Permanent. Full-time preferred, with flexibility considered (0.8+ FTE).
$75,000 - $90,000 CAD annually (Negotiable for the right candidate. Reviewed annually.)
Application Deadline: 2026-06-22
About
Why This Role Matters
The PEI IT Alliance is the voice of Prince Edward Island's IT industry. We grow and develop the sector across the province: connecting businesses, students, remote workers, and industry leaders, acting as a liaison between the industry and government, and promoting the wins coming out of our tech ecosystem.
The Foundry is where that work happens on the ground. This role owns the space, the programs, and the community systems that turn early ideas into companies, and helps the Alliance run faster and smarter with AI built into how the work gets done.
About PEI IT Alliance & The Foundry
The PEI IT Alliance is a private-sector-led not-for-profit advancing Prince Edward Island's tech and IT sector. Operated by the Alliance, The Foundry is a collaborative hub in downtown Charlottetown bringing together startups, industry professionals, and innovators building and scaling technology-driven companies.
Job Brief
This is a newly created, permanent role. The Director, Community & Programs leads the Alliance's internal execution: member value delivery, programming, events, founder and startup supports, and community operations. You own The Foundry's operational performance, working closely with the Operations Support person to deliver a consistently excellent space and community experience.
You also advance the Alliance's AI-first operating model by redesigning core internal workflows to increase speed, quality, consistency, and resilience, with clear human accountability throughout. A headline early project is building the Alliance's AI strategy and its first generation of AI-enabled workflows. All this with the highest empathy for the individuals and industry.
Responsibilities
Programs & Events (Member Value)
Own the annual programming calendar and delivery standards. Grow event cadence from roughly 9 toward 12 per month across formats.
Own and lead delivery operations for flagship initiatives, including PEI Tech Week.
Build and maintain playbooks, templates, and volunteer-host systems to keep community-led programming high quality and repeatable.
Track and report program outcomes and engagement trends monthly.
The Foundry Operations & P&L (Primary Owner)
Own The Foundry's operational performance: utilization, occupancy growth, tenant and member experience, retention, and community health.
Manage the Foundry operating budget and revenue plan within board-approved budgets and policies (workspace fees, room rentals, sponsorship activations, program revenue).
Partner with the Operations Support person on bookings, access, maintenance, supplies, safety, policies, and space standards.
Maintain onboarding and offboarding systems and clear community guidelines.
Founder & Startup Supports (Delivery Coordination)
Ensure a strong founder experience through intake, referrals, and pathways into supports, including partner-delivered investment readiness.
Increase the number of startups generated and supported by strengthening pipelines, community touchpoints, and partner handoffs.
Program Portfolio Ownership (Internal)
Own delivery and outcomes for the Residency Program and Night Shift, or successor internal programs.
Own PEI Devs operational coordination while respecting independent governance structures (PEI Dev Elders).
Support programs such as PEI Bridge and Cyber Titan as assigned under their independent Terms of Reference (no exclusive ownership).
Launch additional community programs (Remote Workers, CEO Breakfasts, Start/Build & Sell) when resourced and within approved budgets.
AI-First Internal Execution
Build the Alliance's first generation of AI-enabled workflows for Foundry operations, event production, and monthly reporting, with human review at every step.
Lead development of the Alliance's AI strategy as an early priority, with budget available to support it.
Maintain knowledge capture (decision logs, templates, SOPs) to ensure continuity through team transitions.
Reporting & Performance Management
Provide weekly async check-ins to the Interim CEO and Leadership Committee. Maintain formal KPIs and submit a written monthly report.
Maintain internal operating metrics for the Foundry and programs. Keep data consistent, comparable, and useful for decisions.
What Success Looks Like
First 6 months: PEI Tech Week delivered smoothly with strong participant experience and measurable outcomes.
First 6 months: Event cadence increased from roughly 9 toward 12 per month with improved consistency and repeatable systems.
First 6 months: Clear startup and founder pipeline with more startups supported and generated.
First 6 months: Foundry operations running reliably with occupancy trending up from current levels and strong member experience.
First 6 months: AI strategy drafted and first workflows in production.
12 months: The Foundry shows strong operational performance and a high-trust community culture.
12 months: Member engagement is trending upward with clear evidence of ecosystem value.
12 months: Internal systems are resilient: strong documentation, clean handoffs, and smooth transitions.
Example KPIs (year one): Foundry occupancy grows from 70% to 90%; events per month grow from 9 to 12; membership grows from roughly 900 toward a year-one target set with the Interim CEO; startups supported or generated increase year over year; establish and improve a member satisfaction or NPS baseline.
Qualifications
10+ years in the IT industry in a team-member or leadership role (required).
Experience leading programs, events, communities, entrepreneurship supports, or innovation hubs.
Strong operational competence: planning, prioritization, budgets, systems, and execution under deadlines.
Community builder who empowers volunteers and hosts while holding quality standards.
Comfort with metrics, reporting, and working with governance bodies.
AI fluency and a practical mindset about using AI to improve operational outcomes, not hype.
Active attendance and involvement within PEI Devs is a strong plus and a clear signal of fit. It shows real connection to the community this role serves.
How your friends should describe you
Your friends would describe you as the connector and the builder, the person who turns a room of strangers into a community and a pile of good intentions into repeatable systems. You hold high standards without losing warmth, you empower volunteers and hosts rather than doing everything yourself, and you bring real empathy for the individuals and industry you serve. You're comfortable with budgets, metrics, and governance, and you reach for AI to make the work faster and better.
Why join us?
You'll lead the on-the-ground work that turns early ideas into companies at the heart of PEI's tech ecosystem, with the autonomy to build the Alliance's AI-first operating model from the ground up. Compensation & terms: health benefits effective day one, 3 weeks vacation per year, time-in-lieu for evening and weekend events, laptop and equipment provided, and occasional off-Island travel that is possible but not required.
Additional Details
Education: 10+ years of relevant IT industry experience required; relevant program, community, operations, or innovation-hub leadership experience prioritized over formal credentials.
Job Type: Permanent. Full-time preferred, with flexibility considered (0.8+ FTE).
Work Location: On-site at The Foundry, Charlottetown, 5 days per week, with limited remote flexibility.
Wage: $75,000 - $90,000 CAD annually (Negotiable for the right candidate. Reviewed annually.)
Application deadline: 2026-06-22
Term: Permanent. Target start date: July 1, 2026. Probation: 3 months. Reports to the Interim CEO (interim arrangement expected into 2027). Direct reports: None at this time. Works in close partnership with the Operations Support person.
The PEI IT Alliance is an equal-opportunity employer. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and encourage applications from women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, and others who bring diverse perspectives to our community. We provide accommodations throughout the recruitment process on request. Eligibility: Canadian work authorization required. Please email your resume as a PDF and do not include a cover letter.
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