Area Director – Canada, Americas, and Pacific Area (CAPA)
About the role
Area Director – Canada, Americas, and Pacific Area (CAPA)
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Travel: Domestic and international travel required
Introduction to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) honours and cares for the people of the Commonwealth forces who died in the First and Second World Wars, ensuring they will never be forgotten. Funded by six Member Governments, our work began with building, and now maintaining, cemeteries at 23,000 locations worldwide.
The Canada, Americas, and Pacific Area (CAPA) covers 41 countries, including Canada, the United States, the Caribbean, Central and South America, the Falkland Islands, and 10 countries in the Pacific Region. We care for 72,000 war graves, over 66,000 commemorations, and 89 CWGC-owned cemeteries and memorials.
About the Role
As Area Director for CAPA, you will lead, direct, and represent the CWGC’s activities and strategy across this vast region. You will ensure the maintenance and conservation of cemeteries, graves, and memorials, upholding the Commission’s mission and standards. You will manage a diverse team, oversee significant budgets, and build relationships with government, military, and community stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and deliver the Commission’s core operational activities in CAPA, ensuring value for money and alignment with strategic objectives.
- Develop and implement the CAPA Plan and operating model, including manpower and resourcing plans.
- Oversee the maintenance and repair of all CWGC and Agency sites, including Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) grave markers and UK Ministry of Defence veterans’ graves in the Pacific Region.
- Manage and report on OPEX and CAPEX budgets (approx. £5M), ensuring financial compliance and effective resource allocation.7
- Provide leadership, direction, and motivation to CAPA employees, ensuring performance management and staff development.
- Represent the CWGC at major ceremonial events, government meetings, and with external stakeholders.
- Ensure compliance with War Graves Agreements and local legislation, including Health & Safety.
- Continue to roll out and evolve the Volunteers Programme alongside the core operations.
- Lead and deliver significant agency contracts and capital projects within the Area.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement and uphold the CWGC’s values: Commitment, Ambition, Respect, and Excellence (CARE).
Experience
- Proven experience in senior leadership and management, ideally in public-facing roles.
- Experience managing employees at all levels, including dispersed and diverse teams.
- Strong background in asset and project budget management.
- Sound knowledge of Health & Safety requirements heritage sites and memorial.
- Experience in contracting, procurement, and operational project delivery (asset, horticultural, or construction disciplines)
- International experience leading to an ability to work with different cultures, languages and political models.
- Experience developing strategic relationships with external and governmental contacts.
- Previous multi-site and country responsibility desired
Skills and Abilities
- Strong leadership, interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills.
- Ability to manage change, drive process improvement, and motivate teams.
- High ethical standards, integrity, and resilience under pressure.
- Ability to travel worldwide and adapt to extreme climatic conditions.
- French language skills or willingness to learn highly desirable; knowledge of Pacific Region languages an asset.
Other Requirements
- Must have the right to legally work in Canada.
- Must possess and maintain a valid passport and international driver’s licence.
If you are passionate about heritage, remembrance, and leading impactful operations across a diverse and international region, we encourage you to apply and help us ensure that the stories of the Commonwealth’s fallen are never forgotten.
About Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s mission is to ensure those who died in service, or as a result of conflict, are commemorated so that they, and the human cost of war, are remembered for ever.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is a global leader in commemoration. Founded by Royal Charter in 1917, we work on behalf of the Governments of Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom to commemorate the 1.7 million men and women from the Commonwealth who lost their lives in the two World Wars. We believe that remembering individuals who have died in conflicts is of universal, perpetual relevance, and that reflecting on their deaths is of continuing and paramount importance for us all. The cemeteries, memorials, graves, landscapes, and records in our care will be found at 23,000 locations and in more than 150 countries and territories. They are both the practical means of our commemoration of the fallen and vehicles for discovery, inspiration, and engagement. We believe that each one of those we commemorate were people like us, with their own ambitions, hopes, and dreams. It is our duty and privilege to care for their graves and memorials and through our charitable Foundation, keep their stories alive.
