Employment type: full time 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 g