Director, Enterprise Application Services & Modernization - #193607

De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited (DHC) is a storied name in the aerospace industry, recognized worldwide for its pioneering contributions to aviation and its unwavering commitment to quality, innovation, and reliability. Headquartered in Calgary, AB, DHC currently has approximately 1,400 employees across British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario, as well as in markets and distribution hubs world-wide.

Established in 1928, De Havilland Canada has a rich history marked by the development of some of the most iconic and versatile aircraft ever built. These aircraft have served a variety of roles—from bush flying to commercial aviation—and are celebrated for their rugged durability, operational versatility, and excellence in performance.

Over the decades, De Havilland Canada has evolved to meet the changing needs of the aviation industry. Today, we are more than just an aircraft manufacturer; we are a comprehensive aerospace company with capabilities that span design, production, maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services. Our operations are supported by a team of skilled engineers, technicians, and industry professionals who are dedicated to upholding the highest standards of craftsmanship and innovation.

Position Summary

The Director, Enterprise Application Services & Modernization is a senior IT leader at De Havilland Aircraft of Canada responsible for the strategic direction, management, and evolution of enterprise applications. This includes oversight of the ERP platform, custom-built applications, and third-party integrations.

The role ensures the delivery of secure, scalable, and business-aligned technology solutions that support operational excellence and corporate transformation goals. It requires a forward-thinking leader experienced in application modernization, custom development, and service delivery, with a proven ability to lead high-performing teams in dynamic environments.

Working collaboratively across business and IT, the Director drives the enterprise applications roadmap, enabling digital transformation, innovation, and organizational growth. The successful candidate will bring a servant-leadership mindset focused on empowerment, trust-building, and shared success.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop and execute an enterprise applications roadmap aligned with organizational strategy and operational needs.
• Provide strategic and operational leadership for enterprise systems including ERP, custom-built, and integrated third-party applications.
• Lead modernization initiatives for legacy and custom-built applications through re-platforming, refactoring, and re-architecting.
• Oversee the full lifecycle of application development and ERP platform management, including integrations and collaboration with business stakeholders.
• Establish standards and governance for application development, support, and compliance.
• Partner with IT Security to ensure enterprise applications meet security and regulatory standards.
• Manage the enterprise applications stack, driving architecture simplification and cost optimization.
• Lead software procurement, vendor management, and contract negotiations aligned with compliance and business needs.
• Build, coach, and lead a high-performing technical team with strong onboarding, performance management, and development practices.
• Promote a culture of accountability, innovation, and cross-functional collaboration within the application services function.
• Actively contribute to IT strategy, budgeting, and roadmap planning, ensuring resource alignment and stakeholder engagement.
• Define and maintain SLAs and KPIs for application services, ensuring transparency and performance tracking.
• Ensure robust service delivery including patching, monitoring, disaster recovery, and business continuity planning.
• Maintain system documentation and centralized knowledge repositories.
• Support change management, user adoption, and stakeholder engagement across initiatives.
• Collaborate with the IT leadership team to drive integrated, enterprise-wide technology strategies.
  
  
  

Education & Experience

• Minimum of 10 years’ experience managing enterprise applications in mid-to-large organizations.
• At least 7 years leading enterprise IT application projects in manufacturing or complex operational environments.
• Proven success in ERP lifecycle management, including upgrades, vendor coordination, and integration.
• Experience modernizing legacy/custom applications with hands-on involvement in re-platforming and migration.
• Strong background in designing, developing, and supporting custom business applications.
• Experience managing distributed teams, vendor solutions, and hybrid sourcing models.
• Leadership experience during periods of growth and organizational change.
• In-depth understanding of IT governance, service delivery frameworks (e.g., ITIL), and regulatory compliance.
• Demonstrated success managing large-scale deployments from planning through execution and change management.
  
  
  

Skills

• Business & Strategic Alignment
• Ability to partner with business units to translate operational needs into technology solutions.
• Success in leading digital transformation initiatives through enterprise applications.
• Expertise in aligning application strategy with business innovation and growth objectives.
• Technical Expertise
• Strong knowledge of enterprise architecture and application integration.
• Experience with modernizing legacy systems and cloud-native architectures.
• Proficiency in Agile, DevOps, and microservices-based development environments.
• Program & Service Delivery
• Skilled in full lifecycle project management for enterprise-wide initiatives.
• Knowledge of ITIL and service management practices (incident, change, release).
• Ability to define, track, and communicate application performance KPIs.
• Leadership & Team Management
• Proven leadership of technical teams through complex projects and organizational change.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to engage with technical and business stakeholders.
• Collaborative leadership style fostering shared accountability and innovation.
• Commitment to team development through coaching, feedback, and recognition.
• Advocate for team needs at the leadership level, promoting empowerment and inclusion.
• Foster a culture where all team members feel seen, heard, and valued.
  
  
  

At De Havilland Aircraft of Canada (DHC), we are committed to protecting our people, customers, shareholders and the public through Health & Safety Excellence. As such, it is expected that all employees maintain strict adherence to Health & Safety Policies and to perform key physical tasks of the position described in the job description and interview process. This may include but is not limited to the ability to work in a variety of environmental conditions including temperature extremes, confined spaces, working at heights and with or around chemicals. Employees are expected to adhere to the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) when at work which must include but is not limited to the ability to maintain a positive fit test when mask use is required.

At De Havilland Canada, we aim to be inclusive and diverse and provide equal opportunity for employment. All qualified applicants, regardless of gender, age, race, religion, sexual orientation, and disability, are encouraged to apply. De Havilland will accommodate the needs of applicants with disabilities throughout all stages of the selection process. If you need accommodation during the recruitment process, please advise your Talent Acquisition representative. Information relating to the need for accommodation and accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

Any offer of employment is conditional on the completion of positive and satisfactory background checks, which may include, proof that you are legally entitled to work in Canada, professional references, verification of employment history, verification of educational background and criminal background checks.