Executive Assistant

Location: Sydney, Nova Scotia
Term: Full Time
Anticipated Start Date: As soon as possible
Type: In Office

Full transparency: we work a little differently around here.

This isn’t just another job where you punch in and punch out. We come to work every day because we strive to earn a living in a meaningful way. Too many people exist without finding joy or purpose in their work, and we believe that’s just wrong. After all, we spend at least a third of our lives working—so why not create workplaces where people want to come to work in the morning and feel good when they leave at the end of the day?

At 45Drives, your ideas don’t just matter—they shape our future. We thrive on collaboration and innovation, where every voice is heard, valued, and makes a real impact. Does this sound like something you’d want to be a part of and help grow?

👉 https://workdifferently.info/

About Us

45Drives is a division of Protocase that specializes in high-performance, open-source data storage solutions. We design and build powerful storage systems that help organizations around the world store, manage, and protect massive amounts of data.

Based in Sydney, Nova Scotia, our team combines innovative hardware with open-source technologies like Ceph, ZFS, and Linux to create scalable, reliable infrastructure without vendor lock-in. Our customers include research institutions, media companies, and enterprises that rely on data to drive discovery and innovation.

At 45Drives, we’re passionate about open technology and solving complex problems—building the tools that help organizations unlock the full potential of their data.

👉 https://www.45drives.com/

About the Opportunity

This role sits at the heart of operations, helping the COO stay focused on the most important priorities while keeping projects, teams, and information flowing smoothly across the organization.

• Manage the COO’s calendar, schedule meetings, and ensure their time is aligned with the highest priorities.


• Prepare meeting agendas, organize materials, record notes, and track follow-up actions from leadership meetings.


• Conduct “traffic light” audits (red / yellow / green status reporting) to quickly identify operational risks, delays, or issues requiring escalation.


• Review department KPIs and operational metrics to help identify trends, successes, and areas needing attention.


• Track major initiatives and operational projects, maintaining dashboards to ensure progress stays on schedule.


• Coordinate communication between departments and assist in preparing leadership updates and reports.


• Support collaboration between the COO and other executives or department leaders.


• Arrange travel logistics, plan itineraries, and coordinate site visits or business trips.


• Filter incoming information and requests, ensuring urgent operational issues reach the COO quickly while routine matters are organized and managed appropriately.

About You

Our ideal candidate is energetic, organized, and thrives in a fast-moving environment where priorities shift quickly. You enjoy bringing structure to complex situations, helping leaders stay focused, and ensuring teams stay aligned.

Here’s what you’ll need to succeed:

• Education:
  
  
  
  • Post-secondary education is considered an asset, but not required. We value attitude, aptitude, and a willingness to learn.
  
  
  
  

• Experience:
  
  
  
  • Experience supporting leadership, coordinating projects, or working in operations, administration, or executive support roles is an asset.
  
  
  
  

• Skills:
  
  
  
  • Exceptional organizational and time-management abilities.
  
  
  • Strong communication skills and the ability to coordinate across multiple departments.
  
  
  • High attention to detail with the ability to track multiple priorities simultaneously.
  
  
  • Comfort working with dashboards, KPIs, and operational reporting.
  
  
  • The ability to filter information, identify priorities, and escalate issues when necessary.
  
  
  • A proactive mindset with high energy, passion, and a desire to make an impact.
  
  
  
  

Why Us?

At 45Drives, we believe in recognizing and rewarding hard work and dedication.

Our starting annual total compensation package—including base salary and performance incentives—ranges from $40,405–$60,130 CAD depending on experience.

In addition, you can look forward to:

• 🏆 Training and Growth: Leadership Training and skills development opportunities, as well as regular coaching and opportunity for growth.


• 👩‍⚕️ Comprehensive Health Care Plan and Company RRSP: Medical, Dental, Life Insurance, and Group Insurance benefits as well as a Registered Retirement Savings Plan at 6 months of full time employment.


• 🏡 Community Discounts: Enjoy discounts at local shops and restaurants.


• 🏋️ YMCA Membership: Access a cost-shared YMCA membership and a Pension Plan after three months of employment.


• 🏖️ Vacation: Two weeks of vacation, increasing to three weeks after three years, and four weeks after five years.


• 🎉 Social Events: Regular social events, including seasonal parties and monthly lunches.


• 🌄 Lifestyle of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia: Live in a community with quick commutes, affordable homes on generous plots of land, beautiful scenery, and friendly people—a lifestyle that marries nature with a vibrant culture.

Ready to Join Us?

If you’re excited about the opportunity to make a real impact in the world of open-source data infrastructure, we want to hear from you. Apply today and help us build the future of storage together!