program planning and execution, including work plans, budgets, schedules, milestones, risk management, stakeholder communications, and performance reporting.
• Represent COVE at industry conferences, military engagements, trade shows, and ecosystem-building initiatives to expand partnerships and identify strategic opportunities.

• Support the development of funding proposals, sponsorship opportunities, partnership agreements, and strategic initiatives that expand COVE's defence innovation programming.
• Collaborate with COVE leadership to grow the Defence Innovation Challenges model into new capability areas, markets, and strategic initiatives while integrating with COVE's broader commercialization, workforce development, ecosystem development, and venture growth activities.
• Prepare executive briefings, reports, presentations, and performance updates for leadership, funders, partners, and stakeholders.
• Track program performance against KPIs, contractual obligations, budgets, and strategic objectives, using data and insights to drive continuous improvement.

What You Bring:

This role requires a seasoned defence innovation professional with a deep understanding of the CAF, DND, defence procurement, and Canada's defence industrial base. The successful candidate brings established credibility across government, industry, and the military, with demonstrated experience navigating complex stakeholder environments, building strategic partnerships, and advancing innovative technologies from prototype to operational capability.

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Defence Studies, Public Administration, Commerce, or a related field. Equivalent experience will be considered.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in defence, security, aerospace, technology commercialization, innovation programming, business development, supply chain development, or a related field.
• Experience managing complex programs, partnerships, or strategic initiatives involving multiple stakeholders.
• Experience working with the Canadian Armed Forces, Prime Contractors, defence industry, government departments, public safety organizations, or related sectors.
• 
  Eligibility to obtain and maintain a Government of Canada security clearance is required. 
• Strong understanding of the Canadian defence and security landscape, including Industrial & Technological Benefits (ITBs).
• Knowledge of defence innovation, dual-use technologies, emerging technologies, technology validation, and supply chain integration.
• Understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing Canadian SMEs and emerging technology companies entering defence and security markets.
• Proven ability to build trusted relationships and engage senior leaders across government, military, industry, academia, and the innovation community.
• Ability to facilitate collaboration among multiple stakeholders with differing priorities and objectives, aligning groups toward common outcomes, in complex government and industry environments
• Strong program and project management capabilities, including planning, budgeting, risk management, execution, and performance measurement.

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.

To be considered for this position, please apply online by clicking “Apply”. The deadline for submission is July 17, 2026 at 5pm (Atlantic). We thank all candidates for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.