Program Manager, Defence

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Program Manager, Defence

Telesat (Nasdaq and TSX: TSAT) is a leading global satellite operator, providing reliable and secure satellite-delivered communications solutions worldwide to broadcast, telecommunications, corporate and government customers for over 55 years. Backed by a legacy of engineering excellence, reliability and industry-leading customer service, Telesat has grown to be one of the largest and most successful global satellite operators.

Telesat Lightspeed, our revolutionary Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network, scheduled to begin service in 2027, will revolutionize global broadband connectivity for enterprise and Government users by delivering a combination of high capacity, security, resiliency and affordability with ultra-low latency and fiber-like speeds. Telesat is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, and has offices and facilities around the world.

The company’s state-of-the-art Satellite fleet consists of 14 GEO satellites, the Canadian payload on Via Sat-1 and one LEO 3 demonstration satellite. For more information, follow Telesat on X and Linked In or visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). Telesat is seeking a highly capable Program Manager to support the capture, solutions definition and contract-negotiation phase of the ESCP program, following Telesat’s down-selection by the Government of Canada.

This role provides day-to-day program management and coordination, working within the Sales & Business Development team to track requirements, manage inputs, and ensure all obligations, deliverables, and timelines are clearly defined, owned, and met. Interactions will target internal Telesat stakeholders, the GoC customer and subcontractors.

This is a fast-paced, hands-on role well suited to someone who takes strong ownership of their work, is comfortable driving follow-up across teams, and is motivated by seeing complex efforts move forward. The successful candidate will be results-oriented, dependable, and proactive, with a clear focus on execution and follow-through, and an interest in growing their program management skills while contributing to a meaningful national program.

Main Responsibilities:

Capture & Contract Support

Support the capture phase of the ESCP program following down-selection.

Coordinate inputs to contract negotiation, including technical, commercial, legal, financial, operational and security elements.

Track contractual requirements, assumptions, dependencies, and open items throughout negotiations.

Maintain clear documentation of obligations, deliverables, and timelines.

Program Coordination & Tracking

Develop and maintain detailed program plans, schedules, action logs, and risk registers.

Track milestones, deliverables, and dependencies across internal teams.

Ensure internal teams are aligned on responsibilities and deadlines.

Flag gaps, risks, or missed inputs early and drive follow-up.

Government Interface (Program-Level)

Support program-level interactions with Government of Canada counterparts.

Coordinate meetings, working groups, and information requests.

Prepare agendas, materials, and follow-up actions for GoC engagements.

Ensure commitments made to GoC are documented and tracked.

Internal Coordination

Act as the central point of coordination between Sales/BD and internal delivery teams.

Gather inputs from Engineering, Legal, Finance, Security, and Operations as required.

Support internal reviews, approvals, and governance processes.

Ensure accurate information flow across teams during capture and early delivery.

Transition to Delivery

Support the transition from capture into early program execution once the contract is finalized.

Ensure contractual obligations are clearly handed off to delivery teams.

Help establish initial delivery tracking and reporting structures.

Education & Experience Required

5–10 years of experience in program management, project coordination, or capture support, preferably in government, defence, space, or other regulated environments.

Experience supporting government or public-sector contracts, including capture or pre-award phases.

Strong organizational and…