Position Overview

Calian is seeking a Director of Product Management, a senior leadership role reporting directly to the Chief Information and Technology Officer (CITO). This position is responsible for defining and driving the company’s product, solution, and services vision, strategy, and roadmap.

Location

Ottawa, ON
Hybrid, CAN

Job Type

Full Time

The Director leads cross-functional collaboration across engineering, design, services, marketing, and business teams to deliver innovative, customer-centric solutions that align with business objectives and market opportunities. This role owns the full solution lifecycle—from ideation and design through launch and iteration—ensuring every product delivers outstanding user experience, strong market fit, and measurable business impact.

A key focus of this role is ensuring high-quality outcomes by continuously improving systems, processes, and workflows to enable exceptional customer experiences and rapid response to market needs. The Director also maintains strategic partnerships and oversees key vendor relationships, working closely with engineering to ensure product reliability, scalability, and performance.

Responsibilities

Product Vision & Strategy

• Define and communicate a compelling solution vision and multi-year strategy aligned with company objectives and market trends.

• Translate strategic goals into actionable product/solution roadmaps that drive innovation, differentiation, and growth.

Lifecycle Ownership

• Lead the end-to-end product/solution lifecycle, from discovery and design through development, launch, and continuous improvement.

• Establish and refine development processes that ensure agility, quality, and speed to market.

Customer & Market Focus

• Champion a deep understanding of customer needs, behaviors, and pain points through research, data, and direct engagement.

• Ensure product decisions are grounded in user experience, market fit, and competitive analysis.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner with engineering, design, marketing, and sales to deliver cohesive, high-impact product and services experiences.

• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning across teams.

Business Alignment & Impact

• Align product outcomes with key business goals such as revenue growth, customer retention, and market expansion.

• Define and track KPIs to measure product performance, adoption, and ROI.

Team Development & Leadership

• Build, mentor, and scale a high-performing product management team and culture across the company.

• Promote a culture of innovation, ownership, and customer obsession.

Thought Leadership & Representation

• Represent the company and product vision at industry events, customer forums, and executive briefings.

• Stay ahead of emerging trends and technologies to inform product strategy and maintain competitive advantage.

Problem Solving & Strategic Thinking

• Lead teams and solve critical problems with department- or business-affecting scope.

• Think strategically, anticipate potential issues, and create innovative solutions.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.

• Experience: 5+ years in product management with a proven track record of launching successful solutions and scaling product offerings.

• Skills & Expertise:

• Deep understanding of product development methodologies, user-centered design, and agile practices.

• Strong business acumen and ability to translate strategy into execution.

• Excellent communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to influence at all levels, including executive leadership.

• Experience in B2B, SaaS, or platform-based products; experience in the defence sector is a plus.

• Financial acumen, including understanding of budgets and financial management.

Additional Requirements

• Strategic thinker capable of solving complex, organization-wide challenges.

• Comfortable operating in fast-paced, high-stakes environments and leading through ambiguity.

• Proven ability to drive alignment and results across cross-functional teams.

• Willingness to travel occasionally for executive, customer, or partner engagements.

How we hire

Our approach

Experience and accommodations

CV and cover letter tips

Interview tips

Our decision

Perks and benefits

Flexible work hours

Robust company-paid benefits

Generous time off package

A balanced approach to work and life

Stock purchase plan

RRSP program*

Work from home options