Director, Infrastructure and Operations | Directeur, Infrastructure et opérations

About CMHC

The work you do and the work we do together matters. We come to work every day with a common purpose: to contribute to a well-functioning housing system.

At CMHC, we hold ourselves accountable for our results and support our colleagues in their achievements. We thrive on collaboration, connecting across CMHC and involving the right people to get our work done. We have flexibility, in how, when, and where we work, within the boundaries of the business needs and the nature of your role. Our leadership style is guided by trust, where our leaders favour an adaptive approach based on the needs of their teams.

Join us and be part of a team that's committed to making a real difference and be part of something meaningful.

What’s in it for you

We’ve got the purpose, the people and the perks you need for a fulfilling career. Here’s the comprehensive and generous benefits you get when you’re a permanent employee:

• Annual paid vacation.
• Annual individual performance incentive.
• Defined benefit pension plan.
• Comprehensive group insurance plan to support your well-being from day one.
• Support towards your personal and professional growth with training, mentorship and more. 
• An inclusive workplace culture and environment.

This position can be located in Ottawa (ON) or Montreal (QC).

About the role

Join the  Office of the VP, Information Technology team in the position of Director of Infractructure and Operations (I&O). The Director of Infrastructure and Operations (I&O) plays a pivotal role in overseeing essential IT components which encompass the foundational elements of CMHC’s IT environment. This includes the management and maintenance of network systems, servers, data centers, cloud services, and overall IT operations that support business functions and user experience. This role is responsible to not only maintain and optimize the current IT infrastructure but also innovate and transform the I&O function to align with future business needs. By leveraging a deep understanding of technology trends and a strategic approach, the Director of I&O ensures that CMHC’s IT infrastructure is robust, secure, scalable, and capable of supporting ongoing and future business initiatives. I&O is critical for ensuring that business processes run smoothly, securely, and efficiently, enabling the organization to meet its goals and deliver value to its stakeholders.

What you’ll do:

Strategic Leadership and Vision:

• Develop and communicate the I&O mission and vision by formulating strategies to support enterprise initiatives and drive competitive advantage.
• Provide direction and oversight throughout the life cycle of IT systems to maintain operational excellence, drive innovation and champion the program initiatives.
• Develop and evolve the I&O sourcing strategy and manage strategic vendor and partner relationships at an executive level.

Operational Excellence and Innovation:

• Develop and maintain a robust, secure and scalable IT infrastructure that supports current and future business needs, leveraging emerging technologies and best practices.
• Implement advanced monitoring, management tools, and performance management systems to ensure availability, performance, security, and effectiveness of all infrastructure components, while leveraging data analytics for optimization.
• Develop, measure, and achieve key performance indicators (KPIs) and service level agreements (SLAs) to ensure the highest standards of IT service delivery and operational excellence.
• Enhance the desktop user experience by ensuring seamless access, intuitive interfaces, and responsive support thereby improving overall productivity and satisfaction.
• Implement modern solutions to evolve legacy infrastructure 
• Lead initiatives to streamline workflows, reduce costs, ensure compliance, and enhance service delivery through IT Service Management (ITSM) practices, disaster recovery strategies, and strong vendor relationships, promoting a culture of operational excellence and continuous improvement.

Stakeholder Engagement and Team Development:

• Build successful stakeholder relationships by understanding business needs, acting as a trusted advisor, and collaborating with IT and business leaders to share knowledge and insights.
• Develop and execute strategies to improve awareness of the I&O function's business value, enhance efficiency, drive innovation, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Design and develop a strong I&O leadership team and workforce plans, promote diversity and inclusion, and ensure stewardship of financial and human resources while aligning people, work, and systems to achieve program and policy efficiencies.

What you should have:

• Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, information systems, business administration (a combination of education and experience will be considered)
• 13 years of experience in IT or business/industry working on transformational initiatives including agile, DevOps, and cloud adoption at scale and ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) best practices.
• 10 years of experience in leadership roles with direct supervision and strategy, budget and staffing responsibilities.
• Exceptional leadership skills to inspire and motivate staff combined with experience developing strategies to leverage fusion teams that embrace business technologists.
• Effective influencing and negotiation skills in complex environments.
• Strong analytical, strategic thinking, planning, and execution skills.
• Strong business acumen and domain-specific knowledge. 
• Strong communication skills (both in English and French) for conveying technical risks and mitigation strategies.

It would be great if you also had:

• Knowledge of recognized standards (e.g., NIST CSF, ISO 27001/27002, ITSG-33, OSFI B13, CIS).
• Knowledge of Canadian laws and Government of Canada regulatory requirements and standards (e.g., Treasury Board, Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutes).
• Experience in the financial sector.
• Knowledge of agile methodologies.

Posting closing date:  Note, the competition will remain active until filled.

Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion 

We’re committed to employment equity and encourage women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, veterans and persons of all races, ethnicities, religions, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities and expressions to apply. We also welcome applications from non-Canadians who are eligible to work in Canada.

CMHC is an inclusive workplace where diversity of thought – and of people – are recognized, valued, and considered essential to achieving our mission.

Learn more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion 

What happens after you apply 

We know that applying for a new job can be both exciting and daunting, and we appreciate your effort. Learn more about our hiring process.  If you are selected for an interview or testing, please advise us if you require an accommodation.

If you applied before and you were not successful don’t worry – we're always posting new positions, so don’t hesitate to give it another shot. We’re excited to see what you bring to the table this time around!