Senior Manager, Strategic Projects & Business Insights

Scotiabank; Toronto; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Scotiabank in Toronto is seeking a Senior Manager of Strategic Projects & Business Insights to lead cross‑functional initiatives within Global Insurance, turning data into strategic actions and executive‑level recommendations.

You will steer business cases, dashboards, and AI‑assisted analysis, partnering with Data, Technology, and AI teams to deliver measurable benefits while maintaining governance and risk controls.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree is considered an asset.
• Minimum 7 years of experience managing complex strategy, transformation, or tech initiatives.
• Experience in financial services, insurance, or regulated industries is strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to translate data into actionable business insights and executive recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic initiatives from scoping through implementation and benefits realization.
• Develop project plans with objectives, deliverables, milestones, budgets, and success measures.
• Monitor scope, schedule, costs, risks, quality, and outcomes with stakeholder alignment.
• Escalate issues and provide practical recommendations to support decision-making.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Project management

Data analysis

AI literacy

Power BI

Excel

Education

Graduate degree (asset)

7+ years in strategy/transformation

Tools

Power BI

Excel

AI tools

Job description

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Title: Senior Manager, Strategic Projects & Business Insights

Requisition ID: 274363

Join a purpose driven winning team, committed to results, in an inclusive and high-performing culture.

Purpose

The Senior Manager, Strategic Projects & Business Insights plays a critical role within Global Insurance. Reporting to the Director, Strategic Support and Business Initiatives, this position is responsible for leading complex, cross-functional strategic initiatives while leveraging business insights and data to support strategy development, execution, and executive decision-making. This role combines strong project management discipline with business acumen, analytical capabilities, data literacy, and practical knowledge of artificial intelligence (AI). The successful candidate will work across Global Insurance, country teams, and business partners to drive initiatives from concept and business case development through implementation and benefits realization.

What You'll Be Doing

Strategic Project Leadership

• Lead strategic initiatives from scoping and planning through implementation, transition, and benefits realization.
• Develop project plans with clear objectives, deliverables, milestones, timelines, budgets, dependencies, and success measures.
• Monitor scope, schedule, costs, risks, quality, and outcomes while ensuring effective stakeholder engagement and alignment.
• Escalate critical issues and provide practical recommendations to support decision-making and successful delivery.

Business Analysis & Insights

• Analyze business, financial, customer, and operational data to identify trends, opportunities, risks, and performance drivers.
• Develop business cases, management reporting, dashboards, scenarios, and executive presentations.
• Translate complex information into actionable insights and recommendations that support strategic objectives and business outcomes.
• Support leadership teams with data-driven decision-making and performance monitoring.
• Utilize approved AI-enabled tools to support research, analysis, project execution, documentation, and executive communications.
• Identify opportunities to leverage AI and automation to improve productivity, reporting, processes, and decision-making.
• Partner with Data, Technology, and AI specialists to evaluate and implement innovative solutions where appropriate.
• Promote responsible AI practices, ensuring output quality, accuracy, and compliance with organizational standards.

Collaboration & Stakeholder Management

• Build strong relationships across Global Insurance, country teams, Finance, Technology, Operations, Risk, Compliance, Legal, Retail Banking, Wealth Management, and external partners.
• Facilitate governance meetings, workshops, planning sessions, and executive discussions.
• Communicate project updates, business insights, recommendations, and priorities clearly and effectively.
• Influence and align stakeholders across multiple functions and geographies.
• Ensure all activities are conducted in accordance with Scotiabank's risk management framework, policies, and regulatory requirements.
• Promote the responsible use of data and AI while maintaining privacy, security, and compliance standards.
• Contribute to a strong risk culture while supporting operational excellence and continuous improvement.

What You Bring

Education & Experience

• Graduate degree is considered an asset.
• Minimum 7 years of experience managing complex business, transformation, technology, or strategic initiatives.
• Experience within financial services, insurance, consulting, or another regulated industry is strongly preferred.
• Proven experience leading projects through planning, governance, execution, implementation, risk management, and benefits realization.

Technical & Business Skills

• Strong business and financial acumen with the ability to assess opportunities, trade-offs, feasibility, and value creation.
• Strong analytical and structured problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to interpret business and financial information and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
• Experience with Excel, Power BI, and other reporting or business intelligence tools is an asset.
• Working knowledge of generative AI and practical business applications, including responsible use and implementation opportunities.
• Ability to translate business needs into requirements and collaborate effectively with Technology, Data, and AI specialists.

Professional Qualifications

• PMP, Agile, Lean, Six Sigma, Prosci, Business Analysis, or related certification is preferred.
• Knowledge of insurance, banking, wealth management, operations, distribution, risk, and regulatory environments is a strong asset.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills with an ability to synthesize complex information into executive-level insights.
• Strong stakeholder management, facilitation, and influencing skills.
• Proven ability to manage ambiguity, competing priorities, and tight deadlines.
• High attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
• Curious, adaptable, and results-oriented mindset.
• Sound judgment and discretion when working with confidential information.

Location(s): Canada : Ontario : Toronto

Scotiabank is a leading bank in the Americas. Guided by our purpose: "for every future", we help our customers, their families and their communities achieve success through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets.

At Scotiabank, we value the unique skills and experiences each individual brings to the Bank, and are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment for everyone.