Assistant Product Manager, Strategic Initiatives

Loblaw Companies Limited; Brampton; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A large Canadian retailer is seeking an Assistant Product Manager for the Strategic Initiatives team in Brampton. The role includes supporting multi-year projects, managing vendor communications, and leading project meetings. Ideal candidates possess excellent project management skills and a detail-oriented mindset. Post-secondary education is required. The company promotes a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Benefits

Diversity and inclusion focus

Accessible work environments

Qualifications

• Well-developed project management skills.
• Highly organized and able to prioritize effectively.
• Strong work ethic with a passion for detail.

Responsibilities

• Monitor development and execution process with vendors.
• Develop project timelines and assign tasks.
• Manage critical path file for active projects.

Skills

Project management skills

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

Advanced Excel skills

Time-management skills

Problem-solving skills

Ability to manage ambiguity

Data storytelling

Organizational skills

Education

Post-secondary education

Tools

Microsoft PowerPoint

Excel

MicroStrategy

PowerBI

SAP

Job description

Come make your difference in communities across Canada, where authenticity, trust and making connections is valued – as we shape the future of Canadian retail, together. Our unique position as one of the country's largest employers, coupled with our commitment to positively impact the lives of all Canadians, provides our colleagues a range of opportunities and experiences to help Canadians Live Life Well®.

Assistant Product Manager, Strategic Initiatives

At Loblaw, we help millions of Canadians get through their best days, worst days, celebration days, and every day. Through our innovation and quality products, we’re here for our friends, neighbors, family members and colleagues.

We succeed through collaboration and commitment and set a high bar for ourselves and those around us.

We’re looking for adaptable people who are thrilled to join us in our goal of helping Canadians Live Life Well®. Whether you are just starting your career, re-entering the workforce, or looking for a new job, this is where you belong. We promote leaders at every level and support our people to follow their passion.

Why is this role important?

The Assistant Product Manager to the Strategic Initiatives team works in a fast-paced environment to support Loblaw Brands multi-year strategic initiatives and special project sprints that enable our beloved brands, including President’s Choice and No Name. The successful candidate will liaise with our supplier base ensuring their contributions to the project are complete and on time. They are also responsible for leading communications and meetings with many internal stakeholders to support project milestones, provide progress updates and meet final target launch dates.

What You’ll Do:

• Monitor the development and execution process with Vendors/PM/PD/QAS/RA/PT to ensure on-time completion of specialty projects
• Develop project timelines and assign tasks to team members within SAP system
• Support the PM in chairing project kick‑off meetings with the vendor. Develop vendor‑specific timelines and communicate all of the information a vendor will require to support the on‑time delivery of a project, as well as understand LCL critical path milestones
• Responsible for the listing of all approved projects in the internal Loblaw Brands systems
• Responsible for creating master label copy direction, as well as artwork circulation to studio teams and vendors
• Support the PM in leading design kick‑off meetings to ensure team alignment to the project strategy by gathering information and samples
• Lead monthly reviews with individual product teams to update on progress within existing portfolios
• Manage the critical path file for all active projects and report on project status
• Chair weekly team meetings with the team (PM/PD/QA/RA/PT) to review project status, raise risks, and solve challenges impacting project timelines
• Act as a liaison between the project team and the in‑house editorial, design, and production team
• Assist the PM, when required, in preparing for quarterly Imitative updates using Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel
• Create and analyze reports from MicroStrategy, PowerBI, ABI, and SAP as required

What You’ll Need:

• Post‑secondary education
• Well‑developed project management skills are essential; experience in project management is an asset
• Highly organized, able to prioritize effectively and work independently in a fast‑paced environment
• Advanced Excel skills is an asset
• An ability to tell a story through data, and an eye for reporting
• Strong work ethic with a passion for detail and accuracy
• Strong time‑management skills and problem‑solving skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both oral and written
• A natural curiosity to learn new things, and a mind for simplifying complex ideas
• An outstanding ability to manage ambiguity and bring teams together to deliver big ideas
• Outstanding decision‑making skills required to achieve organizational objectives with an understanding of the impact on other work groups
• Diplomacy, constructive thinking, and an innovative approach to drive solutions
• Basic knowledge of retail merchandising or product manufacturing processes

We have a long‑standing focus on diversity, equity and inclusion because we know it will make our company a better place to work and shop. We are committed to creating accessible environments for our colleagues, candidates and customers. Requests for accommodation due to a disability (which may be visible or invisible, temporary or permanent) can be made at any stage of application and employment. We encourage candidates to make their accommodation needs known so that we can provide equitable opportunities.

Candidates who are 18 years or older are required to complete a criminal background check. Details will be provided through the application process.