Program director Jobs in Ottawa, ON

Job Description

What You'll Do

As the Director of Operations, you will lead a portfolio of technical service operations across the Ottawa region. Reporting to senior leadership, you will be responsible for the operational, financial, and commercial success of your region—leading it with an ownership mindset while delivering exceptional service to our clients.

This role combines executive leadership with hands-on operational involvement. You'll spend time both in the office and at client locations, leading technical teams, strengthening customer relationships, ensuring contractual excellence, and driving business performance.

You will oversee multiple customer sites, provide leadership to managers and technical teams, manage financial performance, and make strategic decisions that support the continued growth and success of the business.

What You'll Be Responsible For

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across a portfolio of technical service contracts.
• Lead, coach, and develop Area Managers, Account Managers, Supervisors, and technical operations teams.
• Own the financial performance of your portfolio, including full P&L accountability, budgeting, forecasting, financial planning, cost control, and profitability.
• Build strong relationships with executive-level client stakeholders, acting as a trusted advisor and operational partner.
• Regularly travel to customer sites to review operations, support teams, strengthen client relationships, and ensure service excellence.
• Ensure all contractual obligations, KPIs, SLAs, compliance requirements, and customer expectations are consistently achieved.
• Drive operational improvements that enhance efficiency, customer satisfaction, employee engagement, and financial performance.
• Partner with Business Development to support new business opportunities, contract renewals, and account growth.
• Review operational and financial performance through regular business reviews, identifying risks and implementing corrective actions.
• Manage workforce planning, subcontractor performance, vendor relationships, and resource allocation.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Serve as the senior operational leader for your region, making sound business decisions that support both customers and employees.

Qualifications

What You Bring

We're looking for a seasoned operations leader who combines technical expertise with strong commercial and leadership experience.

Required Experience

• 10+ years of progressive operations leadership experience within a technical services environment.
• Experience leading multi-site operations across facilities management, HVAC, mechanical services, building operations, engineering services, industrial maintenance, or similar industries.
• Proven experience managing managers and large technical workforces.
• Demonstrated success owning full P&L responsibility, including budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and cost optimization.
• Strong experience managing service contracts and ensuring contractual compliance.
• Excellent client relationship management skills with experience interacting directly with executive stakeholders.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to make operational decisions that improve profitability and customer satisfaction.
• Proven ability to balance strategic leadership with hands-on operational involvement.
• Excellent communication, leadership, coaching, and decision-making skills.
• Experience working within fast-paced, customer-focused service environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree or diploma in Engineering, Business, Facilities Management, Operations Management, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Experience within facilities management, commercial real estate, technical services, industrial services, mechanical contracting, HVAC, or building services.
• Knowledge of preventative maintenance programs, asset management, technical operations, and service delivery best practices.

Work Environment

• Full time in office and field-based leadership role.
• Based in Ottawa with regular travel to client sites throughout Eastern Ontario.
• Typical working hours are Monday to Friday, approximately 9AM to 5PM with flexibility to support operational requirements.
• Some travel may be required based on business needs.

Additional Information

Why Join Dexterra?

This is more than an operations leadership role—it's an opportunity to run a business within a business.

You'll have the autonomy to make decisions, lead high-performing technical teams, build lasting client partnerships, and drive operational and financial success across your portfolio. If you thrive in an environment where you can influence strategy, improve performance, and make a measurable impact, this role offers the opportunity to do exactly that.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?

• Lead a high-performing regional operation with significant autonomy and decision-making authority.
• Work for one of Canada's leading integrated facilities management organizations.
• Career advancement and leadership development opportunities.
• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package.
• Employee Referral Program.
• Be #1 on Day 1 by joining an organization where Work That Matters, People Who Care is more than a slogan—it's how we operate.

Dexterra Group is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We are pleased to consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veterans' status, Indigenous status, or any other legally protected factors.

Accommodation is available upon request throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process.

#IND1

Dexterra Group is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We are pleased to consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veterans’ status, Indigenous status, or any other legally protected factors. Special needs accommodation is available at all stages of the application process upon request.