Director, Innovation & Systems

DIRECTOR, INNOVATION & SYSTEMS

Job Title:

Director, Innovation & Systems

Position reports to:

Chief Executive Officer

Team:

Innovation & Systems

Status:

Full-Time

Position Purpose Summary

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and serving as a member of Holstein Canada's leadership team, the Director, Innovation & Systems provides strategic leadership for technology, data, innovation and business improvement across the organization.

This is a business-first, technology-enabled leadership role that goes well beyond traditional IT management. Working across Holstein Canada, the Director identifies opportunities to simplify work, strengthen systems, improve the use of data and create a better experience for members, customers and employees. The Director challenges existing practices constructively and connects business needs with practical, sustainable solutions.

The Director is a strong executor who moves from an unclear problem to a clear recommendation, implementation plan and measurable result. The role leads Holstein Canada's technology environment, innovation portfolio, data and digital priorities, responsible adoption of AI and automation, major systems initiatives and the development of the internal systems and technology team.

Responsibilities

• Lead Holstein Canada's innovation and continuous-improvement agenda, focusing resources on opportunities that advance strategic priorities and create measurable organizational value.
• Partner with departmental leaders and employees to understand business challenges and identify manual, duplicated or inefficient processes that can be simplified, automated or redesigned.
• Challenge existing practices constructively and evaluate ideas based on business value, member and customer impact, cost, feasibility, risk and return on investment.
• Develop clear recommendations, business cases and implementation plans that connect proposed solutions to the underlying business need.
• Develop and execute a multi-year technology and systems roadmap aligned with Holstein Canada's strategy, operational priorities and available resources.
• Provide strategic oversight of the technology environment and ensure core business systems, infrastructure and service applications are reliable, secure, integrated and fit for purpose.
• Evaluate legacy systems and recommend where they should be maintained, improved, integrated or replaced, balancing immediate needs with long-term sustainability.
• Oversee technology vendors, contracts, service levels, budgets, major projects and system investments, with clear ownership and accountability for performance and issue resolution.
• Ensure appropriate cybersecurity, privacy, access control, data protection, disaster recovery, business continuity and technology risk-management practices are established, tested and continuously improved.
• Develop an organization-wide approach to data governance, quality, ownership, access, retention and responsible use.
• Improve integration and information flow among systems and departments, reducing duplication and establishing trusted sources of organizational information.
• Partner with leaders to define organizational KPIs and deliver reliable dashboards and performance reporting for management and Board decision-making.
• Identify opportunities to create additional member, customer and industry value from Holstein Canada's extensive industry and animal data while respecting privacy, contractual and governance requirements.
• Lead the development of a more integrated, accessible and user-centred digital experience across Holstein Canada services, working closely with Classification, Registry, Business Development and other teams.
• Develop and lead Holstein Canada's responsible approach to AI, automation and emerging technologies, prioritizing practical use cases that solve defined business problems.
• Lead major technology, systems and innovation initiatives from concept through implementation, adoption, benefits realization and post-implementation review.
• Communicate complex technology, data and systems issues in clear business language and provide the CEO, leadership team and Board with timely recommendations and progress reporting.
• Lead, coach and develop the internal systems and technology team and build employee capability and confidence with new systems, processes and ways of working.
• Contribute actively as a member of Holstein Canada's leadership team and model collaboration, curiosity, accountability, sound judgement and continuous improvement.

Skills and Qualifications

Experience, Skills, and Abilities

• Post-secondary education in information technology, computer science, business, engineering or a related discipline; an equivalent combination of education and senior-level experience may be considered.
• Progressive leadership experience in technology, systems, digital transformation, innovation or business improvement, ideally at a Director or comparable level.
• Strong business acumen combined with the ability to connect organizational needs, member and customer value and practical technology solutions.
• A demonstrated track record of implementation and execution, including moving complex initiatives from discovery and recommendation through adoption and measurable results.
• Experience redesigning business processes, reducing manual or duplicated work and introducing effective automation.
• Strong understanding of enterprise systems, technology architecture, systems integration and the practical modernization of legacy environments.
• Working knowledge of cybersecurity, privacy, system reliability, access controls, disaster recovery, business continuity and technology risk management.
• Experience with data governance, systems integration, dashboards, KPIs, business intelligence and the use of data to support decisions.
• Experience improving digital member or customer experiences and translating user needs into simpler, more accessible services.
• Understanding of AI, automation and emerging technologies, including the governance and risk considerations required for responsible organizational use.
• Experience managing technology vendors, contracts, budgets, service levels and significant system investments.
• Strong project and change-management capability, with experience establishing clear scope, governance, timelines, accountabilities, risks and success measures.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop a team, influence across functions and explain complex technology issues in clear business language.
• Experience in agriculture, genetics, livestock, a member-based or not-for-profit organization, or a national organization is an asset. The ability to work in both French and English is also an asset.

Competencies

Strategic and Business-Minded Thinking

• Starts with the business problem and desired outcome, then determines how technology, data or process improvement can enable the solution.
• Takes a forward-looking view while making practical, resource-conscious choices about priorities, risk, investment and organizational readiness.
• Analyzes ambiguous and complex issues, identifies root causes and returns with clear options, a recommendation and a path forward.

Business Partnership and Influence

• Builds trusted relationships across departments and creates shared ownership for organizational systems, data and improvement priorities.
• Asks thoughtful questions, challenges the mindset of 'we've always done it this way' and influences decisions through evidence and sound judgement.
• Balances the needs of members, customers, employees and the organization when evaluating priorities and designing solutions.

Accountability and Execution

• Takes ownership from concept through implementation, adoption and benefits realization and follows issues through to resolution.
• Establishes clear objectives, responsibilities, timelines, budgets, risks and measures of success and communicates progress candidly.
• Focuses on outcomes rather than activity, makes timely decisions and sustains momentum across competing priorities and critical deadlines.

Communication and Collaboration

• Communicates complex technology, data and risk issues clearly, concisely and confidently to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Listens actively, works collaboratively across functions and brings people together to break down silos and solve shared problems.
• Demonstrates sound judgement, discretion and professionalism when handling sensitive information, operational risks and differing perspectives.

Leadership, Curiosity and Continuous Improvement

• Creates clarity, accountability and development opportunities for the Innovation & Systems team and external partners.
• Builds organizational capability and comfort with new systems, processes and ways of working through effective engagement and change leadership.
• Is curious, creative and willing to explore new possibilities while remaining disciplined about business value, feasibility and risk.
• Is adaptable, decisive and effective in a fast-paced, bilingual national organization.

*This is a general description and should not be construed as all inclusive.

Application: Process and Contact Information

How to Apply

To be considered for this opportunity, please submit a comprehensive resume along with a cover letter. Please submit your application in confidence to Olivia Galati, at ogalati@bedfordgroup.com.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those whose qualifications closely align with the requirements of this position will be contacted.

Equal Opportunity

Holstein Canada is committed to employment equity, diversity, and inclusion and to providing an accessible recruitment process for all applicants.

In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2019, upon request, accommodation will be provided by Bedford and Holstein Canada through the recruitment, selection and/or assessment process for applicants with disabilities. Please submit your request to Olivia Galati: ogalati@bedfordgroup.com.