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.
| Module | Cohort 21 Dates | Cohort 22 Dates |
|---|---|---|
|
Sept. 23-25, 2025 |
Oct. 6-8, 2025 |
|
| Systems Thinking |
Oct. 29-31, 2025 (in-person) |
Nov. 3-5, 2025 (in-person) |
|
Nov. 24-26, 2025 |
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 |
Feb. 23-25, 2026 |
|
Mar. 23-24, 2026 (in-person) |
Mar. 25-26, 2026 |
|
|
Financial Analysis & Decision-Making |
Apr. 27-28, 2026
|
Apr. 29-30, 2026 |
| Integration Capstone |
May 27-29, 2026 (in-person) |
Jun. 1-3, 2026 |
Additional Modules Dates
| 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
Program Facilitators
Mariette Fyfe-Fortin
Program Co-Director
Mariette Fyfe-Fortin
Program Co-Director
A dynamic leader with proven ability to transform vision into action and deliver targeted results, Mariette Fyfe-Fortin is recognized for her leadership of government business transformations and change management initiatives, complex project procurements, and services delivery in sectors ranging from acquisitions/procurement, corporate services, information management, to real property management. Retired from the Canadian Commercial Corporation as Vice-President, Strategy and Organizational Development (2009-14), she oversaw the corporation’s strategic planning, managed government relations and communications, and corporate services. Supporting the President and the Board of Directors, she acquired unique perspectives in corporate governance, investment management, business development and capture, and legal risk management. While in tenure, Mariette was also a member of the Clerk of the Privy Council Assistant Deputy Minister Learning Advisory Committee from 2012 to 2014, dedicated to the development and implementation of the learning and continuous development for Assistant Deputy Ministers and equivalent positions across the federal public service.
Most recently Mariette has participated in the development and taught at the University of Ottawa Telfer School of Management in the Complex Project and Procurement Certificate program (2015-19). She holds a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Université de Montréal (1978) and has accessed the executive cadre through the federal government Career Assignment Program (1993).
Daniel Hébert
Program Co-Director
Daniel Hébert
Program Co-Director
Daniel Hébert has spent most of his 38-year career in defence procurement and holds an executive Master's degree in Complex Project and Procurement Leadership from the Queensland University of Technology in Australia. He has been Project Manager of several billion-dollar projects, including the Tank Replacement Project (TRP) and the Medium Support Vehicle System (MSVS) project, and serving as Deputy Project Manager of the Armoured Combat Support Vehicle (ACSV) project. He worked at Public Services and Procurement Canada as a Senior Procurement Advisor and Senior Director with the Defence Procurement Strategy Secretariat. As Director of the Project Management Support Organization, he oversaw the Project Manager Competency Development (PMCD) program that aims to develop better Department of National Defence project managers. Most recently, Daniel has been co-leading Telfer Executive Programs’ Complex Project and Procurement Leadership (CPPL) program as well as the Complex Project and Procurement Executive Leadership Program (CPPELP). Daniel also holds a Master's degree in Reliability Engineering.
Details
- Registration
- Registration Deadline
-
Friday, September 5, 2025
- Format
-
Cohort 21: In-person
Cohort 22: In-person
- Date
-
September 2025 to June 2026
- Cancellation & Payment Policy
- More Information
-
executiveprograms
@telfer.uOttawa.ca
613-562-5921
Tailored Programs
Our programs and certificates can be delivered to your employees and tailored to fit your organization’s specific requirements.
To discuss your needs, please contact us.
