Director, Defense & Security - Marketing Strategy

The Director, Defense & Security Marketing Strategy is responsible for defining and leading CAE's global marketing strategy for the Defense & Security business. This role drives integrated go-to-market strategies that strengthen CAE's position as a trusted partner in training, simulation, mission readiness, and operational readiness for military organizations, government agencies, OEMs, prime contractors, and allied defense customers worldwide.

The incumbent leads global marketing initiatives across portfolio positioning, product marketing, account-based marketing (ABM), demand generation, digital growth, executive engagement, strategic events, and thought leadership. Working in highly regulated and complex B2B/B2G environments, the role focuses on delivering measurable business outcomes, including pipeline growth, account penetration, market share expansion, opportunity progression, and revenue impact.

As a senior leader, this individual manages a global multidisciplinary marketing team and collaborates closely with Business Development, Sales, Capture, Product Management, Engineering, Programs, Communications, Government Relations, and Executive Leadership to ensure market alignment, effective execution, and commercial success.

Key Responsibilities

Marketing Strategy & Positioning

• Develop and execute CAE's global Defense & Security marketing strategy aligned with business priorities and growth objectives.
• Define differentiated market positioning and compelling value propositions across CAE's defense and security solutions portfolio.
• Translate strategic priorities into measurable marketing plans, investment decisions, and business outcomes.
• Ensure consistent, technically accurate, and compliant messaging across all customer-facing channels.

Product Marketing & Go-to-Market Leadership

• Lead product and solution positioning, messaging strategies, and go-to-market execution across global markets.
• Translate complex technical capabilities into customer-focused value propositions and sales enablement tools.
• Partner with Sales, Business Development, Capture, and Product Management teams to support strategic pursuits, proposal efforts, and business growth.
• Drive successful product launches and market readiness initiatives.

Digital Growth & Account-Based Marketing

• Lead global digital marketing and demand generation strategies across web, automation, email, search, social media, and ABM programs.
• Develop targeted campaigns that increase customer engagement, opportunity creation, pipeline growth, and revenue contribution.
• Establish performance metrics, marketing KPIs, and reporting frameworks to measure effectiveness and ROI.
• Leverage marketing technology, analytics, and customer insights to improve campaign performance and account penetration.

Industry Events & Customer Engagement

• Lead CAE's participation in major defense, security, aerospace, and industry events.
• Develop event strategies that support customer engagement, executive relationships, brand visibility, and business development objectives.
• Measure event effectiveness through pipeline influence, customer engagement, and business outcomes.

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing global marketing team.
• Establish effective governance, processes, and priorities to support business objectives.
• Build strong relationships across business functions and regions to drive alignment and execution.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Minimum Qualification

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Communications, Engineering, International Relations, or a related field. Master's degree is considered an asset.
• 15+ years of progressive marketing leadership experience in global B2B, B2G, defense, aerospace, technology, or other highly regulated industries.
• Proven success developing and executing enterprise-level marketing strategies, including positioning, product marketing, digital growth, demand generation, ABM, thought leadership, and executive engagement.
• Experience leading high-performing teams in complex global organizations.

Preferred Qualification

• Strong understanding of defense and security markets, government procurement, capture management, and proposal environments.
• Ability to translate complex technical solutions into compelling customer value propositions.
• Experience working closely with Sales, Business Development, Capture, Product Management, Engineering, and Executive Leadership.
• Strong strategic thinking, executive communication, stakeholder management, and influencing skills, English and French.
• Experience with CRM, marketing automation, analytics, and performance measurement tools.
• Results-oriented leader with a strong focus on growth, customer engagement, commercial impact, and team development.

Benefits

• Group Insurance.
• Telemedicine Employee and Family Assistance Program.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
• Group RRSP.
• CAE Pension Plan/Defined Benefit Plan.
• Sabbatical Leave.
• Flex Time.
• Enhanced Parental Leave.

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At CAE, our mission is clear: to help make the world a safer place. For nearly 80 years, we’ve driven innovation in simulation, training, and mission readiness to support critical operations worldwide. By leveraging advanced technologies, we empower our customers to operate smarter, faster, and more sustainably. Join a purpose-driven organization where bold ideas are encouraged, collaboration drives progress, and your growth fuels our shared success.

CAE is committed to providing equal opportunities to all applicants, regardless of race, nationality, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, neurodiversity, veteran status, age, or other characteristics protected by law. We encourage applicants who may not meet every qualification to apply. Reasonable accommodations are available—contact your recruiter or email [email protected] if needed.

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As part of our process, we may use AI‑supported tools to help review applications, with human decision‑making at every step. CAE thanks all applicants for their interest. However, only those whose background and experience match the requirements of the role will be contacted.