Director, Digital Technology

Opportunity Overview

At Canadian Food Innovation Network, we are committed to being the best, starting with finding the best people. We have built a team of extraordinary people across Canada; we are problem solvers, risk takers, innovators, and thought leaders who take our work building Canada’s fastest growing food innovation community seriously but have fun doing it. We challenge ourselves to get smarter and sharper every day; we value personal and professional growth and believe in rewarding and celebrating our successes.

The Director, Digital Technology is responsible for building and maintaining CFIN’s website, YODL and the overall online technology roadmap, functional backlog, user experience, integration, data analytics, information and cybersecurity required to support the needs of CFIN staff and members. Based in Canada, the ideal candidate thrives at the intersection of digital experience, technology, and community. This role is ideal for a leader with a strong track record of building digital-first tools to grow, engage and monetize online communities. The ideal candidate will have a passion for user experience and the ability to use data to drive business results.

This is a full-time position starting in May 2025. The successful candidate will receive comprehensive benefits and 20 vacation days annually. The role reports to the VP, Online Experience and works closely with marketing, sales, finance and programs. The Director, Digital Technology will lead the tech team as they develop engaging B2B digital solutions, community tools, and online features that address real food industry needs. You will be able to analyze user behavior and new technological advances to evolve our platform continuously. The Director must bring agile project management skills and be able to identify and leverage external and internal resources to deliver projects on time and on budget. While this role is remote first, work from home, travel will occasionally be required.

About the Canadian Food Innovation Network

The Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN) is the most dynamic, national, member-based organization dedicated to advancing Canada's food business ecosystem. We’re focused on becoming the ultimate solution centre for Canada’s food industry—fostering collaboration, innovation, and growth for companies of all sizes.

Joining CFIN means becoming part of a high-performing team that connects industry leaders, researchers, and innovators to solve pressing challenges, drive transformative ideas, and create sustainable solutions that enhance competitiveness and productivity in the food sector.

What Makes CFIN Stand Out?

Collaborative Ecosystem: We excel at building partnerships that unite diverse collaborators to transform innovative ideas into impactful solutions.

Focus on Impact: CFIN champions commercialization projects that push the boundaries of food science, technology, and sustainability, delivering real solutions to the food industry’s toughest challenges.

Industry-Led Initiatives: Guided by input from our members, Innovation Advisory Council, and Board of Directors, we design funding programs, tools, workshops, and resources that empower innovators to break through barriers.

Who you are:

You are a creative problem solver and a highly self-motivated individual, with strong technical and leadership skills. You see the big picture and incorporate organizational strategy into your day-to-day work and tactical plans. You manage your time well and work effectively in a collaborative, fast-paced, agile, and sometimes high-pressure environment. You are curious and want to find better, novel, more innovative ways to solve business problems. You know how to start with member needs and work back to choose the technology, digital tools, internal and external resources, and teams to deliver the most meaningful and valuable experience.

What you’ll be doing:

Digital technology roadmap owner & product development

Bring technical expertise to the creation of the YODL/Online roadmap and advise on the best way to provide the digital solutions that will fulfill community and organizational goals.

Prioritize the development of features and functionalities in the backlog.

Manage the development and integration of projects, including managing third party and internal resources.

Ensure the delivery of projects and technology initiatives is done on budget and on time.

Communicate CFIN’s YODL and website vision to stakeholders across the organization, including internal stakeholders and development teams, to ensure goals and development plans are clearly understood.

Monitor and report on timelines as well as present design and build options to internal stakeholders to create a culture of co-creation and collaboration that results in strong product launches that truly fit member needs.

Platform data analytics

Processes: Establish the data protocols and processes for CFIN’s digital platform, including intake, sources, database designs, and data integrity.

Tools: Select CFIN’s data analytics tool(s) and develop the internal capabilities to maximize their use, deliver value and drive transformation.

Products: Design and build data products for CFIN’s clients and members to support revenue and profitability objectives.

Leadership: Be a champion in creating a data-driven culture. Help build real-time dashboards that serve the needs of internal teams and help them to accelerate the decision-making process to improve user experience.

Execution: Oversee internal and external application/tool development, integration, and support.

Delegation: deploy resources appropriately and oversee the work of both internal and external technical suppliers to ensure CFIN resources are used effectively and efficiently.

Security of data and information

Establish and manage the policies and procedures of CFIN’s Digital Strategy to comply with the Canadian Directive on Service and Digital.

Monitor and manage security vulnerabilities and threats.

Develop strategies to handle security incidents.

Be involved in security investigations and recommended courses of action.

Provide leadership and become the subject expert on all technical matters, guiding and mentoring staff members to use technology effectively.

Suggest and implement appropriate education programs on online user awareness and security compliance.

Connect organizational requirements with security goals.

IT support, technology and platform integration

Manage the budget and inventory of all CFIN owned technology (such as PC’s & mobile phones)

Select and manage third-party technical service provider(s).

Maintain the functionality and data connectivity of CFIN’s digital platform with surrounding core systems (such as CRM, Office 365, and others) to ensure they work together as a cooperative unit.

What you bring:

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent professional career experience.

10 years of related work experience with progressive management responsibilities, preferably at the team management level.

Previous experience in product management, data and systems integration, cyber and information security practices.

Well-developed project management skills.

Demonstrated leadership, coaching, budget management and relationship management experience.

Strong interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to build trust, integrity, and pragmatism, are required.

Ability to calibrate communication style from technical to colloquial according to the audience.

Strong commitment to innovation and working toward visionary goals.

Ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people.

Proven experience in identifying and analyzing data to help make decisions to improve the digital user experience, engagement and monetization.

Integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed with demonstrated passion for CFIN’s mission and commitment to working collaboratively with a management team of senior professionals.

Ability to communicate in both official languages an asset.

Note: This position will require occasional travel.

To achieve a strong national membership base, CFIN must embrace diversity in all its forms (personal, geographical, sectoral, etc.), must deliver services equitably in both official languages, and must have a value proposition (“unique selling proposition”) that resonates with all the players in the food innovation ecosystem.

Why join us?

This is a unique opportunity to join a winning team during an exciting time of growth. At CFIN, you’ll play a vital role in shaping the future of food in Canada and be part of a forward-thinking, purpose-driven organization where your contributions will make a tangible impact on the industry. Together, we’ll build a more innovative, sustainable, and competitive food ecosystem.

The Canadian Food Innovation Network is an equal opportunity employer. To attract and serve a strong national membership base, CFIN embraces diversity in all its forms including personal, geographical, sectoral, etc. We deliver services equitably in both official languages and using multiple communication formats to ensure inclusivity.

Apply today and let’s transform the future of food—together! Please send resume and cover letter to HRCrystal@cfin-rcia.ca

Note: We thank all applicants for their interest but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Canadian Food Innovation Network

New Jobs

Director of Technology