Area Director – Canada, Americas, and Pacific Area (CAPA)
About the role
Area Director – Canada, Americas, and Pacific Area (CAPA)
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Travel: Domestic and international travel required
Introduction to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) honours and cares for the people of the Commonwealth forces who died in the First and Second World Wars, ensuring they will never be forgotten. Funded by six Member Governments, our work began with building, and now maintaining, cemeteries at 23,000 locations worldwide.
The Canada, Americas, and Pacific Area (CAPA) covers 41 countries, including Canada, the United States, the Caribbean, Central and South America, the Falkland Islands, and 10 countries in the Pacific Region. We care for 72,000 war graves, over 66,000 commemorations, and 89 CWGC-owned cemeteries and memorials.
About the Role
As Area Director for CAPA, you will lead, direct, and represent the CWGC’s activities and strategy across this vast region. You will ensure the maintenance and conservation of cemeteries, graves, and memorials, upholding the Commission’s mission and standards. You will manage a diverse team, oversee significant budgets, and build relationships with government, military, and community stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and deliver the Commission’s core operational activities in CAPA, ensuring value for money and alignment with strategic objectives.
- Develop and implement the CAPA Plan and operating model, including manpower and resourcing plans.
- Oversee the maintenance and repair of all CWGC and Agency sites, including Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) grave markers and UK Ministry of Defence veterans’ graves in the Pacific Region.
- Manage and report on OPEX and CAPEX budgets (approx. £5M), ensuring financial compliance and effective resource allocation.7
- Provide leadership, direction, and motivation to CAPA employees, ensuring performance management and staff development.
- Represent the CWGC at major ceremonial events, government meetings, and with external stakeholders.
- Ensure compliance with War Graves Agreements and local legislation, including Health & Safety.
- Continue to roll out and evolve the Volunteers Programme alongside the core operations.
- Lead and deliver significant agency contracts and capital projects within the Area.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement and uphold the CWGC’s values: Commitment, Ambition, Respect, and Excellence (CARE).
Experience
- Proven experience in senior leadership and management, ideally in public-facing roles.
- Experience managing employees at all levels, including dispersed and diverse teams.
- Strong background in asset and project budget management.
- Sound knowledge of Health & Safety requirements heritage sites and memorial.
- Experience in contracting, procurement, and operational project delivery (asset, horticultural, or construction disciplines)
- International experience leading to an ability to work with different cultures, languages and political models.
- Experience developing strategic relationships with external and governmental contacts.
- Previous multi-site and country responsibility desired
Skills and Abilities
- Strong leadership, interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills.
- Ability to manage change, drive process improvement, and motivate teams.
- High ethical standards, integrity, and resilience under pressure.
- Ability to travel worldwide and adapt to extreme climatic conditions.
- French language skills or willingness to learn highly desirable; knowledge of Pacific Region languages an asset.
Other Requirements
- Must have the right to legally work in Canada.
- Must possess and maintain a valid passport and international driver’s licence.
If you are passionate about heritage, remembrance, and leading impactful operations across a diverse and international region, we encourage you to apply and help us ensure that the stories of the Commonwealth’s fallen are never forgotten.
About Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s mission is to ensure those who died in service, or as a result of conflict, are commemorated so that they, and the human cost of war, are remembered for ever.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is a global leader in commemoration. Founded by Royal Charter in 1917, we work on behalf of the Governments of Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom to commemorate the 1.7 million men and women from the Commonwealth who lost their lives in the two World Wars. We believe that remembering individuals who have died in conflicts is of universal, perpetual relevance, and that reflecting on their deaths is of continuing and paramount importance for us all. The cemeteries, memorials, graves, landscapes, and records in our care will be found at 23,000 locations and in more than 150 countries and territories. They are both the practical means of our commemoration of the fallen and vehicles for discovery, inspiration, and engagement. We believe that each one of those we commemorate were people like us, with their own ambitions, hopes, and dreams. It is our duty and privilege to care for their graves and memorials and through our charitable Foundation, keep their stories alive.