Senior Director, Workforce Strategy and Innovation Programs

RBC; Toronto; On-site; CAD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

RBC is seeking a Senior Director to lead Early Talent & Experience for Technology & Operations in Toronto. You will design and drive integrated talent programs that attract, develop, and retain world-class technology talent, translating strategic imperatives into measurable business outcomes.

You will direct a large, multidisciplinary team, collaborate with HR, Recruitment and Communications to strengthen the employer brand, and ensure alignment with RBC’s roadmap and AI initiatives.

Qualifications

• 5+ years proven experience collaborating and advising senior executives while leading and executing strategic projects / programs.
• Proven track record in building and leading diverse teams.
• Experience managing multi-million-dollar portfolios, including funding/budget management.
• Experience in strategy translation—converting enterprise objectives into actionable programs / initiatives.
• Strategic acumen in talent management, organizational design, or innovation ecosystems.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted strategic partner and advisor to T&O executives on talent priorities, organizational transformation, and people-related business outcomes, directly influencing strategic decision-making on early talent investments and learning
• Shape T&O’s enterprise early talent strategy, translating organizational imperatives into integrated programs that drive competitive advantage and support long-term business objectives
• Drive organizational transformation initiatives through early talent strategy, leadership development pathways, and capability-building programs that advance enterprise goals
• Partner strategically with HR, Recruitment, and Corporate Communications leadership to establish differentiated employer brand positioning and value proposition that attracts and retains competitive technical talent in high-demand markets; strengthen the brand in the market through university partnerships, industry engagement and early talent community presence.
• Foster cross-functional partnerships with enterprise stakeholders to ensure talent strategy coherence across T&O and RBC, amplifying program impact and organizational reach

Skills

Action-Oriented

Business Strategies

Innovation

Innovation Program

Program Delivery Management

Relationship Management

Stakeholder Engagement

Stakeholder Management

Strategy Development

Job description

Job Description

WHAT IS THE OPPORTUNITY?

As Senior Director, Early Talent & Experience for Technology & Operations, you will lead the strategic design and execution of integrated Talent and Experience programs that establish RBC T&O as a competitive leader in attracting, developing, and retaining world-class technology talent. This role combines strategic talent planning with operational program delivery excellence, requiring you to translate T&O’s talent imperatives into measurable business outcomes and organizational capability. You will lead and develop a substantial multidisciplinary team providing strategic vision, mentorship, and accountability structures that drive organizational excellence and career advancement. You will execute programs across early talent acquisition, technical capability development, retention, and organizational culture - all strategically aligned to T&O’s roadmap and Talent Strategy while serving as a key strategic advisor to senior leadership on talent priorities and organizational transformation.

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

Strategic Leadership & Advisory

• Serve as a trusted strategic partner and advisor to T&O executives on talent priorities, organizational transformation, and people-related business outcomes, directly influencing strategic decision-making on early talent investments and learning
• Shape T&O’s enterprise early talent strategy, translating organizational imperatives into integrated programs that drive competitive advantage and support long-term business objectives
• Drive organizational transformation initiatives through early talent strategy, , leadership development pathways, and capability-building programs that advance enterprise goals
• Partner strategically with HR, Recruitment, and Corporate Communications leadership to establish differentiated employer brand positioning and value proposition that attracts and retains competitive technical talent in high-demand markets; strengthen the brand in the market through university partnerships, industry engagement and early talent community presence.
• Foster cross-functional partnerships with enterprise stakeholders to ensure talent strategy coherence across T&O and RBC, amplifying program impact and organizational reach

Talent & Experience Program Strategy

• Shape and execute a comprehensive, enterprise-wide early talent and experience strategy that position Tech@RBC as a premier destination for world-class technology talent, directly supporting organizational capability and competitive advantage
• Direct strategic talent and experience program portfolio aligned to T&O’s and AI Group’s technology roadmap and critical capability requirements (AI/ML, cloud, data engineering, cybersecurity).
• Design and oversee T&O’s early talent pipeline strategy, including co-op and New Grad programs with measurable business outcomes tied to talent conversion, retention, and organizational capability development
• Drive enterprise-level workforce planning and capability forecasting that informs long-term talent strategy and organizational transformation initiatives

