Manager, Business Innovation

Toyota Motor Corporation; Markham; Hybrid; CAD 100,000 - 127,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and dental benefits

Pension plan with matched contribution

Vehicle discount program

Tuition reimbursement

Fitness reimbursement

Competitive salary including bonus

Hybrid work environment

Job summary

Toyota Financial Services (TFS) is seeking a Business Innovation Manager to lead enterprise-wide initiatives, focusing on process improvement, mobility programs, and AI-driven optimization. This role drives Kaizen culture, governance, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver tangible outcomes at the Markham head office.

The successful candidate will have 7+ years in innovation or transformation, strong knowledge of Toyota practices, and ability to partner with global affiliates and vendors.

Qualifications

• University degree in Business, Engineering, Operations, Finance, or related field.
• 7+ years of experience leading innovation, operational excellence, mobility, or enterprise transformation initiatives, including people leadership.
• Strong working knowledge of Toyota Business Practices, Kaizen, or equivalent (Lean, Six Sigma).

Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise-wide innovation, operational excellence, AI, and Kaizen initiatives with measurable improvements.
• Develop and promote the TFS Business Innovation Framework and establish KPIs.
• Translate business problems into structured, value-driven solutions using Toyota Business Practices.
• Oversee mobility program performance and governance; partner with affiliates and external partners.
• Lead cross-functional teams across operations, technology, analytics, and CX to implement sustainable solutions.

Skills

Innovation leadership

Operational excellence

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional leadership

Problem solving

Education

University degree

Tools

Kaizen

Lean Six Sigma

Job description

Job Description

Business Innovation Manager

About Toyota Financial Services

Toyota Financial Services (TFS) provides retail, leasing and dealer financing services to Toyota and Lexus dealerships and customers across Canada. TFS is a member of Toyota Financial Services Corporation (TFSC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan with the Canadian operation headquarters in Markham, Ontario

What Sets Us Apart?

At Toyota Financial Services (TFS), you will help create best in class customer/dealer experiences in an innovative, collaborative and team focused environment. TFS is an important part of the Toyota family, an award-winning global company, recognized worldwide for our technological leadership and superior standards of quality, continuous improvement, and environmental responsibility.

TFS currently has an exciting full time permanent position as the Business Innovation Manager, reporting to the Vice President, Business Operations. This role plays a critical part in leading enterprise-wide operational excellence, kaizen and mobility initiatives that improve efficiency, service quality and new business opportunities across the organization. The successful candidate will be accountable for the delivery and sustainment of high impact process improvements and mobility programs, guiding teams through structured problem solving and continuous improvement while ensuring solutions are implemented and embedded into day-to-day operations. This role provides leadership, execution governance and cross functional coordination to translate business problems into measurable outcomes. This role reports to the VP of Business Operations and resides within our Markham Head office

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Lead enterprise-wide innovation function, operational excellence, Artificial Intelligence and Kaizen initiatives that deliver measurable improvements in performance, efficiency, quality, and customer and employee experience.
• Lead the ongoing development of the TFS Business Innovation Framework; promoting associate participation, engagement and fostering an innovation culture. Establish KPI's to measure the progress and success of innovation initiatives across the organization. Lead cross-functional teams to move ideas from concept through testing, pilot, and scaled launch.
• Own the delivery and sustainment of process improvements by translating complex business problems into structured, value driven solutions using Toyota Business Practices.
• Balance execution of priority transformation/innovation initiatives with day-to-day operational improvements to ensure Business Innovation delivers continuous and visible value.
• Provide operational leadership for mobility programs, with accountability for program performance, stability, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee mobility program performance management including forecasting, scenario analysis, and use case modeling to support decision making and scaling.
• Partner with global Toyota affiliates and external partners to align mobility operating models, performance expectations, and execution practices.
• Establish and maintain governance for Innovation, OE, AI, and mobility initiatives including intake, prioritization, resourcing, and delivery cadence.
• Partner with internal and external stakeholders and leverage data-driven analysis and insights to recommend operational improvements, and new ways to expand our value chain
• Lead cross functional teams across operations, technology, analytics, and CX to implement solutions that are practical, governed, and sustainable.
• Drive standardization of ways of working, metrics, and management routines to embed improvements into day-to-day operations.
• Lead, coach and develop Business Innovation team members, ensuring capacity is aligned to business priorities and focused on outcomes rather than activity.
• Partner with Toyota affiliates and Dealers on the implementation of the Connected Retail Roadmap to improve the customer sales & service experience
• Lead the development and implementation of learning programs to ensure TFS leaders and associates have the competencies and tools to support innovation and process improvement initiatives.

What You’ll Bring:

• University degree in Business, Engineering, Operations, Finance, or a related field.
• 7+ years of experience leading innovation, operational excellence, continuous improvement, mobility, or enterprise transformation initiatives, including people leadership.
• Strong working knowledge of Toyota Business Practices, Kaizen, or equivalent (Lean, Six Sigma)
• Ability to work with various partners, vendors and stakeholders to build alignment and consensus on key initiatives
• Proven experience delivering measurable value through process improvement, program performance management, and operational execution.
• Experience supporting mobility or complex enterprise programs, including performance forecasting, scenario analysis, and use case modeling to inform decisions.
• Excellent stakeholder management, facilitation, and communication skills with experience engaging senior leaders and cross functional teams.
• Ability to work flexible hours and in-office minimum three days a week

What We’ll Bring:

• A work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect
• Competitive salary including bonus
• Health and dental benefits effective immediately
• Company pension plan with matched contribution
• Associate vehicle discount program
• Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career, as well as tuition reimbursement
• Fitness reimbursement
• Competitive time off benefits
• Great company culture-Respect for people and continuous improvement is at our core
• Hybrid work environment (based on role requirements)

The anticipated annual base salary for this position is $100,000 - 127,000. The offered salary will be based on the candidate’s experience, knowledge, skills and qualifications.

What You Should Know:

Our success begins and ends with our people. We embrace diverse perspectives and value unique human experiences. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer that celebrates the diversity of the communities where we live and do business. Applicants for our positions are considered without regard to race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, religion, or any other characteristics protected by law.