Senior Specialist, Program Management

University of Ottawa

$96K — $120K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in a relevant field
  • 5 years of program or project management experience
  • 3 years of supervisory experience
  • Experience in budget management and planning
  • Ability to interpret performance metrics for decision-making
  • Strong organizational and interpersonal skills
  • Bilingual in French and English, both spoken and written

Responsibilities

  • Oversee operational activities, including courses, workshops, and events
  • Participate in strategic planning and needs analyses
  • Implement performance indicators for continuous improvement
  • Supervise operations staff and manage recruitment and development
  • Act as the program's ambassador, promoting its impact and objectives

Benefits

  • Dynamic team environment committed to research that matters
  • Opportunity to influence Arctic governance and community resilience
  • Support for professional development and career growth
  • Engagement with diverse stakeholders including Indigenous communities
  • Access to University of Ottawa resources and networks
Full Job Description
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Posting Reason:
New Position

Job Type:
Employee

Anticipated Duration in Months (for contracts and temporary assignments):
24

Job Family:
Program Management

# of Open Positions:
1

Faculty/Service - Department:
Impact+ Chair_Jennifer Spence_PM

Campus:
Main Campus

Union Affiliation:
N/A

Date Posted (YYYY/MM/DD):
2026/09/17

Applications must be received BEFORE (YYYY/MM/DD):
2026/09/16

Hours per week:
35

Salary Grade:
Non-Union Grade NR8 - 35 hrs

Salary Range:
$96 570,00 - $120 712,00

The Eddie Goldenberg Research Chair in Arctic Governance and Community Resilience, based in the Faculty of Social Sciences and led by Dr. Jennifer Spence, is an ambitious new research program focused on the most consequential challenges and opportunities facing the Arctic today. Working closely with Dr. Spence and with Indigenous and northern partners, governments, researchers, and international organizations, the program will advance research and policy innovation in Arctic governance, research cooperation and science diplomacy, Indigenous leadership and innovation, and community resilience. As the program gets underway, Dr. Spence is building a collaborative and dynamic team committed to producing research that matters and translating ideas into meaningful policy and community impact. The Program Manager will work directly with Dr. Spence and play a critical role in building the program from the ground up. You will be part of shaping the team, partnerships, activities, and ways of working that will define its success. This is an opportunity to join an engaged and supportive team and help build an important new Arctic research program together.

Position Purpose

Leads the planning, organization, execution and continuous improvement of all aspects related to the efficient delivery of a defined special program or research program in a faculty. Translates strategies into program plans and deliverables in support of meeting program objectives while promoting service excellence. Ensures collaboration among program staff and establishes processes and procedures that optimize resources contributing to the overall success of academic, research and/or special services offered by the University of Ottawa.

In this role, your responsibilities will include:
  • Program Operations Management: Oversees all ongoing operational activities, including but not limited to courses, workshops, training and events, in support of core program delivery including administrative and financial functions, resource allocation, monitoring and communication. Coordinates cross-project activities of inter-connected projects within the program scope with the objective of maximizing resources and enhancing communication. Acts as management liaison with other faculties or services whose contribution is a key input to program success, as well as to ensure effective communication and collaboration on areas of common interest. Oversees activities undertaken as part of special projects within the overall scope of the program.
  • Planning: Participates in needs analyses and strategic planning activities by contributing innovative ideas and evidence-based information related to program delivery. Translates global program objectives and needs into short -, medium- and long -term operational plans. Identifies risks to success and implements contingency measures to ensure program continuity. Plans all key resources; human, material, financial and space, towards meeting program objectives.
  • Continuous Improvement: Devises key performance indicators and ensures accurate tracking of data for evaluating performance against program objectives. Analyses performance trends and adjusts program elements accordingly. Monitors industry trends and norms to introduce innovations into program planning and delivery, and ensures continuous alignment of deliverables with global objectives of the sector while favouring service excellence. Given the ongoing nature of programs, ensures that program deliverables continue to evolve with the evolving needs of program participants.
  • Human Resources Management: Supervises operations staff of the program. May oversee the work of additional staff assigned to special projects within the scope of the program to ensure alignment with overall program goals. Responsible for recruitment, professional development, performance management and conflict management for the staff under his or her responsibility.
  • Program Promotion: Acts as an ambassador for the program, and actively promotes program impact, features and successes. Effectively communicates the link between program objectives and the overall vision of the faculty or service, while consistently supporting and upholding the reputation of the program.


What you will bring:
  • Knowledge, Experience and Skills Essential Qualifications (cannot be modified)
  • Bachelor's degree in a field related to the core business of the program
  • 5 years of related experience in program or project management
  • 3 years of experience in supervision
  • Experience in budget management and planning
  • Experience interpreting performance metrics in support of evidence-based decision-making
  • Ability to succeed in a high-paced, high demand environment with strict deadlines
  • Strong organizational skills to manage multiple elements of ongoing operations
  • Ability to simplify and explain rules and regulations
  • Ability to motivate a team and to collaborate with multiple stakeholders
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills
  • Proven commitment to client satisfaction
  • Ability to work outside of normal office hours
  • Ability to travel outside of the region
  • Bilingualism - French and English (spoken and written)


Key Competencies at uOttawa:
Here are the required competencies for all or our employees at uOttawa:

Planning: Organize in time a series of actions or events in order to realize an objective or a project. Plan and organize own work and priorities in regular daily activities.
Initiative: Demonstrate creativity and initiative to suggest improvements and encourage positive results. Is proactive and self-starting. Show availability and willingness to go above and beyond whenever it is possible.
Client Service Orientation: Help or serve others to meet their needs. This implies anticipating and identifying the needs of internal and external clients and finding solutions on how to meet them.
Teamwork and Cooperation: Cooperate and work well with other members of the team to reach common goal(s). Accept and give constructive feedback. Able to adjust own behaviour to reach the goals of the team.

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