Employee Experience, Engagement & Retention

• Design strategic employee experience programs that differentiate RBC T&O and AI Group as an employer of choice, embedding career acceleration, innovation culture, and continuous growth opportunity into organizational programs
• Direct the development and execution of enterprise-scale employee recognition programs that reinforce organizational culture, drive engagement, and strengthen retention of high-performing talent
• Build and deploy strategic initiatives that enhance employee experience, strengthen organizational culture, and position RBC T&O and AI Group as a destination employer for technology talent

Analytics & Business Impact

• Establish advanced talent analytics and workforce intelligence capabilities delivering predictive insights on early talent attraction, retention, capability development, and experience, informing strategic decision-making across the enterprise
• Implement metrics-driven governance around critical talent KPIs with real-time insights and executive reporting that demonstrates program performance, business impact, and return on investment
• Drive continuous optimization of talent programs through advanced analytics, data-driven insights, and strategic experimentation, translating findings into enterprise-wide capability enhancements

Large-Scale Team Leadership

• Lead and develop a substantial multidisciplinary team establishing clear strategic vision, accountability structures, and performance expectations
• Build high-performance organizational culture characterized by strategic orientation, operational excellence, and measurable accountability, fostering an environment that attracts and develops emerging leaders
• Provide strategic mentorship and leadership development to team members, identifying and cultivating emerging talent leaders and building organizational bench strength for future enterprise leadership

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO SUCCEED?

Must-have

• 5+ years proven experience collaborating and advising senior executives while leading and executing strategic projects / programs, including matrix/dotted-line reporting structures
• Proven track record in building and leading diverse teams
• Experience managing multi-million-dollar portfolios, including funding/budget management
• Experience in strategy translation—converting enterprise objectives into actionable programs / initiatives
• Strategic acumen in talent management, organizational design, or innovation ecosystems

Nice to have

• Experience leading innovation centers, labs, or hub-based organizational models through different maturity phases
• Deep knowledge of Canadian tech ecosystem and academic partnerships
• Background in fintech, technology, or transformation-focused environments
• Track record of building employer brand and driving organizational culture change
• Experience serving as a culture carrier and embedding organizational values across distributed teams

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?

• A comprehensive Total Rewards Program including bonuses and flexible benefits, competitive compensation, commissions, and stock where applicable
• Leaders who support your development through coaching and managing opportunities
• Ability to make a difference and lasting impact
• Work in a dynamic, collaborative, progressive, and high-performing team
• A world-class training program in financial services
• Flexible work/life balance options
• Opportunities to do challenging work

Job Skills

Action-Oriented, Business Strategies, Innovation, Innovation Program, Program Delivery Management, Relationship Management, Stakeholder Buy-In, Stakeholder Engagement, Stakeholder Management, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Strategy Development

Additional Job Details

Address: RBC WATERPARK PLACE, 88 QUEENS QUAY W:TORONTO

City: Toronto

Country: Canada

Work hours/week: 37.5

Employment Type: Full time

Platform: TECHNOLOGY AND OPERATIONS

Job Type: Regular

Pay Type: Salaried

Posted Date: 2026-06-29

Application Deadline: 2026-08-21

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the application deadline date above

Our Employment Opportunities

At RBC, we are guided by living shared values of Client First, Integrity, Collaboration, Respect and Excellence and winning together as One RBC. We believe an inclusive workplace that has diverse perspectives is core to our continued growth as one of the largest and most successful banks in the world. Maintaining a workplace where our employees feel supported to perform at their best, effectively collaborate, drive innovation, and grow professionally helps to bring our Purpose to life and create value for our clients and communities. RBC strives to deliver this through policies and programs intended to foster a workplace based on respect, belonging and opportunity for all.