About this Opportunity

This position is accountable for all observatory digital infrastructure, ensuring the efficient, effective flow of quality data from thousands of sensors to all users and stakeholders. This position leads six highly skilled teams in software development, systems operations, data stewardship, research data management, geospatial services, and data analytics and quality ensuring the continuous flow, integrity, security and availability of data both today and for the future in a rapidly evolving technological environment. The preferred candidate will have a minimum of a Master’s degree in science, engineering or a related field.

Knowledge and experience includes:

• Strong operational experience working in a senior management role for 15+ years
• Knowledge of complex data systems
• Experience working in the natural sciences (preferably ocean related research / systems)
• Ability to manage multiple competing initiatives with quickly changing priorities

The salary range for this position is:

Recruitment range:  $131,103 - $163,878 maximum starting salary is determined through knowledge, experience and internal equity. 

Performance range: starting salary to max of $188,460 is available through annual performance increases.

An employee in this classification is excluded from the bargaining unit as defined in the Labour Relations Code

Job Summary

Reporting to the Executive Director, Observatory Operations, the Director of Observatory Digital Operations drives the transformation and evolution of ONCs digital research infrastructure and big data management by providing leadership from a strategic, executive, and operational level.

The Director of Observatory Digital Operations holds oversight for the division’s six work units, overseeing these teams Systems Operations, Software Development, Data Analytics & Quality, Data Stewardship Operations, Research Data Management, and Geospatial Services. The Director leads the development and plans for the operation, maintenance, updates to, and repair of, ONCs digital infrastructure.

The Director oversees the operation and monitoring of the networks, software, databases, data, protocols servers, and storage in two physical locations. The division designs, builds, and implements the digital infrastructure that captures and transports the data in the second link of the data chain, and ensures that the data are useful immediately and in the long term for ONC users.

This position provides counsel to the President and ONC’s Board of Directors, as well as reports to the Board on a range of digital observatory issues and projects, including on ONC’s cyber security posture.

The Observatory Digital Operations Director is accountable for sound financial and human resource management of the Digital Operations budget and staff complement.

As a member of ONC's Executive team, this position provides organizational leadership and:

• informs and advises the Executive on matters related to the digital networks; 
• contributes to the development, implementation, and evaluation and updating of ONC's strategic and operational plans, strategic risk management, organizational development, and policy development; 
• leads projects and initiatives, and formulates responses to issues on behalf of ONC; and
• plays a coordination role in conjunction with the Executive and ONC’s managers to explore strategic priorities, functional needs, and system shortcomings, and advances enhancements to support ONC's strategic objectives and expanding mandate.

Job Requirements

Education

The successful candidate will have a minimum of a Master’s degree in science, engineering or related fields.

An equivalent combination of education, experience, and training may be considered.

Required Experience

• Strong operational experience, ideally has worked in a senior management role for 15+ years.
• 7-10 years of supervisory experience.
• A minimum of 5 years financial and project management experience.
• 5 years of related experience working with complex data systems.
• Knowledge of ocean-related research including at sea operations.
• Experience working in a collaborative research environment.
• An equivalent combination of skills and experience may be considered.

Condition of Employment:

The ability to obtain a Government of Canada Secret Level II security clearance is a requirement of this position.

Key job-specific competencies:

The Director’s competencies include:

• strong team leadership, supervisory experience and an aptitude to operate as an effective tactical as well as a strategic thinker;
• excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to work with confidential and/or sensitive issues with strong conflict management skills;
• strong understanding of information systems, business software and data management;
• excellent organizational, analytical and creative problem solving skills;
• ability to manage and prioritize projects/work to meet deadlines;
• ability to adapt to changing circumstances, consider various courses of action, understand implications of alternatives and undertake or recommends next steps;
• ability to provide a high degree of leadership to the Observatory Digital Operations Division while working effectively with the Executive members;
• exceptional written, oral, and communication skills and the ability to effectively interface with senior management, ONC’s board of directors, funders and stakeholders;
• ability to serve as a spokesperson, facilitator or participant in meetings and presentations to management, organizations and stakeholders to explain technical details; and
• demonstrated ability to exercise judgment independently.

Unusual working conditions:

During field excursions or 24/7 expedition logging, the Director is required to be on call to respond to urgent matters. Work may involve travel nationally and internationally to meet with stakeholders, coordinate with related projects etc.

Due to the many priorities and deadlines that the Director must accommodate in their work, a necessary high level of quality assurance, and crisis management skill is required for this position and can be a source of significant mental stress particularly in the lead up to field excursions or expeditions.

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Close date: Sept 16, 2024