Program Manager AI Activation

Canadian Tire; Toronto; On-site; CAD 79,000 - 131,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Performance incentives

Product discounts

Continuing education programs

Mental health benefits of $5,000/year

Job summary

Canadian Tire in Toronto is seeking a Program Manager for AI Activation, responsible for the end-to-end orchestration of AI initiatives across the portfolio. You will lead and supervise Project Managers, ensuring consistent delivery and governance across all programs.

The ideal candidate should have proven experience in managing multiple projects, strong financial governance skills, and the ability to engage with senior stakeholders effectively. The position includes a competitive salary range and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading programs with multiple projects.
• Strong background in portfolio management and financial governance.
• Ability to lead Project Managers directly including performance management.

Responsibilities

• Own the AI Activation program portfolio, structuring work precisely.
• Ensure consistent program design and mitigate delivery risks.
• Act as primary interface with senior stakeholders across teams.

Skills

Program management

Financial governance

Cross-functional leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Tools

Planview

SharePoint

Job description

Reporting into AVP, AI Activation, the Program Manager, AI Activation is accountable for the end-to-end program orchestration of AI initiatives across the AI Activation portfolio. This role leads and supervises all Project Managers within AI Activation, ensuring consistent delivery, governance, financial rigor, and executive visibility across all AI programs and projects.

Program & Portfolio Leadership

• Own the AI Activation program portfolio, structuring work from Big Rock → Program → Project level.
• Ensure consistent program design, dependency management, and sequencing across all AI initiatives.
• Serve as the single point of accountability for program-level planning, delivery status, and risk management.

PM Supervision & Delivery Excellence

• Directly lead, coach, and supervise all AI Activation PMs.
• Set clear delivery standards across planning, milestones, RAID management, and status reporting.
• Intervene proactively when delivery is off-track, unblocking PMs and escalating where required.

Governance, Financials & CBA Ownership

• Own program-level governance, including CBAs, forecasting, financial tracking, and executive readiness.
• Partner with Finance, PMO, and leadership to ensure funding, benefits realization, and financial transparency.
• Ensure all AI initiatives meet enterprise governance and audit expectations.

Tools, Standards & Artifacts

• Own and standardize Planview/portfolio tooling for AI Activation.
• Define and enforce program and project structures, documentation standards, and SharePoint/artifact organization.
• Ensure AI Activation artifacts are centralized, discoverable, and governance-compliant.

Executive & Cross-Functional Engagement

• Act as the primary program interface with senior stakeholders across IT, Finance, Data, and Business teams.
• Prepare executive-ready updates, escalations, and decision framing.
• Ensure PM-level communication is elevated to program-level narratives suitable for leadership forums.

What You Bring

• Proven experience leading programs of multiple projects, not just individual initiatives.
• Strong background in portfolio management, financial governance, and delivery rigor.
• Comfortable operating between strategy and execution.
• Able to lead PMs directly, including performance management and coaching.
• Experience delivering complex, cross-functional technology or AI programs.

Broadband Salary Range: $79,000.00 – $131,000.00. Comprehensive benefits and retirement programs, performance incentives, continuing education programs, mental health benefits of $5,000/year, career growth opportunities, and product discounts.