Deputy Program Manager (DPM) – Program Enablement

Location: Ottawa, Canada

In fast changing markets, customers worldwide rely on Thales. Thales is a business where brilliant people from all over the world come together to share ideas and inspire each other. In aerospace, transportation, defence, security and space, our architects design innovative solutions that make our tomorrow's possible.

Ottawa (Palladium), ON, (CAN.), Hybrid

Position Summary

Thales has a vacancy for a Deputy Program Manager (DPM) – Program Enablement who will be accountable for defining and executing the strategic digital transformation vision and roadmap for the AJISS Program, ensuring alignment between operational requirements, contractual commitments, enterprise objectives, and future business growth opportunities while influencing executive decision-making across multiple organizational functions. One of the key strategic goals in the AJISS Program is to enable vessel mission readiness and availability of vessels required by the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). This role demands a highly developed communication skills to lead collaboratively in a cross-functional working environment.

Thales delivers on schedule, cost, scope, and quality requirements to the satisfaction of the Client. The ability to collaboratively lead, direct, motivate, and engage integrated project teams will be key to success. Accountable for shaping the future-state operating model for Program Enablement across AJISS, ensuring digital systems, business processes, and organizational capabilities are aligned to support long-term operational readiness, contract execution excellence, and sustainable growth.

The current work scope anticipated for the DPM – Program Enablement is to develop the systems and processes required for improved efficiency and effectiveness across the AJISS Program. This role requires strategic planning and strong implementation focus and constantly looking forward to improving and driving value in AJISS Program business processes using enhanced technologies. It demands strong systems thinking, project management skills, an excellent management of relationships, and the use of highly developed networking and influencing skills. Core elements required for success in this role include the ability to provide clear direction, create alignment across multiple project teams, and develop a critical sense of urgency to focus efforts on delivering value.

The DPM – Program Enablement reports directly to the Program Manager, AJISS and works with an extended team collaboratively to deliver systems and processes that enhance and create value for Thales’ Customers. They also will support the Program via project status updates at customer meetings as required by the Program Manager, AJISS.

Regulatory Compliance Requirement

This position requires direct or indirect access to hardware, software or technical information controlled under the Canadian Export Control List and/or the US the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). All applicants must be eligible or able to obtain authorization for such access.

Key Areas of Responsibility

The DPM – Program Enablement is responsible for:

• •Providing strategic leadership for the development and execution of digital modernization initiatives across the AJISS Program, ensuring the program's systems, processes, and data capabilities support operational excellence, customer outcomes, contractual performance, and future growth objective.
• •Ensuring the successful development, implementation, and management of key technical solutions for the AJISS Program to enable success on its key business objectives.
• •Delivery of all contract obligations related to scope for this role in full and on time, on quality, and on cost.
• •Working collaboratively with the Client, Thales Executive Team, and other Thales departments to support operational efficiency and effectiveness.
• •Establish the strategic direction, governance framework, investment priorities, and implementation roadmap for digital transformation, data management, artificial intelligence, business intelligence, and continuous improvement initiatives across the AJISS Program.
• •Responsible for developing and implementing direct accountability programs to subordinates in line with business objectives.
• •Maintaining a positive and effective relationship with all members of the AJISS Program stakeholder community.
• •Lead and motivate highly performing cross-disciplinary integrated teams by providing the appropriate direction, coaching, support and delegation to team members.
• •Provide leadership in the identification, assessment, and mitigation of strategic risks affecting program performance, operational continuity, digital transformation objectives, and customer commitments.
• •Promote Execution Excellence by identifying and implementing areas of improvement within area of accountability and supporting other Thales initiatives as required.
• •Ensuring project schedules are maintained and utilize critical path analysis to support key updates to all stakeholders and to boost on-time delivery.
• •Provide executive-level recommendations to the Program Manager, AJISS and senior leadership regarding digital strategy, operational modernization, technology investment decisions, organizational effectiveness, business risks, and transformation priorities.
• •Ensuring that inputs to the annual operating plans are developed and provided for Program Enablement activities.
• •Accountable for financial planning, forecasting, resource optimization, and investment recommendations associated with Program Enablement initiatives, ensuring achievement of program performance objectives and long-term value creation.
• •Ensuring that all reporting, such as the monthly Performance Management reports, are prepared and submitted on time.
• •Identify and develop opportunities to expand digital capabilities, improve service delivery models, and support future business growth, competitive positioning, and customer value creation.
• •Promote Thales’s Health, Safety and Environmental programs by demonstrating HS&E Leadership in a professional and supportive manner.
• •Work with Human Resources staff to recruit, interview, select and hire employees as required.
• •Coach, mentor, and develop staff, including overseeing new employee onboarding and providing career development planning and opportunities.
• •Ensure a “Lessons Learned” culture is embedded and utilized to improve performance over time.

Minimum Qualifications

Skills and abilities:

• •Minimum of ten years’ experience in Technical Management role in project-based industrial environment or related field with a project values greater than $1,000,000 CAD per year.
• •Minimum 10 years of experience managing complex technical projects in a matrix organization.
• •Strong organizational skills and ability to balance multiple priorities.
• •Experience interfacing and influencing various internal/external stakeholders.
• •Certified Project Manager or equivalent (IPMA and/or PMP certification).
• •Experience within data management, business intelligence, integrated systems, artificial intelligence, digital fleet operations, and digital continuous improvement.
• •Soft skills: high accountability; team builder and team leader; problem solver; influencer, presents with impact; decision and results oriented; and collaborator.

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in relevant technical fields such as Engineering, Computer Science, Business Administration, Project Management.

Preferred Qualifications

Skills and abilities:

• •Experience with Naval In-Service Support activities and working within or leading In-Service Support Programs
• •Experience working within a defense environment
• •Experience managing in a performance-based contract environment
• •Soft skills: relational contracting experience; facilitation; leading change; negotiation; and analytical thinking

Education:

Master’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or Business/Project Management related fie