Program Manager, AI Enablement

Wawanesa Insurance; Brampton; Hybrid; CAD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading Canadian insurance company in Brampton is seeking a Program Manager for Artificial Intelligence Enablement to develop AI governance that benefits the organization and stakeholders. Responsibilities include creating and implementing governance frameworks, managing AI initiatives, and enhancing AI literacy across the company. Ideal candidates have leadership experience, a quantitative background, and strong analytical skills. The position offers a hybrid work environment and competitive salary, acknowledging diverse applications.

Benefits

Annual bonus plan

Generous vacation time

Pension plan

Premium free benefits

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years in leadership roles with experience in AI governance being an asset.
• 3-5 years of experience in data, analytics, or a related field.
• Adept at building consensus and influencing without formal authority.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of an AI Governance framework.
• Implement AI governance through the lifecycle of systems.
• Establish and manage an AI Use Case Management process.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical skills

Communication

Problem-solving

Customer service orientation

Education

Post-secondary degree in a quantitative, technical, or business-related field

Certification in AI Governance

Job description

Job ID: 9708

Employment Type: New Role

Working Business Language: English. This role is a head‑office position and requires communication with internal and external stakeholders across Canada where the primary business language is English. The successful candidate must be fully proficient in English.

Salary: At Wawanesa, salary is one component of a holistic, comprehensive and competitive offering. In addition to salary, full‑time permanent employees are eligible for an annual bonus plan, leave of absence top‑up programs and generous vacation time, personal days, premium free benefits and a pension plan. The salary offered for this role is estimated to be within the range: $140,000 – $180,000. Candidates with salary expectations outside of the range are still encouraged to apply.

About Us

At Wawanesa, we offer a hybrid work environment with flexibility to balance in‑office (2 days per week or 15 hours per week in a Wawanesa office) and remote work. You may work from any of the following locations: Winnipeg, MB; Wawanesa, MB; Vancouver, BC; Calgary, AB; Edmonton, AB; Lethbridge, AB; Toronto (North York), ON; Kitchener, ON; Ottawa, ON; Montreal, QC; Quebec City, QC, Moncton, NB; Dartmouth, NS.

The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company (“Wawanesa Mutual”), founded in 1896, is one of Canada’s largest mutual insurers, with over $3.5 billion in annual revenue and assets of $10 billion (CAD). Wawanesa Mutual, with its National Headquarters in Winnipeg, is the parent company of Wawanesa Life, which provides life insurance products and services throughout Canada, and Western Financial Group, which distributes personal and business insurance across Canada. We serve more than 1.7 million members in Canada, and we are home to more than 3,300 employees distributed across the Canadian regions and communities where we operate. We give back to organizations that strengthen communities, donating more than $3.5 million annually to charitable organizations, including over $2 million annually in support of people on the front lines of climate change. We are also proud to be recognized as one of Manitoba’s Top Employers. To learn more visit wawanesa.com.

We are currently looking for dedicated, driven, and enthusiastic individuals who thrive in an environment that welcomes change and are looking for an opportunity for diverse experience advancement on a growing team.

Job Overview

The Program Manager of Artificial Intelligence Enablement is critical in ensuring that Artificial Intelligence is leveraged at Wawanesa for the benefit of the organization, its members, employees and community, in a responsible manner. By collaborating closely with various stakeholder groups, this role will lead the establishment of fit‑for‑purpose AI governance and ensure that AI systems adhere to the Responsible Use of AI principles throughout their lifecycle. They play a pivotal role in elevating AI literacy levels across the organization and cultivating a culture that emphasizes the use of AI in a responsible way, to enable Wawanesa to adopt AI for its competitive advantage.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead the development and ongoing maintenance of a fit‑for‑purpose AI Governance framework, ensuring alignment with advancements in industry, technology, and regulatory requirements.
• Lead the implementation of the AI Governance framework across the lifecycle of AI systems, ensuring the right decisions are made throughout the lifecycle, ensuring ongoing monitoring of risks and management of incidents related to AI.
• Establish and manage a robust process for AI Use Case Management, fostering an ecosystem for innovation balanced with responsible use of AI.
• Enhance and maintain the AI System Registry.
• Contribute to and influence the creation and implementation of AI strategies.
• Establish KPIs to measure and monitor the value of AI initiatives across the enterprise.
• Actively coordinate and manage the interactions between various stakeholders from business teams, AI Delivery teams, and Enterprise Risk Management.
• Lead the establishment of appropriate AI governance of Third‑Party Vendors, by partnering with key stakeholders.
• Leverage strong understanding of AI technologies and approaches, as well as AI risk mitigation techniques to ensure governance measures of AI systems are effective while also delivering business value.
• Act as the primary point of contact for internal and external stakeholders regarding AI governance matters, including any incidents related to AI systems.
• Manage alignment of AI systems with architectural, data governance, and enterprise requirements and methodologies.
• Support AI‑readiness of data, partnering with teams within the Data & Analytics Office, technology teams and business teams.
• Support management‑level, and the Cyber and AI Risk Oversight Committee meetings performing tasks as required. Act as a conduit to elevate any issues.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years in leadership roles, showcasing a wealth of experience and leadership acumen. Previous hands‑on experience in AI governance is considered an asset.
• Post‑secondary degree, in a quantitative, technical, or business‑related field, complemented by 3‑5 years of experience in data, analytics, or a related field.
• Certification in AI Governance is considered an asset.
• Adept at collaborating and communicating with stakeholders across all hierarchical levels, building consensus, influencing without formal authority, and driving implementation of decisions.
• Strong business acumen with strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Capable of recognizing critical issues and making sound decisions in complex, high‑pressure situations.
• Adept at addressing business challenges through precise identification and compelling business cases.
• Strong interpersonal skills, proficient with verbal and written communication, and able to articulate complex information clearly to audiences of varying technical expertise.
• Go‑getter with an exceptional customer service orientation.
• Previous experience in the insurance and finance industry is considered an asset.

Diversity Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

At Wawanesa, we are committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) and believe that our strength lies in the diversity of our people. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, including racialized persons, women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, gender‑ and neurodiverse individuals, and anyone who can contribute to the further diversification of thought and ideas.

We aim to ensure our recruitment process is accessible to all candidates. If you require accommodations during any stage of the recruitment process, please reach out in confidence to [e-mail].

All Wawanesa job applicants are subject to Wawanesa's Privacy Policy. Please note that the recruitment process for this position may involve the use of AI tools to screen, assess, or select applicants. All final decisions are taken or reviewed by human recruiters and hiring leaders in compliance with all applicable legislation.