Director, AI & Automation Program Delivery

SML Inox; Toronto; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Director of AI & Automation Program Delivery to spearhead a transformative initiative aimed at unlocking significant value for global operations. In this pivotal role, you will lead the implementation of a multi-year GenAI & Automation program, collaborating with various teams to ensure strategic alignment and operational excellence. The ideal candidate will possess a robust background in program delivery, with expertise in both agile and waterfall methodologies, and the ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders. Join a dynamic environment that prioritizes well-being and inclusion, and where your contributions will make a lasting impact.

Benefits

Flexible Work Environment

Career Growth Opportunities

Support for Well-being and Inclusion

Qualifications

• 7-10 years of program delivery experience with a focus on new technology implementation.
• Strong analytical and communication skills to engage with both technical and non-technical audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead and implement the AI & Automation program, ensuring strategic alignment across teams.
• Manage project risks and resources while delivering projects on time and within budget.

Skills

Program Delivery

Agile Methodologies

Waterfall Methodologies

Communication Skills

Analytical Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Education

PMP or CSM Certification

Tools

Budget Management Tools

Project Management Software

Job description

Reporting to Head of Transformation - Global Operations, the Director, AI & Automation Program Delivery is a consultant-minded professional who can deliver on our global Operations strategic priorities, obsess about customers, and is excited to drive a highly visible, strategic transformation for our organization. As a key member of the Global Operations Strategy & Transformation team, the desired candidate will lead and implement Manulife’s multi-year GenAI & Automation program, a major transformation program that strives to unlock significant value for Operations, and the Enterprise.

The role involves leading all aspects of the AI and Automation Program for Operations, working with various teams to ensure strategic alignment. The candidate should operationalize frameworks for value measurement, risk management, and regulatory compliance, while driving AI business value. Responsibilities include leading projects from start to finish, assembling teams, securing resources, and communicating with senior team members and external partners.

Position Responsibilities:

Delivery Excellence & Program Governance

• Responsible for implementing the AI & Automation portfolio in collaboration with multiple functional and technology partners, developing analysis to identify and support improvements.
• Builds upon a single program view of multiple AI & Automation projects and prepares a portfolio view for senior executive updates.
• Sees the big picture and has a vision for alternative approaches to getting the job done.
• Coordinates global projects through all phases of initiation, development and implementation.
• Works with Product Owners, Segment Ops Leads, Business/Functional Stakeholders to define and manage the scope, strategy, requirements and end-to-end execution of projects.
• Ensures that assigned projects are completed within budgets and schedules while meeting business objectives.
• Identifies resource needs for the project and establishes roles, expectations, and goals with team members.
• Anticipates, identifies, analyzes, mitigates, documents, and controls project risks.
• Drives the assessment, management, and mitigation of project risks that impede successful program delivery.
• Collaborates with Segment Ops Leads to exchange standard methodologies and insights gained from other teams.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communications

• Provides effective and regular communication with the segment team, collaborators, sponsors, and executive management.
• Develop and present project and portfolio status updates, roadmap updates, findings, and/or recommendations to an Executive audience.

Financial Management

• Reports on and leads initiative budgets and benefit measurements for overall AI and Automation portfolio.
• Participate in the annual budget process, ensuring that AI priorities, scope and budget needs are incorporated into the annual planning process.
• Work with Finance partners to ensure the project expenses are correctly identified and tagged.

Business Case Development

• Lead the planning, mobilization and partner engagement required to build the business case for AI execution, and future funding activities.
• Ensure the business case developed in alignment with the organizational delivery framework, including but not limited to cost-benefit analysis, risk assessment guidelines, etc.

Required Qualifications:

• 7-10 years of hands-on experience in program delivery and execution excellence.
• Demonstrated success delivering program to introduce new technologies globally, redefining business and unlocking value.
• Has expertise in managing both waterfall and agile project methodologies; PMP or CSM designation would be an asset.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both technical and non-technical terms, verbal and written, to both a Senior Executive audience and project delivery teams; able to effectively articulate the business opportunity, solution vision, possibilities, and outcomes to technical and non-technical audience.
• Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills; has experience in collaborating and partnering with business/functional team members, data scientists, data engineers, architects, and vendor SMEs across a global, distributed environment.
• Proven track record of effective monitoring and reporting program updates, risks and issues.
• Strong analytical skills, copes with complex situations using both skills and experience to lead to the right outcomes.
• Apply field expertise to propose alternative approaches to leadership considering current project challenges and goals.
• High standard of work within the program, applying both skills and experience to drive and govern the program, as well as develop deliverables.
• Knowledge of corporate function processes and capabilities.
• Exposure to large language models (LLMs) or other generative AI capabilities is an asset.
• Experience in managing and delivering large-scale analytics/AI projects involving cross-functional technical teams, business partners, and change management partners is a plus.

When you join our team:

• We’ll empower you to learn and grow the career you want.
• We’ll recognize and support you in a flexible environment where well-being and inclusion are more than just words.