Strategic Initiatives Project Lead

Maple Leaf Foods; Mississauga; On-site; CAD 96,000 - 141,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and Wellness benefits

Defined contribution pension plan

Tuition reimbursement

Volunteer days

Learning and development opportunities

Job summary

Maple Leaf Foods is seeking an experienced Project Lead to drive end-to-end delivery of large cross-functional initiatives. You will partner with senior leaders to define scope, milestones, and success measures, translating priorities into structured plans and robust governance.

Strong communication, risk management and budget oversight are essential for success. The role also supports shorter-term assignments, fostering disciplined project management practices and collaboration across teams,

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder projects.
• Demonstrated experience with operational transformation, manufacturing projects, and/or commercial optimization projects.
• Solid command of project management tools, methodologies, and processes.
• Strong relationship-building and influence skills, with the ability to align diverse teams.
• Exceptional communication skills and confidence interacting with all organizational levels.
• Calm, structured approach to risk management and problem-solving.
• Proven ability to drive accountability, clarify roles, and enable teams to succeed.
• Willingness and ability to travel to sites during planning and deployment.
• PMP certification (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of large, cross-functional strategic projects.
• Partner with senior leaders and functional teams to define scope, objectives, and success measures.
• Translate business priorities into structured project plans with clear milestones, roles, and accountabilities.
• Establish governance structures and ensure adherence throughout the project lifecycle.
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration and alignment.
• Identify risks early, develop mitigation plans, and drive timely issue resolution.
• Manage budgets and project financials in coordination with Finance, resource planning.
• Drive strong communication and engagement across stakeholder groups.
• Provide clear, consistent reporting to stakeholders, inclusive of Executive leadership.
• Stay informed, applying and standardizing industry best practices across projects, encouraging collaboration, and supporting the growth of team capabilities.

Skills

Project leadership

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Budget management

Communication

Change management

Governance

Job description

Maple Leaf Foods is seeking an experienced Project Lead to drive end-to-end delivery of large cross-functional initiatives. You will partner with senior leaders to define scope, milestones, and success measures, translating priorities into structured plans and robust governance.

Strong communication, risk management and budget oversight are essential for success. The role also supports shorter-term assignments, fostering disciplined project management practices and collaboration across teams,