East Coast Operations Manager
at Thales Canada Inc., Defence and Security

Job Description

Location: Halifax, Canada

In fast changing markets, customers worldwide rely on Thales. Thales is a business where brilliant people from all over the world come together to share ideas and inspire each other. In aerospace, transportation, defence, security and space, our architects design innovative solutions that make our tomorrow's possible.

The East Coast Operations Manager is responsible and accountable to Senior Management for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Thales Halifax Office, its personnel, and project activities conducted from this location. Responsible for developing and maintaining coastal relationships with Industry, DND, FMF and the RCN. Responsible to meet contracted Key Performance Indicators (KPI) requirements within the program in accordance with the AJISS contract.

Key Responsibilities

The East Coast Operations Manager is responsible for:

• Developing and maintaining the Halifax Operations Plan to include:
  • Managing the Thales footprint in Halifax;
  • Aligning Halifax Operations;
  • Managing use of Industry in Halifax; and
  • A waterfront plan incorporating waterfront management principles.
• Planning, coordinating and managing Halifax activities.
• Leading the East Coast Integrated Project Team (IPT).
• Developing and maintaining the East Coast Strategic Operations Plan.
• Liaising with the East Coast operational authorities to develop combined readiness tracking models.
• Receiving and transitioning East Coast ships into service.
• Interfacing with the FMF to develop and maintain good working relationships on the East Coast.
• Ensuring Senior Management are informed of significant events occurring in Halifax.
• Supporting the Procurement Manager with establishing and maintaining a subcontractor base on the East Coast.
• Working with coastal stakeholders to refine the hybrid model and determine work assignment agreements with FMF.
• Supporting the LCMM and Engineering Manager in managing and maintaining the coastal Engineering presence.
• Supporting the Thales National Director of Public Affairs & Communications in liaison with local media.
• Liaise and coordinate with Senior Management, Canada and Thales HR to ensure a recruiting plan is developed and executed in line with ship deliveries.
• Manage designated ship maintenance and repair activities involving various stakeholders and Thales personnel ensuring all duties are fulfilled as required.
• Ensuring program objectives relating to scope, cost, time, safety and quality are achieved, meeting contracted KPIs and other performance measures required under the Service Delivery function.
• Foster Enterprise values and develop relationships with industry, DND, FMF and the RCN.
• Supervising (planning, organizing, leading, managing and supporting) subcontractors and project support team personnel to achieve agreed outcomes within delegated authorities and responsibilities.
• Ensuring the project team execute all required activities prior to the commencement of maintenance execution, including planning meetings, subcontractor Kick-off meetings, authorization of purchase requisitions and issuing of purchase orders, etc.
• Overseeing all maintenance execution activities for designated maintenance periods to ensure material readiness objectives for the platforms are being achieved.
• In collaboration with the Service Delivery Manager, prepare and submit regular reports as required.
• Ensuring that issues are resolved at the lowest level and escalated to the Service Delivery Manager as required, especially issues affecting operational availability and/or safety which must be communicated as soon as they happen or are known.

• People Management
  • Provide oversight and direction to a team of employees within the Service Delivery department in accordance with the organization's policies and procedures.
  • Coach, mentor, and develop staff, including overseeing new employee onboarding and providing career development planning and opportunities.
  • Lead employees to meet the organization's expectations for productivity, quality, continuous improvement, and goal accomplishment.
  • Foster a spirit of teamwork and unity among department members that allows for cohesiveness, support, and working effectively together enabling each employee and the department to succeed.
  • Work with Human Resources staff to recruit, interview, select, hire, and employ an appropriate number of employees.
  • Establish and foster a culture in line with the AJISS Enterprise charter.

• Health, Safety & Environment
  • Comply with and ensure compliance of others to all relevant HS&E legislative requirements, policies, procedures and framework with the intent of preventing or minimizing accidental exposures to self, colleagues, visitors and/or the environment. 
  • Promote Thales's Health, Safety and Environmental programs by demonstrating HS&E Leadership in a professional and supportive manner.
  • Interact and work with management/employees to promote teamwork, by effectively communicating with all levels of staff via staff meetings, written communications and one-on-one communication.

• Minimum of ten years' experience in an industrial or related discipline
• Minimum of five years' experience in a supervisory position.
• Experience working within a defense environment is desirable.
• Experience in the supervision of teams undertaking maintenance activities.
• Strong computer literacy, with proven experience with Microsoft products especially Word, Excel and PowerPoint essential.
• Experience interfacing between various internal/external stakeholders
• Strong organizational skills and ability to balance multiple priorities. Experience within procurement, finance, project management or warehouse environments desirable.
• Accreditation as a Certified Practicing Project Manager or equivalent is advantageous

• Tertiary education in an Engineering or Business/Project Management related field is preferred.

• Predominantly office based, but will also be required to work onboard Naval Vessels, or remotely (including from home).
• Will be required to undertake inspections, including confined space entry, on Naval ships involving bending and twisting. Tasks may also require working at heights.
• Must meet all federal government requirements to access Canadian government facilities, including naval dockyards

Special Requirements:

• Requires direct or indirect access to hardware, software, technology or technical data controlled under the Canadian Export Control List, the ITAR or the EAR
• Requires a positive Controlled Goods assessment as you will have direct access to hardware, software, technology or technical data controlled under the Canadian Controlled Goods Program
• Required to obtain and maintain a Security Clearance at the NATO Secret Level

Thales is an equal opportunity employer which values diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. Thales is committed to providing accommodations in all parts of the interview process. Applicants selected for an interview who require accommodation are asked to advise accordingly upon the invitation for an interview. We will work with you to meet your needs. All accommodation information provided will be treated as confidential and used only for the purpose of providing an accessible candidate experience.

#LI-TA1

Thales is an equal opportunity employer which values diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. Thales is committed to providing accommodations in all parts of the interview process. Applicants selected for an interview who require accommodation are asked to advise accordingly upon the invitation for an interview. We will work with you to meet your needs. All accommodation information provided will be treated as confidential and used only for the purpose of providing an accessible candidate experience.

This position requires direct or indirect access to hardware, software or technical information controlled under the Canadian Export Control List, the Canadian Controlled Goods Program, the Canadian Industrial Security Program, the US International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or the US Export Administration Regulations (EAR). All applicants must be eligible or able to obtain authorization for such access including eligibility to the Canadian Controlled Goods Program and able to obtain a Canadian Enhanced Reliability security clearance.