Project Associate Director, Tissues

Please note this role will work in a hybrid environment. The successful candidate will be working a mixture of on-site and off-site work to meet the needs of our organization. Currently, employees are expected to have an in-person presence for at least 40% of their work time.

Job posting ID: 8496

Employment status: Temporary full-time

Position's anticipated end date: 2028-03-31
Salary/Rate of pay: $132,300 - $155,600

Application deadline: 2026-05-19

• This external job posting may close earlier than the advertised deadline. We recommend applying as soon as possible.

Application requirements:

• Your up-to-date resume.
• Job specific cover letter.
• We recommend you save a copy of the job posting for reference throughout the recruitment process.

Do you currently work for Canadian Blood Services? All employees must apply via the .

Together, the work we do connects people and changes lives — including your own.

Be part of a dynamic, collaborative and caring organization committed to saving and improving lives. Thousands of patients depend on us every day for reliable access to safe blood, plasma, stem cells and organs and tissues.

About the role

Canadian Blood Services is looking for a Temporary full-time Project Associate Director, Tissues to join our dynamic Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation team in our Medical Affairs division.

The Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation (OTDT) team within Canadian Blood Services collaborates with partners and stakeholders (internal and external) to develop and strengthen the foundational elements that contribute to a high-performing organ and tissue donation and transplantation system. It also develops and operates a number of registries through which Canadian Blood Services’ supports the sharing of solid organs-for-transplant within and across provincial boundaries. Canadian Blood Service’s OTDT Program also acts as the Secretariat for the System Operators Advisory Committee, a critical committee in a governance structure that will oversee pan-Canadian collaboration in key national initiatives.

In this role you will, provide strategic leadership and oversight for a complex, regulated project related to the development of strategic options to support national coordination of the processing, storage, distribution, and quality management of tissues and substitutes for transplantation and wound care in Canada. In collaboration with other leaders, you will foster cross-divisional alignment, providing insights for future initiatives and opportunities for the program, aligned to the deliverables outlined for Project Hercules.

Formula for success

• In partnership with the director and associate director of OTDT, you will lead the planning, execution, and delivery of enterprise‑level and multi‑site tissue proposal to fulfill the requirements of the Veterans Affairs Canada “VAC” contract. Outline a proposal and costed road map for securing supply of tissues and alternatives for wound card nationally. Lead the planning, execution and delivery of an enterprise level and multisite tissue bankingproject, ensuring alignment with organizational strategy and national regulatory requirements.
• Leveraging your exceptional project management and change management skills, you will develop and manage project portfolios, timelines, budgets, risks, and resources across clinical, operational, quality, and regulatory domains.
• Ensuring appropriate governance structures are in place, you will lead strategic analysis and develop evidence-informed recommendations to support future program and system development.
• Utilizing your proven customer relationship management and interpersonal skills, you will collaborate with Medical Directors, Quality Leaders, Operations, IT, Legal, and external partners to ensure safe and compliant project outcomes. Act as a senior liaison with Government Relations, Regulatory Affairs, provincial stakeholders, hospitals, and partner organizations as required.
• Applying your seasoned expertise in risk management, you will identify issues requiring resolution, work with the subject matter experts and facilitate the analysis and resolution of these issues, and/or escalate the issue as required to the director OTDT, Hercules Oversight Steering Committee or the executive management team (EMT) as appropriate.
• Harnessing your strong communication skills and continuous growth mindset, you will facilitate consultations and working groups to gather input on current practices, emerging needs and system opportunities. Support alignment and coordination across jurisdictions and organizations where initiatives require coordinated approaches.

Desired education and skills

• Completion of a bachelor's degree in a related field (life-science or healthcare discipline), master’s degree is preferred.
• Certification in Project Management, such as the Project Management Professional (PMP) designation.
• Knowledge and understanding of project management and change management processes.
• A minimum of 10 years managing multiple projects with large teams, budgets, and multiple stakeholders at an executive level.
• Experience leading initiatives in multi-jurisdictional and complex stakeholder environments.
• Must possess strong written and verbal communications skills, including presentation delivery in an executive setting.
• Highly strategic and forward thinking in approach, but able to balance near term deliverables with long-term priorities.
• Subject matter expertise (SME) relevant to the nature of the projects assigned (ie. IT, quality, science, etc.)
• Ability to synthesize complex information to support future program development.
• Proven capabilities in leading large-scale initiatives with cross-functional teams.
• Experience managing and coaching other project managers and employees is required.
• Proven customer relationship management skills with a strong ability to manage internal and external relationships.
• Knowledge of tissue recovery, processing, storage, and distribution workflows is an asset.
• Experience managing new product or process introduction in a regulated environment is an asset.
• An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be considered.

What we offer you

• Payment in lieu of vacation
• Payment in lieu of benefits
• Defined benefit pension plan
• Employee discounts, wellness program, professional resources

What you can expect

• This role will work in a hybrid environment with requirements to be onsite at Canadian Blood Services location 40% of the time/2 days of the week.
• Travel will be expected – approximately 6 times per year nationally, and 1-2 times per year internationally, as required.

If this role resonates with you, we encourage you to apply by providing your up-to-date resume. This could be your first step towards a meaningful and inspiring career. Come to work each day knowing that you save lives.

We acknowledge that the work of Canadian Blood Services spans many Territories and Treaty areas across the country, and we are grateful for the Traditional Knowledge Keepers and Elders who have guided us in this important work. We recognize the land and waters that have inspired our work and offer gratitude to those Indigenous peoples on whose territory we work, live and play.

Diversity and inclusion play a vital role in ensuring health equity for patients across Canada. We are committed to reflecting Canada’s population in our organization and fostering an environment where all employees can be their authentic selves, with equal opportunities to succeed and contribute.

We thank all applicants for their interest. However, only those considered for an interview or those invited to participate in an assessment will be contacted. Emails are sent directly from our system, to ensure you receive them please add donotreply@blood.ca and system@successfactors.com to your safe senders list.

Applicants who require accommodation should discuss their needs with us.

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