Tech Connect Southeast NB: Paid IT Work Placements in Greater Moncton
In partnership with the McKenna Institute, WorkingNB, the Southeast Regional Service Commission (SERSC), and ACOA, Tech Connect Southeast NB is a 16-week work placement program connecting job seekers with real opportunities in Greater Moncton and Southeast New Brunswick’s growing tech sector.
At its heart, Tech Connect is about building bridges:
For job seekers: internationally trained and underrepresented IT professionals find a pathway into meaningful, long-term careers in the region.
For employers: access to job-ready talent, eager to contribute to business needs and drive innovation.
Tech Connect is for professionals in software development, DevOps, cloud, data engineering and analysis, business analysis, IT project management, infrastructure, cybersecurity, governance, risk and compliance (GRC), and quality assurance (QA). Every cohort completes AI skills training.
Participants are hired on contract and earn a wage throughout. There is no cost to participate. Hands-on training and one-on-one mentorship run alongside the work, building industry-relevant skills and Canadian work experience. Most arrive after months of searching with two interviews or fewer. Each cohort now generates 30 or more first-round interviews, and 75% of participants move into full-time employment in their field. In 2026, the program won the Talent Pipeline and Workforce Award for Upskilling and Professional Development from the Technology Councils of North America.
If you’d like to learn more about how Tech Connect can support your hiring needs, or how you can get involved as a mentor, partner, or supporter, we’d love to connect. Together, we can continue building bridges between talent and opportunity.
Program lead
Tech Connect Southeast NB is led by Shannon McMackin, Regional Program Manager at Venn Innovation.
She brings over 25 years in recruitment, workforce strategy, and employer outreach, including hiring for Google, Cisco, PayPal and other global technology companies, and leading recruitment teams across North America, Asia, and Africa. She manages program delivery, builds employer relationships, and supports participants through every stage of their placement.
