Project Manager / Release Lead

freelance.ca; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company is seeking a Project Manager / Release Lead for a long-term contract in Toronto. This role involves managing project releases within a major Business Transformation Program, leading large cross-functional teams, and ensuring adherence to transformation objectives through expert project management practices.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in project/program management.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience in retail transformations or large-scale enterprise initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain structured project plans with Microsoft Project.
• Manage risks and ensure alignment across teams.
• Deliver regular updates to Program Leadership and Senior Executives.

Skills

Leadership

Project Delivery Management

Risk Management

Problem Solving

Stakeholder Management

Education

Project Management Certification (PMP or PRINCE2)

Tools

Microsoft Project

Job description

Our Client is looking for a Project Manager / Release Lead for a long-term contract engagement.

End : June 2026

Duration : 1 year

Location : Toronto, ON

Work Arrangement : 3 days / week onsite ; 2 days / week remote

Role

The Release Lead will play a key role in orchestrating one of the multiple releases within a large Business Transformation Program. Collaborating closely with a Business Transformation Partner, this role ensures strict adherence to scope and timelines while managing multiple workstreams involving 100+ team members to meet the release objectives.

This position demands strong leadership, meticulous attention to detail , and expert project delivery management skills to ensure successful planning, execution, and deployment of solutions within the release. The ideal candidate is a results-driven individual who excels at managing projects with aggressive timelines while maintaining alignment with business transformation goals and objectives.

Responsibilities

Release Planning & Execution : Develop and maintain a highly structured Microsoft Project plan, ensuring coordination across multiple workstreams while adhering to established program governance standards and delivery procedures.

Scope & Timeline Management : Enforce strict scope control to prevent scope creep, safeguarding budget integrity, resource efficiency, and program timelines.

Deployment & Cutover Strategy : Develop and oversee a comprehensive deployment and cutover strategy, ensuring teams remain on track and proactively addressing risks and dependencies.

Resource Management : Lead cross-functional teams across Business and IT to ensure alignment with transformation objectives.

RAID Management : Define and rigorously track Risks, Assumptions, Issues, and Dependencies (RAID) to ensure seamless delivery.

Executive Reporting & Communication : Deliver regular updates to Program Leadership and Senior Executives, providing clear, concise, data-driven insights on project status and solution readiness.

Change Management & Business Readiness : Drive organizational change and ensure all stakeholders are informed, aligned, and prepared for each release.

Quality Assurance & Compliance : Ensure all releases meet business transformation goals, industry standards, and best practices.

Problem-Solving & Decision-Making : Resolve challenges with strategic problem-solving and decisive action to keep releases on track.

Hybrid Methodology Coordination : Manage the project using a hybrid approach, blending Waterfall and Agile practices for optimal task execution.

Requirements

10+ years of experience in project / program management, ideally within retail transformation or large-scale enterprise initiatives.

Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Project for structured direction and task clarity.

Proven ability to lead teams of 100+ individuals in dynamic, fast-paced environments.

Exceptional communication and executive stakeholder management skills, including regular engagement with Program Leadership and C-suite leadership.

RAID management expertise, with a strong focus on risk mitigation.

Exceptional problem-solving and decision-making skills to address obstacles and maintain release integrity.

Demonstrated experience delivering high-impact releases with aggressive timelines and complex dependencies.

Experience managing retail ERP greenfield implementations, digital transformation initiatives, supply chain warehouse management projects, or POS replacements is a plus.

Familiarity with enterprise retail systems such as SAP, Manhattan, BY Product Suite, Adobe Suite of Products, GK is an asset.

Knowledge of organization change management and technology-driven retail innovation.

Project management and release certifications (PMP or PRINCE2) is a must have.