Senior Manager, Project Management

OCS; Toronto; On-site; CAD 125,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Ontario Cannabis Store seeks a Senior Manager, Project Management to lead the project management function within the Transformation Office. You will coach Project Managers, govern cross-functional initiatives, and raise delivery standards across scope, budgets, and timelines.

You will partner with Program Managers, sponsors, and vendors to ensure disciplined delivery and continuous improvement, while guiding executive reporting and strategic alignment.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in Business Administration, Engineering, Project Management, or related field.
• Formal project management training and/or a recognized certification (PMP, CSM, PMI-ACP).
• 7+ years of project management experience, including at least 3 years leading projects and teams.
• Experience delivering complex, cross-functional initiatives in regulated environments (retail, banking, telecom, healthcare, public sector).
• Experience in a matrixed delivery environment coordinating resources and priorities across multiple teams.
• Proven ability to manage multiple workstreams involving technology, process transformation, and data reporting.
• Strong knowledge of governance frameworks and delivery methodologies.
• Excellent communication and ability to present to executives; influence stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of Project Managers, ensuring successful delivery of strategic initiatives.
• Partner with Program Managers to resource projects and oversee portfolio delivery.
• Establish and improve project management frameworks, standards, tools, and delivery practices.
• Drive enterprise project management standards and governance across business and technology teams.
• Build relationships with business leaders, technology partners, vendors, and sponsors.
• Ensure projects are scoped, planned, governed, and resourced with clear benefits and timelines.
• Oversee execution with proactive risk management and milestone achievement.
• Maintain disciplined governance with status reporting, RAID, escalations, and decisions.
• Lead executive and Steering Committee reporting on progress, risks, and financials.
• Oversee project financial management including budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis.
• Coordinate delivery across teams, including deployment readiness and change management.
• Manage vendor performance, contractual deliverables, and change control processes.
• Ensure project closure with sponsor sign-off, lessons learned, and benefits realization.
• Coach and mentor Project Managers to build organizational PM capability.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Governance

Risk management

Executive communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Change management

Vendor and sponsor relations

Education

Business/Engineering/PM degree

Tools

JIRA

Confluence

PM platforms

Job description

About Us

The Ontario Cannabis Store provides safe, responsible access to recreational cannabis for adults 19 and older. We operate the sole legal online store for recreational cannabis in Ontario and are the provincial wholesaler of cannabis for private retail stores.

Working at the OCS is a unique opportunity to be part of an agile start-up in a ground-breaking new industry. We’re a diverse team passionate about delivering a great customer experience, working together with mutual respect and building value out of our differences. We’re an inclusive organization that understands that delivering great results comes out of ensuring every voice is heard.

About the Role

We’re currently looking for a Senior Manager, Project Management to join our Strategic Planning & Transformation Team team.

The Senior Manager, Project Management leads the project management function within the Transformation Office, providing people leadership to Project Managers and oversight of complex, cross-functional initiatives. The role is responsible for strengthening project delivery standards, governance, tools, and reporting practices to support consistent execution across the organization. Working closely with Program Managers, sponsors, business teams, technology partners, and vendors, the Senior Manager ensures projects are planned, resourced, monitored, and delivered in alignment with approved scope, timelines, budgets, and organizational priorities. The role also coaches and develops project management talent while promoting disciplined delivery, risk management, and continuous improvement.

About Your Day

• Lead and develop a team of Project Managers, ensuring the successful delivery of strategic initiatives across the organization.
• Partner with Program Managers to resource projects effectively and oversee delivery across project portfolios.
• Establish, maintain, and continuously improve project management frameworks, standards, tools, and delivery practices.
• Drive consistent adoption of enterprise project management standards and governance across business and technology teams.
• Build strong relationships with business leaders, technology partners, vendors, and project sponsors to support successful delivery outcomes.
• Ensure projects are appropriately scoped, planned, governed, and resourced, with clear objectives, benefits, timelines, and success measures.
• Provide oversight of project execution, ensuring effective coordination across workstreams, proactive risk management, and achievement of key milestones.
• Ensure disciplined project governance, including status reporting, RAID management, executive escalations, and decision tracking.
• Lead executive and Steering Committee reporting, providing clear visibility into project progress, risks, issues, financial performance, and required decisions.
• Oversee project financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and resource planning.
• Ensure effective delivery coordination across business and technology teams, including deployment readiness, change management, and post-implementation stabilization.
• Manage vendor performance, contractual deliverables, and change control processes to support successful project outcomes.
• Ensure successful project closure, including sponsor sign-off, lessons learned, benefits realization, and continuous improvement activities.
• Coach and mentor Project Managers, building organizational project management capability and supporting career development.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement, while facilitating constructive resolution of project challenges and competing priorities.

About You

• Post-secondary education in Business Administration, Engineering, Project Management, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Formal project management training and/or a recognized certification (e.g., PMP, CSM, PMI-ACP).
• 7+ years of project management experience, including at least 3 years leading projects and project teams.
• Experience delivering complex, cross-functional initiatives in retail or other large, regulated environments such as banking, telecommunications, healthcare, or the public sector.
• Experience working in a matrixed delivery environment, coordinating resources, priorities, and decision-making across multiple teams and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated success delivering projects involving multiple workstreams, including technology, process transformation, organizational change, and data/reporting.
• Strong knowledge of project, program, and portfolio management practices, governance frameworks, and delivery methodologies.
• Proven ability to build relationships, influence stakeholders, and lead cross-functional teams across business and technology functions.
• Experience managing project financials, including budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and financial reporting.
• Exceptional communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to prepare executive-level presentations, lead discussions, manage competing priorities, and support decision-making.
• Proficiency with project management and collaboration tools, including JIRA, Confluence, and project reporting or portfolio management platforms.
• Consulting or professional services experience, and experience leading initiatives spanning technology, process, organizational change, and data workstreams, are considered assets.

About the Job

• Location: Toronto, ON near York Mills and Yonge Street
• Hours of Work: 36.25 a week
• Employment Type: Permanent, Full-Time
• Required Travel: Rare, usually within the GTA

Compensation

The target hiring range for this position is $125,000 - $140,000. This is a pay grade 8 role.Placement in the salary range will be based on factors such as market conditions, internal equity, and candidate experience, skills, and qualifications relevant to the role.

We are committed to providing an accessible, equitable and inclusive candidate and employee experience. We provide reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process and in employment. If you require an accommodation, please let us know, we will work with you to meet your needs.