Product Readiness & Change Risk, Lead

Interac; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 125,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation and wellness days

Benefits coverage

RRSP program

Hybrid work model

Employee assistance program

Parental leave top-up

Charitable donation matching with USW

Job summary

Interac is seeking a Product Readiness & Change Risk Lead to drive evidence-based readiness and governance across the delivery lifecycle. You will partner with Risk, Security, and Product teams to ensure changes are production-ready, traceable, and compliant with enterprise standards.

You will lead gating discipline, define exit criteria, and mature readiness artefacts while collaborating across Product, Engineering and Operations to reduce production risk.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a software discipline; professional certifications are assets.
• 7+ years in software delivery governance, release management, or operational readiness.
• Experience in complex, regulated environments (e.g., financial services, payments).
• Proven ability to work across Product, Engineering and Operations in a matrixed org.

Responsibilities

• Own and operationalize readiness gating across EDF with focus on build, SIT, performance, and production approval.
• Define exit criteria and evidence that are measurable and auditable.
• Drive standardization of readiness artefacts, checklists, and evidence models.
• Lead lifecycle-based change risk management with early risk identification and mitigation.
• Implement evaluation and risk scoring to govern gates; partner with Risk, Security, and Product.
• Ensure consistent application of readiness standards and clarify accountabilities.
• Embed readiness requirements early in delivery lifecycle; address late-stage gaps.
• Provide guidance, frameworks, and tooling direction to delivery teams.
• Define enterprise readiness expectations and establish repeatable, evidence-based practices.
• Define KPIs (predictability, cycle time, milestone achievement) and drive improvements.
• Act as change leader for EDF adoption with training and coaching across squads.

Skills

Governance

Release management

SDLC knowledge

Change risk management

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, or related discipline

Job description

Who We Are:

Every transaction matters. Every Canadian matters. At Interac, we protect both - driving trust, security, and inclusion, so our digital economy thrives.
Founded in 1984, Interac connects Canadians through secure digital payments, advanced identity verification and industry-leading fraud protection. Connecting banks, businesses, and individuals, Interac enables millions to send, receive, and manage money safely and effortlessly every day - across both digital and physical environments.

As the backbone of Canada’s financial ecosystem, Interac facilitates over 20 million transactions daily, supported by trusted partnerships with government and financial institutions. Consistently ranked as Canada’s most reputable financial technology brand, Interac is deeply embedded in the daily lives of Canadians.

Who You Will Work With:

The vacant Product Readiness & Change Risk, Lead role will report to the Leader, Quality & Certification CoE. This role is responsible for ensuring that all product and technology changes meet enterprise standards for delivery readiness, risk management, and operational acceptance within the Enterprise Delivery Framework (EDF). This role plays a critical leadership function in embedding consistent, risk-based governance and gating discipline across the delivery lifecycle, ensuring that changes are fit-for-purpose, traceable, and production-ready before release. The role directly supports Interac’s objective to strengthen delivery quality and reduce production risk by shifting from judgement-based, late-stage controls to structured, evidence-driven readiness and risk management practices.

What You Will Do:

• Own and operationalize readiness gating across EDF, with particular focus on:
  • Build readiness
  • SIT / performance readiness
  • Production approval
  • Operational acceptance

• Ensure clear exit criteria and evidence are defined, measurable, and consistently executed across teams
• Drive standardization of readiness artefacts, checklists, and evidence models to support auditability and traceability
• Establish and lead a proactive, lifecycle-based approach to change risk management, ensuring:
  • Risks are identified at intake and throughout the lifecycle (not just at release stage)
  • Consistent risk evaluation across products and initiatives

• Implement and mature initiative evaluation and risk scoring approaches to determine appropriate governance rigor and gates
• Partner with Risk, Security, and Product teams to align operational, regulatory, and technology risks
• Partner with Technology Operations and Product teams to
  • Ensure consistent application of readiness standards
  • Clarify accountability between Product, Engineering, and Operations
  • Embed readiness requirements early in the delivery lifecycle (not just pre-release), addressing current late-stage validation gaps

• Provide guidance, frameworks, and tooling direction to enable operational teams
• Define and standardize enterprise operational readiness expectations across all products and delivery teams,
• Establish repeatable, enterprise-wide readiness practices that shift the organization from decentralized, inconsistent readiness approaches to standardized, evidence-based operational assurance
• Define delivery KPIs (e.g., predictability, cycle time, milestone achievement).
• Drive data-informed improvements across delivery practices.
• Act as a change leader for EDF adoption. Drive awareness, training, and coaching across squads and product teams

What You Bring:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, or related discipline.
• PMP, PMI-ACP, SAFe Agilist certifications are considered an asset.
• 7+ years of experience in software delivery lifecycle governance, release management, or operational readiness
• Proven track record operating in complex, regulated environments (e.g., financial services, payments)
• Experience implementing or supporting enterprise delivery frameworks, gating models, or quality control practicesDemonstrated ability to work across Product, Engineering, and Operations within a matrixed organization
• Strong understanding of end-to-end SDLC, including requirements, build, testing, release, and operational acceptance
• Expertise in change risk management, including early risk identification, classification, and mitigation
• Experience defining and applying operational readiness standards (e.g., monitoring, resiliency, incident readiness)
• Ability to design and implement evidence-based controls, gating criteria, and traceability practices
• Skilled in establishing enterprise standards and improving consistency across diverse delivery models

What We’re Offering:

The hiring range for this position is $125,000.00 - $145,000.00, and you will also be eligible for our short-term incentive plan. The exact amount will depend on factors such as skills, experience, and job-related knowledge, but Interac’s commitment goes beyond compensation. Our Total Rewards package is designed to support your well-being and future, and includes:

• Generous vacation and wellness days to help you recharge
• Comprehensive employer-paid benefits coverage for peace of mind
• Market-leading employer-funded RRSP program to invest in your future
• Flexible hybrid work model for better work-life balance
• Access to a free and confidential 24/7 employee & family assistance program to offer support for you and your immediate family
• Pregnancy and parental leave top-up to support growing families
• Charitable donation matching with United Way to amplify your impact

Why Join Us?

At Interac, the impact we make, and the people who drive it, is profound. When you become part of our team, you’re joining a purpose-driven organization that’s shaping the future of digital finance in Canada. Here’s what you can expect:

• Investing in the Future - Help us unlock digital prosperity for all Canadians.

• Innovative Thinking - Collaborate on products, practices, and platforms that redefine what’s possible.

• Inclusive Culture - Be empowered to bring your whole self to work and realize your full potential.

• Inspiring Community - Work in an ecosystem where we lift each other up and rise together.

• Intentional Support - Enjoy flexible, supportive offerings that prioritize your total wellness.

Additional Pre-Employment Requirements:

To ensure the integrity of our organization, successful candidates will be required to complete background checks, which may include, Canadian Criminal Credit Check, Canadian ID Cross-Check, Public Safety Verification, 5-year Employment Verification, Education Verification, Credit Check, and Social Media Check.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Interac is also an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We believe that innovation thrives when people from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives come together. That’s why we are committed to providing fair and equitable employment opportunities for all individuals, without discrimination based on race, color, ancestry, ethnic origin, place of origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital or family status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Please be aware that certain individuals are misusing Interac Corp.’s name and logo to promote fictitious employment opportunities. Interac Corp. never requests, solicits, or accepts any form of payment in exchange for employment. Any such offers are fraudulent and should be disregarded. Interac Corp. assumes no liability for any claims, losses, damages, expenses, or inconveniences arising from or related to these fraudulent activities. Such communications do not constitute an offer or representation by Interac Corp. or its subsidiaries and affiliates.