President and CEO

About CANARIE

CANARIE connects Canada to the world. We design and deliver digital infrastructure, and drive its adoption for research, education, and innovation.

Together with our 13 provincial and territorial partners, we form Canada’s National Research and Education Network (NREN). This ultra-high-speed network connects Canada’s researchers and educators to each other and to global data, technology, and colleagues.

To strengthen the security of Canada’s research and education sector, we collaborate with our partners in the NREN, government, academia, and the private sector to fund, implement, and support cybersecurity initiatives. We also provide identity management services to the academic community through eduroam and identity and access management services.

Established in 1993, CANARIE is a non-profit corporation, with most of our funding provided by the Government of Canada.

Who we are

We’re a small team of dedicated thinkers, innovators, and problem-solvers. Our team is positive, passionate, and collaborative. Our core values of service, teamwork, inclusion, innovation, quality, and integrity underpin all that we do.

We work with Canada’s higher-ed community, private sector, and government partners to ensure that Canada’s bright researchers benefit from the technologies and services that are critical to their success. Together with our partners across the country, we work to ensure that Canada leads in research and innovation.

About the opportunity

CANARIE’s President and CEO is responsible for providing strategic leadership, vision, and operational oversight that advances the organization’s programs in service to Canada’s research and education sector. The President and CEO will drive innovation, collaboration, and partnerships with government, academia, and industry to enhance CANARIE’s position as a critical national organization.

The President and CEO leads a highly skilled team and champions a culture of performance and service excellence, while ensuring the effective management of programs, finances, and community engagement.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the President and CEO will champion the organization’s long-term growth, secure continued and sustainable funding, and promote a vision for advanced networking, cybersecurity, and innovation across Canada.

Additionally, the President and CEO:

• crafts and rallies support behind a bold and compelling vision;
• manages a team of highly skilled staff, and contributes to their short-and-long-range planning and development;
• champions a culture of performance and service excellence;
• advocates for policy and funding support;
• engages with a diverse public and private sector community, including current and potential funders, regional partners, ecosystem partners, and government departments;
• adapts CANARIE’s mandate and offering to the needs of an evolving research and education sector;
• develops innovative strategies to advance the organization in a dynamic environment; and
• builds relationships through a collaborative and co-operative approach to the advancement of Canada’s digital research infrastructure (DRI).

Key areas of responsibility:

• Operational oversight
• Strategic positioning
• Team leadership
• Community relations
• Governance support

The ideal candidate

This role demands a seasoned senior executive - President and CEO - who has held leading business and operational roles in a variety of complex work environments and who can position CANARIE for ongoing success and evolution in a fluid environment of technology changes, government priorities, and geopolitical events. The President and CEO will fit the following profile:

• An innovator, entrepreneur, and visionary who will challenge the status quo, develop a compelling vision for CANARIE, rally support for the vision (internally and externally), and develop and execute new approaches and strategies that align with this vision.
• An inspiring organizational leader with a record of driving change, fostering a culture of entrepreneurship, trust, and respect, and motivating professional teams in a dynamic, multi-partner, and multi-interest technology-focused environment.
• A trusted relationship builder who will promote a responsive, client-service culture and cultivate a high level of transparency, openness, and collaboration with CANARIE’s partners across government, academia, and industry.
• A business leader with demonstrated maturity, judgment, and experience to operate CANARIE efficiently and effectively within compliance requirements that demand advanced operational and financial acumen, strategy, and discipline.
• A skilled communicator and credible, engaging spokesperson with a commitment and passion for CANARIE’s public interest, mission, and role as a leader and catalyst in Canada’s research and education ecosystem.
• A pragmatic and seasoned navigator of political and bureaucratic processes and frameworks that impact CANARIE’s funding, mandate, and organizational evolution.
• A confident and competent coach with the stature, presence, and personal and professional integrity to delegate to and share authority with members of CANARIE’s senior team.
• A seasoned leader who has sound experience in the technology and the not-for-profit publicly funded sectors.

The ideal candidate may also have the following:

• Experience running an organization comparable in size and scope to CANARIE, involving both national and international engagements and partnerships.
• An understanding of the government’s policy development process.
• Sufficient technical acumen in both telecommunication networks and cybersecurity; ability to effectively communicate the benefits of various applications of technology.
• An understanding of cybersecurity infrastructure and risk reduction.
• An understanding of the roles and relationships in the academic community, including CIOs, Vice Presidents Research, faculty members, and senior administration.
• College diploma or university degree in Business or a suitable combination of education and experience.
• Proficiency in both official languages is desirable.

Location

The President and CEO will work from the CANARIE office in downtown Ottawa.

Compensation and benefits

The position provides a competitive compensation package that aligns with the skills and competencies of the individual, and includes professional development, employee benefits, and RRSP contributions.

Come work with us

We are committed to employment equity and encourage anyone who can contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives to apply. For applicants with disabilities, accommodation is available upon request throughout the recruitment and assessment process.

Please forward your resume and cover letter in strictest confidence by email to slewis@businesssherpagroup.com