Program Director - De Havilland Aircraft Of Canada Centennial

Help an iconic Canadian company celebrate its first century and launch its next.
Location:
Calgary, Alberta
Term:
36-month contract | full time in office
Salary Range:
$180,000 - $210,000
Travel:
Frequent travel within Canada
The posted salary range reflects varying levels of experience, from professionals developing their expertise to those with several years of directly relevant experience. While the full range represents the potential earnings for the role, it is not typical for new hires to start at the top of the range. Placement within the range is based on qualifications, experience, and alignment with internal equity.
A century of aviation. A national celebration. An opportunity to make history.
Some opportunities come along once in a career. This one comes along once in a century.
In 2028,
De Havilland Aircraft of Canada
will mark its 100th anniversary. Headquartered in Calgary, this iconic Canadian company is preparing to celebrate a remarkable aviation heritage - and set the stage for its next century of innovation and growth.
We are seeking a senior communications and program leader to bring this milestone to life. As
Program Director, Centennial, you will lead the strategy, development, and delivery of a national program that connects people to De Havilland's story, celebrates its contributions to Canadian aviation, and creates a legacy that extends well beyond the anniversary.
From signature events and compelling storytelling to strategic partnerships and lasting heritage initiatives, you will help shape how a century of achievement is celebrated - and how the company’s next chapter is introduced.
The Opportunity:This is a highly visible mandate with national reach, executive engagement, and the opportunity to turn ambitious ideas into memorable experiences.
Reporting to the designated Executive Sponsor and working closely with the De Havilland Governance and Strategy Committee, you will bring together teams across the business and engage employees, customers, government, industry, and communities across Canada.
You will combine strategic vision with hands-on delivery: building the roadmap, developing relationships, managing the details, and ensuring every element contributes to a cohesive and meaningful Centennial Program.
For a leader who thrives on complex programs, powerful storytelling, and bringing people together around a shared purpose, this is an opportunity to create something extraordinary.
What You Will Lead:Shape the vision and build the program
Develop and execute a comprehensive Centennial strategy, translating the company’s ambitions into a clear roadmap and implementation plan.
Work with the Governance and Strategy Committee to establish priorities, objectives, and measures of success.
Establish and manage program governance, budgets, schedules, milestones, and reporting, including biweekly progress updates.
Identify legacy initiatives that strengthen De Havilland’s brand, relationships, and community impact beyond the centennial year.
Create exceptional events and experiences
Create a diverse national portfolio of employee celebrations, customer and industry events, public open houses, community activities, VIP engagements, and commemorative ceremonies, layering onto existing DHC events and offerings.
Bring together internal teams, agencies, and external vendors to deliver outstanding experiences across multiple Canadian locations.
Ensure every activity reflects a consistent brand, compelling message, and high standard of execution.
Bring people and partners together
Build relationships with employees, customers, suppliers, government representatives, aviation organizations, museums, educational institutions, Indigenous partners, and community organizations.
Inspire participation across De Havilland’s sites, connecting local ideas and celebrations to a shared national vision.
Serve as the central point of coordination for internal and external stakeholders.
Develop strategic partnerships, sponsorship opportunities, collaborative programming, and co-hosted initiatives that expand the program’s reach and impact.
Tell a century of stories-and introduce the next chapter
Partner with DHC Corporate Communications and Marketing to develop and deliver an integrated Centennial communications strategy.
Identify media and public relations opportunities that showcase De Havilland’s history, achievements, people, and future vision.
Support executive speeches, announcements, publications, digital content, historical storytelling, and promotional materials.
Help ensure the company’s legacy is shared accurately, creatively, and meaningfully with audiences across Canada.
Preserve the heritage and create a lasting legacy
Collaborate with Corporate Archives and Heritage, retirees, museums, aviation organizations, and internal experts to bring the company’s history to life.
Support the collection and presentation of stories, artifacts, photographs, and historical content.
Develop legacy projects that continue to deliver value after the celebrations conclude.
Own the delivery
Manage multiple concurrent initiatives, keeping budgets, timelines, resources, and priorities aligned.
Anticipate risks, resolve challenges, and adapt plans as the program evolves.
Provide clear progress reports, recommendations, and presentations to senior leadership and governance committees.
Maintain momentum from initial concept through execution and program completion.
What You Bring:You are senior leader who knows how to give a major initiative both strategic direction and practical structure. You can engage an executive audience, build trust with diverse partners, and move confidently from a big idea to the details that make it happen.
Your experience includes:
10-15 years of progressive experience
in communications, public relations, strategic marketing, program management, or a related field.
A degree or diploma in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Business, Event Management, or a related discipline—or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Demonstrated success leading large-scale national programs, major brand initiatives, or complex stakeholder programs with significant budgets. Your experience could include expos, festivals, product launches, corporate anniversaries, or commemorative programs.
Exceptional program and project management skills, with a track record of delivering multiple priorities successfully.
Outstanding written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to turn complex information into clear, engaging stories.
Proven ability to build strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and collaborative relationships.
Strong planning, organizational, and financial oversight skills, supported by close attention to detail.
Confidence and diplomacy when working with executives and high-profile external stakeholders.
Knowledge of Canadian aviation or aerospace, together with an established network in the aviation community, would be a definite asset.
This role requires full-time residence in Calgary, full-time attendance at De Havilland’s offices, and flexibility for frequent travel within Canada.
How You Work:
You connect vision with action.
You see the possibilities and know how to turn them into achievable plans.
You build relationships that move work forward.
You listen, earn trust, and bring people together across teams and organizations.
You bring creativity and sound judgment.
You introduce fresh ideas while staying focused on purpose, feasibility, and impact.
You take ownership.
You are comfortable working independently, navigating ambiguity, and adapting to changing priorities.
You care about the experience.
From the overall story to the smallest detail, you understand what makes a program memorable.
You inspire participation.
Your collaborative approach helps others see their role in something larger.
The Impact You Will Make:By the end of this mandate, you will have delivered a nationally coordinated Centennial Program that celebrates De Havilland’s aviation heritage, strengthens its relationships, enhances its reputation, and creates meaningful partnerships and lasting legacy initiatives.
Your work will help employees, customers, partners, and communities see themselves in the De Havilland story—and share in the excitement of what comes next.
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