Certificate in Complex Project & Procurement Leadership (CPPL)

Overview

Government and industry leaders that are responsible for delivering large scale projects and procurement programs are facing ever-increasing challenges associated with the complexity and dynamic nature of these initiatives. The Certificate in Complex Project & Procurement Leadership (CPPL) is designed to assist participants to lead projects and programs successfully from project identification through to successful completion. Participants in the program will learn to evaluate key elements of the contextual environment for their projects, address the breadth and diversity of the stakeholders in their project, and develop their business acumen that is critical to the achievement of their project’s objectives.

Program Format

The Certificate in Complex Project & Procurement Leadership comprises seven separate in-class modules, plus a capstone module. Each module is two or three days in length of in-class learning and will be supplemented with readings, and exercises.

Participants will be able to complete the Certificate over a multi-year time-frame, up to a maximum of three years. The modules may also be completed on a stand-alone basis, provided space is available in the selected module.

Participants that have completed prior learning programs through Telfer Executive Programs that are equivalent to the content of any of the modules will be able to apply for an exemption. Other similar prior learning will be assessed for exemption on a case by case basis.

Who Should Attend

The certificate program is designed for:

program and project managers
procurement managers
supply chain managers
military project directors
portfolio managers
key advisors in both government and industry organizations

Typical candidates sponsored for the program are from:

large IT and IS management organizations
procurement management functions
major crown projects
equipment and fleet management organizations
infrastructure development initiatives

This program is relevant for Canadian public sector employees and for the employees of industry suppliers and partners that work with public sector departments and agencies.

How to Register

The Certificate may be completed over a multi-year time frame if required, up to a maximum of three years. The modules may also be completed on a stand-alone basis, provided space is available. To register for a module on a stand-alone basis, please visit that module's separate webpage by clicking on the link in the module title, listed below.

Two separate 2025-2026 cohorts are being offered and a 10% reduction of program fees applies for participants who will be completing the Certificate in a 2025-2026 cohort. Participants are encouraged to complete modules within the same cohort in order to maintain continuity for group work.

Priority registration is given to participants completing the Certificate in Complex Project & Procurement Leadership in a 2025-2026 Cohort. Registration for individual modules will open in Fall of 2025.

Due to high demand for some of the individual program modules, we may offer extra cohorts of certain modules. These will be dedicated to individuals who are not enrolled in the Certificate to ensure space for everyone who wishes to attend. Extra cohorts may be offered for the following four modules:

If you wish to be notified when registration is open for one or more of these modules, please email us at executiveprograms@telfer.uOttawa.ca to subscribe to notifications.

Follow the hyperlinks below (see Overview of Program Modules) to access each individual module’s registration page.

Register Cohort
Module	Cohort 21 Dates	Cohort 22 Dates
Government Processes, Stakeholders and Leadership	Sept. 23-25, 2025 (in-person)	Oct. 6-8, 2025 (in-person)
Systems Thinking	Oct. 29-31, 2025 (in-person)	Nov. 3-5, 2025 (in-person)
Acquisition Strategies	Nov. 24-26, 2025 (in-person)	Dec. 8-10, 2025 (in-person)
Relational Contracting	Jan. 12-13, 2026 (in-person)	Jan. 14-15, 2026 (in-person)
Business Acumen for Project Leaders	Feb. 18-20, 2026 (in-person)	Feb. 23-25, 2026 (in-person)
Negotiation Strategies	Mar. 23-24, 2026 (in-person)	Mar. 25-26, 2026 (in-person)
Financial Analysis & Decision-Making	Apr. 27-28, 2026 (in-person)	Apr. 29-30, 2026 (in-person)
Integration Capstone	May 27-29, 2026 (in-person)	Jun. 1-3, 2026 (in-person)

Additional Modules Dates

Additional Cohort 15 Overview
Module	Dates
Systems Thinking	TBD
Relational Contracting	TBD
Business Acumen for Project Leaders	TBD
Negotiation Strategies	TBD

Participants from the Department of National Defence: Please note that five of the modules (Government Processes, Stakeholders and Leadership, Systems Thinking, Business Acumen, Relational Contracting, and Negotiation Strategies) are designed to contribute to the Department of National Defence Project Manager Competency Development (PMCD) program qualification.

Overview of Program Modules

Government Processes, Stakeholders and Leadership

This module provides an overview of Canadian federal machinery of government, the approval processes for major investment government decision-making, the roles of key gatekeepers and decision makers, and how a new paradigm of project leadership is essential to manage complexity. It discusses the roles of Cabinet and the Privy Council Office, the Treasury Board Secretariat, Public Services and Procurement Canada and Industry, Science and Economic Development Canada. It focuses on early trust-building engagement with project stakeholders, and developing new project leadership perspectives to manage complex environments. It explores the skills required to build high performing teams in the face of cognitive and emotional ambiguity.

Cost: $2,750 + HST

Systems Thinking

This module was formerly known as “Systems Thinking & Complex Project Management”. This module examines contemporary systems thinking theories and techniques and their application to complex problem solving, and how the broad environment affects decisions about the management of complex projects.

Cost: $2,750 + HST

Acquisition Strategies

This module was formerly known as “Project Initiation”. This module provides an overview of considerations in statement of requirement design, options analysis processes to identify and analyse strategic acquisition strategies, stakeholder engagement and the procurement options to deliver the most viable option. It also provides an overview of sustainment considerations and the importance of whole life cycle cost analysis early in project planning.

Cost: $2,750 + HST

Relational Contracting

This module provides strategies to build stakeholder relationships by positioning them at the heart of complex business arrangements in order to build a culture of collaboration, joint management, and trust.

Cost: $1,800 + HST

Business Acumen for Project Leaders

This module will provide project leaders with an improved understanding of the context in which companies operate including corporate governance, business strategies, corporate finances, corporate ethics, business development and sales, and the risk analysis in project gating.

Cost: $2,750 + HST

Negotiation Strategies

This module was formerly known as “Advanced Negotiations & Problem Solving”. This module will provide an overview of essential negotiation and problem solving skills for leaders to effectively deal with multi-party decision making and conflict in all aspects of complex project management.

Cost: $2,750 + HST

Financial Analysis & Decision-Making

This module was formerly known as “Principles & Practices of Cost Estimating for Project Leaders”. This module will help project leaders become knowledgeable consumers of cost estimates and cost-benefit analyses and gain an understanding of the role that risk and uncertainty plays within these analyses. Monte Carlo simulations will be introduced and practised using the Crystal Ball application.

Cost: $1,800 + HST

Integration Capstone

The final module of the program will tie together the foundational elements of the preceding modules. Participants will practice the application of the core concepts learned in preceding modules through a large and complex simulation exercise.

Cost: $1,800 + HST