Senior Programs Manager – IT

Van-Kam Freightways Ltd.; Surrey; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Employer-paid benefits

Company-funded pension contributions

Room for growth through training

Job summary

Van-Kam Freightways Ltd. in Surrey is seeking a Senior Programs Manager – IT to drive business-focused technology initiatives and lead a small development team onsite at our Surrey terminal.

You’ll partner with operations to translate workflows into practical software solutions, oversee APIs and integrations, guide AI governance and security practices, and stay hands-on with development as needed.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years of progressive software or application development experience.
• Experience leading software projects, applications and technical resources.
• Experience coaching or developing technical team members.
• Strong business analysis and problem‑solving skills.
• Experience gathering requirements and turning them into workable solutions.
• Knowledge of application security, recovery planning and business continuity.
• Strong troubleshooting and analytical skills.
• Ability to communicate with both technical and non‑technical people.
• Collaborative, accountable and hands‑on leadership style.
• A degree or diploma in Computer Science, IT, Software Development or related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and support a small development team.
• Maintain and improve operational applications and business systems.
• Work with operations to understand workflows and opportunities.
• Turn business needs into practical technology solutions.
• Stay hands‑on with development, troubleshooting and root‑cause analysis.
• Manage application enhancements, projects and priorities.
• Develop new programs and improve existing ones.
• Support APIs, EDI, databases, integrations and user interfaces.
• Explore practical uses for AI with governance.
• Collaborate with vendors and internal teams on projects.
• Help build the operational technology roadmap and modernization priorities.
• Ensure critical applications are stable, secure, recoverable and well supported.

Skills

People leadership

Software development

Business analysis

Requirements gathering

Application security

Troubleshooting

Communication

Hands-on leadership

Collaborative leadership

Education

Degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Azure

AWS

IBM AS/400

APIs & Integrations

Job description

Build better systems. Solve real problems. Help move the business forward.

We’re looking for a Senior Programs Manager – IT to join our team in Surrey.

This isn’t a “sit back and manage the IT department” kind of role. We’re looking for someone who enjoys getting into the work — understanding how the business operates, solving problems, building better applications and guiding our developer team do great work.

You’ll work closely with our operations teams to understand what they need, turn those needs into practical technology solutions, and help shape where our systems go next.

And because we believe in developing our people, this role has room to grow as you learn the business and take on broader technology leadership.

What You’ll Do

You’ll have a mix of people leadership, development, problem-solving and big-picture planning.

A typical week might include:

• Leading, coaching and supporting a small development team
• Maintaining and improving our operational applications and business systems
• Working directly with operations to understand workflows, pain points and opportunities
• Turning business needs into practical technology solutions
• Staying hands‑on with development, troubleshooting and root‑cause analysis
• Managing application enhancements, projects and competing priorities
• Developing new programs and improving existing ones
• Supporting APIs, EDI, databases, integrations, web/mobile applications and user interfaces
• Exploring practical uses for AI while helping establish appropriate AI governance
• Strengthening coding, testing, security, documentation and change‑management practices
• Working with vendors and internal teams on technology projects
• Helping build our operational technology roadmap and modernization priorities
• Making sure our critical applications are stable, secure, recoverable and well supported

What You Bring

We’re less interested in checking every box and more interested in finding someone with the right combination of technical ability, curiosity and leadership.

Ideally, you bring:

• 5–10 years of progressive software or application development experience
• Experience leading software projects, applications and technical resources
• Experience coaching or developing technical team members
• Strong business analysis and problem‑solving skills
• Experience gathering requirements and turning them into workable solutions
• Knowledge of application security, recovery planning and business continuity
• Strong troubleshooting and analytical skills
• The ability to communicate with both technical and non‑technical people
• A collaborative, accountable and hands‑on leadership style
• A degree or diploma in Computer Science, IT, Software Development or a related field — or equivalent experience

You’ll also need to be comfortable providing occasional after‑hours support when critical systems need attention. This role is based onsite at our Surrey terminal.

Bonus Points

Experience with any of the following would be great, but you don’t need to have it all:

• JavaScript, APIs, EDI, databases, web or mobile development
• AI governance, AI agents or emerging AI development tools
• Azure, AWS or other cloud platforms
• IBM AS/400, IBM i or RPG
• UI development
• Transportation management systems
• Transportation, logistics, distribution or supply chain
• Developer, database, project management or business analysis certifications

Don’t know trucking yet? That’s okay. Curiosity matters. We want someone who wants to understand how the operation actually works — not just the technology behind it.

What Success Looks Like

You’ll know you’re making an impact when our systems are reliable, our users feel supported, our development team knows where it’s going, and technology is making the operation easier — not more complicated.

Most importantly, our operational teams see IT as a practical, responsive and trusted partner.

Why Van Kam?

There’s a reason more than 30% of our employees have been with us for over 10 years.

We’re a BC‑based, family‑owned transportation company that has been moving freight — and connecting communities — since 1947.

Here, you can expect:

• Competitive compensation and time‑off programs
• 100% employer‑paid benefit premiums
• Company‑funded pension contributions
• Room to grow through training, education and expanded responsibilities
• A company that genuinely wants employee ideas and feedback
• Opportunities to give back to the communities where we live and work
• Work that matters — trucking keeps communities and businesses moving

Care. Develop. Achieve.

Those are our values, and they’re pretty simple.

Care about the people you work with and the work you do.
Develop yourself, your team and better ways of doing things.
Achieve results that make a difference.

Our purpose is to unite communities and improve lives.

If you’re a technical problem‑solver, a curious business partner and a leader who still likes getting your hands into the work, we’d love to hear from you

#INDHP