IT Lead

IT Lead COVE Dartmouth, NS COVE is a global technology partner advancing high-impact solutions from seabed to space. COVE transforms innovation into market-ready technologies through testing, commercialization support, market expertise and access to critical infrastructure. Leveraging its networks and mission-driven platform, COVE connects investors, innovators, industry, and the research community to drive cutting-edge capabilities for commercial and defence applications. Based in Canada and operating internationally, COVE supports the full lifecycle of maritime and multi-domain technologies – from research and development to manufacturing, integration, and export – linking Canadian innovation to global markets. COVE has built a globally recognized innovation platform, with an ecosystem of more than 700 organizations spanning startups, multinational firms, researchers, Indigenous partners, and public sector collaborators. Through its programs, facilities, and partnerships, COVE enables real-world testing and validation, strengthens supply chains, and accelerates technology adoption in complex operating environments. With strong connections across the North Atlantic, the United States, and the Arctic, and as part of international networks including NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA), COVE plays a key role in advancing technologies that support economic growth, environmental sustainability, and global security. As COVE experiences rapid expansion, it is actively seeking to expand its team to further bolster its transformational influence as a global technology partner in advancing high-impact solutions. COVE recognizes that its journey toward this goal hinges on the strength of its team – a group of individuals who collaborate, innovate, and continually strive for excellence. Join COVE as it embarks on this exciting journey of discovery and advancement. The Opportunity The IT Lead provides hands on support for technology initiatives across COVE, with a focus on implementing new software, improving business systems, supporting adoption, and coordinating the work of the organization’s managed service provider. The role also provides leadership in identifying technology improvement opportunities, supporting technology planning, and promoting effective, secure, and efficient use of organizational technology resources. Success in this role involves delivering technology initiatives in a coordinated, timely, and well communicated manner while ensuring solutions are practical, secure, well documented, and aligned with organizational priorities. What You’ll Do: Reporting to the Director of Operations, the IT Lead is responsible for coordinating the organization’s day-to-day technology operations, technology planning and governance, vendor and managed service provider oversight, cybersecurity coordination, systems access, software lifecycle management, and technology related risk escalation. This role is accountable for executing IT priorities, documentation, follow-up, and coordination to ensure technology services and initiatives are managed effectively and enhance the user experience across the organization.
- Serve as the primary internal lead for technology operations, working with staff, leadership, service providers, and vendors to identify issues, translate business needs into technology solutions, and ensure timely resolution of technology-related matters.
- Act as the administrator for SharePoint and Microsoft 365 collaboration platforms, including site administration, permissions management, information architecture, content management, workflow automation, governance implementation, and user support.
- Lead and coordinate technology initiatives, including software implementations, system upgrades, integrations, process improvements, automation, digital transformation, and continuous improvement projects.
- Manage relationships with managed service providers, software vendors, and consultants, monitoring service performance, deliverables, recurring issues, escalations, and contract compliance.
- Support cybersecurity, privacy, data governance, access management, and technology risk management activities, including user awareness, access reviews, incident response coordination, and compliance with organizational requirements.
- Evaluate systems, tools, business processes, and workflows to identify opportunities to improve efficiency, strengthen reporting, enhance data quality, reduce manual effort, and improve the user experience.
- Maintain technology documentation, including systems, processes, licences, inventories, technology assets, access requirements, support procedures, and key operational records.
- Track and report on technology performance metrics, project status, system utilization, service issues, and continuous improvement initiatives to support operational decision-making.
- Support business continuity, disaster recovery, backup, recovery,