Director, Product Strategy & Growth

Recrute Action; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 103,000 - 117,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Recrute Action is seeking a senior portfolio strategist to turn insights into strategy for the insurance sector. You will lead portfolio direction, uncover opportunities, and align teams to deliver customer value and sustainable growth.

The role offers hourly compensation in the CAD range of 75–85, with an incorporated business rate of 90–100 per hour, and a hybrid work setup. Travel will be required for internal events and client engagements.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive experience in product, strategy, innovation, or commercialization.
• Leadership of complex cross-functional initiatives.
• Experience in financial services or regulated industries.

Responsibilities

• Portfolio strategy, value proposition, and investment roadmap.
• Portfolio optimization and prioritization with business cases.
• Go-to-market strategies and partnerships across sales and distribution.
• Product governance, risk, and privacy collaboration.
• Lead, coach, and develop cross-functional teams.

Skills

Portfolio management

Strategy leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Executive communication

Financial acumen

Stakeholder alignment

Vendor management

Risk governance

Education

Undergrad degree in business/finance/marketing/health/tech

Job description

Turn insight into action and strategy into growth in the insurance sector for our client. Drive portfolio direction, uncover new opportunities, and bring teams together to deliver meaningful customer value, sustainable growth, and strong business outcomes.

What is in it for you:

• Salaried: $75-85 per hour.
• Incorporated Business Rate: $90-100 per hour.
• Hybrid work arrangement, subject to business and organizational requirements.
• Travel may be required for internal events, client meetings, partner engagements, advisory boards, and industry conferences.

Responsibilities:

Strategy and Portfolio management

• Portfolio strategy, value proposition, and investment roadmap.
• Portfolio optimization and prioritization.
• Business cases and investment recommendations.

Customer, Market, and Growth

• Customer, market, and competitive insights.
• Commercialization and go-to-market strategies.
• Portfolio performance and scorecards.
• Sales, Marketing, and Distribution partnerships.

Product and Delivery leadership

• Major product initiatives and cross-functional delivery.
• Discovery, experimentation, and validation.
• Digital, technology, AI, automation, and data opportunities.
• External partners and vendor management.
• Product launch and operational readiness.

Risk and Governance

• Product governance and risk management.
• Legal, Compliance, Risk, and Privacy collaboration.
• Documentation, controls, approvals, and escalation.
• Decisions within delegated authority.

Enterprise and People leadership

• Stakeholder alignment and cross-functional leadership.
• Team leadership, coaching, and development.
• Senior leadership and portfolio representation.
• People, resources, budgets, and financial commitments.

What you will need to succeed:

Required qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in business, finance, marketing, health, technology, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in product, strategy, innovation, or commercialization, including leadership of complex cross-functional initiatives.
• Experience in financial services, insurance, group benefits, health, wellbeing, disability, or other regulated industries.
• Experience developing product or portfolio strategies and translating them into executable roadmaps, business cases, and measurable outcomes.
• Ability to apply product and strategic capabilities across different portfolios, quickly build subject-matter expertise, and lead effectively as business priorities evolve.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, including experience assessing product economics, investment trade-offs, and portfolio performance.
• Proven ability to lead through influence in a highly matrixed and regulated environment.
• Experience leading, coaching, and developing people and building effective teams.
• Excellent executive communication skills, including the ability to simplify complex issues, frame decisions, and deliver clear recommendations.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience in group benefits, health, wellbeing, dental, and/or disability products, including employer-sponsored solutions.
• Experience managing strategic partnerships, vendors, or ecosystem-based propositions.
• Experience with digital product development, customer experience design, agile delivery, and data-informed experimentation.
• Working knowledge of relevant compliance, privacy, risk, and product governance practices.
• Strategic and enterprise thinking.
• Customer and growth orientation.
• Sound decision-making.
• Influence and collaboration.
• Execution and accountability.
• Innovation and adaptability.
• People leadership.
• Technology and data fluency.