IT Director

Discover the possible

Anything is possible at the NRC, named in 2025 one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People, Top Employer in the National Capital Region and Forbes Canada’s Best Employers!

As Canada’s largest research and innovation organization, our world-renowned research pushes the boundaries of science and engineering to make the impossible, possible. Every day we explore new ideas through innovative research and help companies discover possibilities that impact Canada’s future and the world.

At the NRC, you’ll also discover new possibilities. Our supportive workplace fosters a culture of creativity, welcoming fresh perspectives and innovation at all levels. We value teamwork. You’ll collaborate across multiple fields and with the brightest minds to find creative solutions. Most importantly, you’ll discover what’s possible within you as you grow, make valuable contributions and progress in your professional journey. From ground-breaking discoveries to a life-changing career, discover your possible at the NRC.

The role

We are looking for dynamic and versatile IT Directors to provide strategic, technical and people leadership across a range of enterprise technology functions to support our Chief Information Officer Branch (CIOB). The IT Director would be someone who shares our core values of Integrity, Excellence, Respect and Creativity. Successful candidates will provide enterprise leadership within CIOB and may be placed in roles that best align with their experience, technical background, leadership strengths and organizational needs.

As a Director, you will provide leadership to multidisciplinary teams, manage people and resources, support organizational transformation, and contribute to the delivery of modern, secure and client-focused IT services. You will work with senior leaders, business partners and technical experts to establish priorities, advance key initiatives, and ensure that technology services support NRC’s research, business and operational needs.

All Director-level opportunities will require candidates to demonstrate strong capabilities in the following areas:

Strategic Leadership:

• Provide strategic direction for enterprise IT programs, services or initiatives that support organizational priorities;


• Translate business needs, technology trends and government priorities into practical IT strategies, roadmaps and delivery plans;


• Contribute to branch planning, governance, investment decisions and service modernization;


• Lead change in a complex environment while balancing innovation, operational stability, security, risk and client service.

People Management and Talent Development:

• Lead, coach and support multidisciplinary teams, including managers, technical specialists, project teams and service delivery staff;


• Foster a respectful, inclusive and high-performing workplace;


• Set clear expectations, manage performance, support professional development and build team capacity;


• Promote collaboration across technical, business and corporate teams.

Leading Technical Teams and Enterprise-wide Initiatives:

• Oversee the delivery of complex IT services, programs or transformation initiatives;


• Provide direction to technical teams working across enterprise platforms, systems, data, applications, infrastructure or service operations;


• Ensure alignment with architecture, cybersecurity, accessibility, privacy, information management and Government of Canada digital standards.


• Manage priorities, risks, resources, budgets and stakeholder expectations across multiple initiatives.

Screening criteria

Applicants must demonstrate within the content of their application that they meet the following screening criteria in order to be given further consideration as candidates:

Education

A bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, or a related discipline and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

An advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) is considered an asset.

Relevant certifications like ITIL, PMP, CISSP, or AWS Certified Solutions Architect are considered assets.

For information on certificates and diplomas issued abroad, please see Degree equivalency

Experience

• Recent* and significant** experience managing enterprise-scale IT services, systems, platforms or digital technology initiatives;


• Recent* and significant** experience in managing multidisciplinary technical teams and advancing enterprise-wide initiatives;


• Recent* and significant** experience developing and implementing IT strategies, policies, and operational plans;


• Experience leading service modernization, digital transformation, enterprise technology delivery or IT service management practices to improve service delivery, client experience and operational performance;


• Experience in the management of human and financial resources.

*Recent experience is defined as experience acquired within the last five years.  

**Significant experience is defined as having the depth and breadth of the experience normally associated with having performed a broad range of various, complex related activities which would have been acquired over a period of five to ten years.

Depending on the position, candidates may be asked to demonstrate experience in one or more of the following areas:

Data Innovation and Engineering

• Experience leading enterprise data, analytics, AI enablement, data engineering or data platform initiatives;


• Experience modernizing data pipelines, metadata, data quality, interoperability, cloud-native data engineering or reusable data products;


• Experience supporting data governance, responsible AI readiness, analytics, reporting or evidence-based decision-making.

Digital Solution Development and Delivery

• Experience leading application development, application modernization, digital product delivery, low-code/no-code solutions or user experience design;


• Experience overseeing enterprise business applications, enterprise COTS platforms, SaaS solutions, application lifecycle management or enterprise application ecosystems;


• Experience advancing agile delivery, product management, DevSecOps, accessibility, integration, platform modernization or secure application development practices.

Condition of employment

Secret Clearance

A thorough security clearance process will be applied. 

For a Secret Clearance, verification of background information over a period of 10 years is required. Individuals must have lived in Canada for a sufficient period of time to enable the security screening process. 

Language requirements

Bilingual Imperative CBC/CBC 

Information on language requirements and self-assessment tests

Assessment criteria

Candidates will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:

Technical competencies

Applicable to All Candidates

• Advanced knowledge of enterprise IT management, digital service delivery and modern technology operations;


• Ability to develop and implement strategies that balance innovation, operational stability, service excellence, cybersecurity, risk management and client needs;


• Ability to lead enterprise-wide initiatives involving multiple stakeholders, complex technologies, competing priorities and organizational change;


• Knowledge of IT governance, enterprise architecture, cybersecurity, accessibility, privacy, information management and Government of Canada digital standards;


• Ability to manage technology services, programs or platforms through effective planning, prioritization, resource management, risk management and performance measurement.

Technical Competencies dependent on Role Placement Area

Candidates may be assessed against one or more of the following areas to determine best role placement within the broader CIOB team.
 

Data Innovation and Engineering:

• Ability to lead the development and implementation of enterprise data, analytics and AI strategies, roadmaps, platforms or services that enable innovation, evidence-based decision-making, operational efficiency and responsible digital transformation;


• Advanced knowledge of modern data engineering practices, including data pipelines, integration, interoperability, metadata, data quality, cloud-native data platforms, reusable data products and scalable data service delivery;

Digital Solution Development and Delivery:

• Advanced knowledge of modern application design, development and delivery practices, including agile delivery, DevSecOps, product management, user-centred design, accessibility, testing, integration and continuous improvement;


• Ability to lead the planning, modernization, optimization and governance of enterprise applications, including custom applications, commercial off-the-shelf platforms, SaaS solutions, low-code/no-code platforms and digital service ecosystems;


• Ability to guide teams in delivering secure, reliable, accessible, maintainable and scalable digital solutions that respond to business needs and align with enterprise architecture, cybersecurity and Government of Canada digital standards.

Behavioural competencies

Competency Profile(s)

For this position, the NRC will evaluate candidates using the following competency profile(s): Management Competencies; Supervisor

View all competency profiles

Compensation

From $135,833 to $176,401 per annum. 

In addition, the incumbent who meets the language requirements will receive the Bilingualism Bonus of $800 per year.

NRC employees enjoy a wide-range of competitive benefits including a robust pension plan, comprehensive health and dental coverage, disability and life insurance, office closure at the end of December, and additional supports to enhance your well-being throughout your career and beyond.

Notes

• In 2025, the NRC was chosen as one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People, a National Capital Region Top Employer and Forbes Canada’s Best Employer.


• Relocation assistance will be determined in accordance with the NRC's directives.


• A pre-qualified list may be established for similar positions for a one-year period.


• Preference will be given to Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents of Canada. Please include citizenship information in your application.


• The incumbent must adhere to safe workplace practices at all times.


• We thank all those who apply, however only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.