Senior Engagement Manager

About Anvil

Anvil is a trusted partner in the defence industry, delivering cutting-edge solutions that enhance military capabilities and operational effectiveness. We extend our expertise to public safety, law enforcement, and national security organizations, accelerating mission-critical decision-making through analytical tools, automations, and game-changing machine learning capabilities. Anvil helps organizations discover, manage, enrich, fuse, and exploit the information available to them in support of Information Dominance and Decision Advantage.

Job Type: Full Time Hybrid - Ottawa, Ontario (55 Murray Street Office)

Total Compensation: CAD $140,000 - $160,000 base salary - Placement within range based on experience and qualifications

Vacancy Status: This posting is for an existing vacancy. Anvil is actively recruiting to fill this position.

Role (Description)

As a Senior Engagement Manager, you will play a critical role in ensuring our defence sector partners achieve success with our software solutions. You will be expected to operate with seasoned independence, owning end-to-end engagement outcomes and bridging the gap between technical deployment and functional transformation. You will be serving as a trusted advisor to senior military and government decision-makers, driving adoption that will directly impact the success of DND/CAF modernization initiatives with our product capabilities.

You will work closely with users, stakeholders, and decision-makers within military and government organizations to guide adoption, advise on operational improvements, and support the success of current and future initiatives. Think of yourself as a forward observer - embedded alongside the customer, spotting issues early, coordinating actions, and doing a little bit of guerrilla change management to help set the conditions for mission success.

We are looking for a highly experienced force multiplier who can guide talented cross-functional teams, build trusted relationships, and drive operational success in environments where flexibility, credibility, and follow-through are key. This is not a traditional suit-and-tie consulting role - we're looking for someone well-grounded, credible, proactive, highly personable, practical, and action-oriented, with a passion for enabling valuable customer outcomes in complex, real-world environments.

This is a customer-facing position based in Ottawa that will involve regular on-site engagement with customer teams in the National Capital Region. Eligible candidates must either possess or be eligible to obtain a Government of Canada Top Secret security clearance.

Required Qualifications

Security Clearance

• Eligible for Government of Canada Top Secret security clearance

Experience

• Minimum of 7years of Professional Services PMO experience in project management, agile delivery strategy, client engagement, resource planning, capacity forecasting, and customer success in a vendor-led technical delivery environment
• Minimum of 7years of experience leading the delivery and implementation of large-scale, complex software deployment projects, ideally within the defence, government, law enforcement, or national security sectors
• Highly seasoned ability to build trusted relationships through impeccable, bilingual communications with both operational users and senior decision-makers
• Proven track record of managing complex customer relationships and driving consensus across a diverse group of stakeholders, including senior leadership, technical teams, and external partners

Skills & Capabilities

• Strong leadership skills and decision-making abilities in mission-critical scenarios
• Strategic customer-facing communication and coordination skills - capable of framing complex issues clearly and persuasively across different audiences
• Demonstrated consulting project management abilities to prioritize, plan, and execute vendor-led project delivery in a high-pressure environment
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously
• Elite level teamwork, with the ability to work cross-functionally and lead collaborative efforts across multiple teams to drive successful project outcomes
• Excellent verbal and written bilingual communication skills, with the ability to present project updates, technical issues, and solutions clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Exceptional problem-solving skills with a track record of resolving technical issues, managing risks, and navigating ambiguity to keep projects on track
• High degree of self-motivation, adaptability, and resilience in complex, evolving environments

Preferred Qualifications

• Certifications: PMP, ITIL, Agile Project Management, Agile Scrum
• Previous leadership skills development and experience in a leadership role
• Experience working with DND/CAF, public safety, or national security organizations
• Knowledge of DND/CAF organizational structures, operational planning processes, and Canadian government procurement practices
• Experience supporting complex software deployments into secure, highly regulated environments
• Familiarity with Project Service Automation tools, Atlassian Confluence and Jira
• Prior experience in a start-up, scale-up, or high-growth environment where agility, initiative, and self-direction were critical

Organizational Structure

This position reports directly to the Director of Professional Services, and will work closely with:

• Cross-functional teams including Product, Engineering, and Professional Services
• Customer technical teams and operational users
• Senior government stakeholders and decision-makers

Why Join Us?

Our Mission

This is more than just a job; you'll be part of a team of dedicated professionals who share a common goal: to increase the safety and security of Western democracies through the effective use of data. Our workplace is not just a job; it's a community of like-minded people working together to make a positive impact on the world we live in.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salaries
• Flexible health benefits package through Equitable
• Industry-leading employer retirement contributions match

Work Environment

• Hybrid work model combining remote flexibility with meaningful in-person collaboration
• Modern office in the historic Carriageway building in beautiful downtown Ottawa
• Access to downtown amenities, transit, and Ottawa's vibrant cultural scene

What You'll Experience

• Work alongside dedicated professionals who value excellence and collaboration
• Contribute to building the team behind technologies with real-world security impact
• Ground-floor opportunity to shape people operations as Anvil scales
• Join a culture where your expertise and ideas matter

Application Process

To apply for this role, please submit your CV and cover letter. The application process will likely include:

• A preliminary call with our team, which will be a chance for you to find out more about Anvil and the role.
• An initial interview to discuss your experience and suitability for the role.
• A practical exercise to assess your approach to common scenarios in the role.

Anvil welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates participating in all aspects of the selection process.

Use of AI in Recruitment: Anvil does not use artificial intelligence to screen, assess, or select applicants for this position. All applications are reviewed by members of our recruitment team.