Director, Western Operations & Growth

Job Title

Director, Western Operations & Growth

Work Location

Edmonton, AB

About Canadian Strategic Missions Corp. (CSMC)

Canadian Strategic Missions Corporation is building the capabilities that will shape Canada’s future in space, defence, and energy. We focus on developing dual‑use systems that address critical challenges here on Earth while enabling sustained human activity beyond it.

In a short time, CSMC has established real momentum. We have secured significant government investment to advance next‑generation micro‑nuclear reactors in partnership with leading institutions, alongside expanding a portfolio of technologies designed for remote environments, national defence, and future space missions. These efforts reflect a broader ambition to deliver reliable power and critical infrastructure where it matters most.

Our work is grounded in close collaboration with government and guided by a clear sense of purpose: to build sovereign capability at a time when it has never been more important. We care deeply about execution, long‑term impact and earning the trust required to deliver systems that will serve Canada and its allies for decades.

CSMC is a company for builders. We are a group of people drawn to hard problems, meaningful impact and the opportunity to shape systems that matter at a national and global scale. We are building a team that thrives in ambiguity, values execution, and is motivated by mission and impact.

About the Role

CSMC is seeking a highly motivated and entrepreneurial leader to establish and grow our Alberta presence. As CSMC's first Edmonton‑based hire, you will play a critical role in executing strategic projects, scaling commercialization and go‑to‑market activities, developing partnerships, and building the foundations of our Alberta operations.

This is a unique opportunity to join a rapidly growing company at an early stage and help shape how transformative technologies are delivered across Canada’s energy, defence, and space sectors. You will work closely with universities, industry partners, customers, government stakeholders, and internal technical teams to ensure successful project execution while identifying opportunities to create long‑term value for CSMC and its partners.

The role will initially focus on execution of key Alberta‑based initiatives, including coordination of activities with the University of Alberta and other strategic partners, while simultaneously supporting commercialization efforts and market adoption of CSMC technologies. As the company grows, the scope of the role will evolve alongside the business and may include team building, operational leadership, customer engagement, and expansion of CSMC's regional footprint.

This position is based in Edmonton, Alberta, with periodic travel to Waterloo, Toronto, and other locations across Western and Northern Canada as required.

This role offers an opportunity to help shape technologies and partnerships that strengthen Canada’s security, economy, energy independence, and strategic capabilities while delivering meaningful impact for Canada and its allies.

Responsibilities

• Lead day‑to‑day coordination and execution of CSMC's Alberta‑based projects and strategic initiatives.
• Serve as the primary interface between CSMC and key Alberta stakeholders, including universities, government agencies, industry partners, investors, and customers.
• Maintain oversight of project schedules, milestones, deliverables, risks, and partner commitments, ensuring successful execution across all workstreams.
• Build and strengthen relationships with the University of Alberta and other strategic research and commercialization partners.
• Support commercialization and go‑to‑market activities for CSMC technologies, identifying pathways for adoption by research institutions, government organizations, and commercial customers.
• Identify and pursue opportunities to expand CSMC's presence, partnerships, and impact across Alberta and Western Canada.
• Support business development activities, including opportunity development, stakeholder engagement, partnership formation, proposal development, and funding applications.
• Represent CSMC at conferences, industry events, government meetings, research forums, and customer engagements.
• Work closely with technical teams to translate strategic objectives into executable plans and measurable outcomes.
• Provide regular project, partnership, and market‑development updates to company leadership.
• Recruit, mentor, and help build future Alberta‑based team capabilities as the business grows.
• Support special projects and strategic initiatives as required in a fast‑moving and evolving environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree in engineering, science, business, public policy, project management, or a related discipline.
• 5–10+ years of experience in program management, project delivery, business development, strategic partnerships, operations, engineering, technology commercialization, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success working across academia, industry, government, or innovation ecosystems.
• Strong project and stakeholder management skills with the ability to coordinate multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Experience building and maintaining trusted relationships with external partners and customers.
• Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation, and organizational skills.
• Comfortable operating independently in a highly dynamic startup environment with evolving priorities.
• Strong business judgment and ability to identify opportunities that create long‑term strategic value.
• Experience supporting commercialization, technology adoption, market development, or go‑to‑market activities is considered an asset.
• Familiarity with Canada’s energy, nuclear, defence, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, or innovation sectors is considered an asset.
• Experience working with research institutions, government‑funded programs, or technology development initiatives is considered an asset.
• Ability and willingness to travel throughout Alberta, Western Canada, Northern Canada, and periodically to Waterloo and Toronto as required.
• Must be located in or willing to relocate to Edmonton, Alberta.

Why Join CSMC

CSMC is building technologies that will shape Canada’s future in energy, space, and national security. You’ll join a team of engineers, scientists, and mission‑driven builders who care deeply about solving hard problems that matter. We move quickly, support each other, and take pride in doing work that has real impact. Along the way, you’ll have access to competitive compensation, benefits, and equity, and the chance to grow with a company that values ownership, curiosity, and technical excellence.

Employment Eligibility

CSMC works with highly sensitive nuclear, defence, and aerospace technologies, and all roles require eligibility for federal security screening and compliance with controlled goods and export regulations. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in Canada, able to obtain and maintain Government of Canada security clearance, and eligible to meet foreign affiliation and export control requirements. These conditions are mandatory Bona Fide Occupational Requirements and reflect the need to securely develop and protect nationally significant capabilities.

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