Strategic Program Lead

Kelly; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Permanent conversion

Job summary

Kelly is seeking a Lead, Strategic Initiatives & Engagement in Toronto for planning, execution, and delivery of high‑profile brand and community impact initiatives. This role blends strategic thinking with hands‑on execution, requiring exceptional stakeholder management and cross‑functional collaboration in a large financial services setting.

The position is hybrid (onsite Tuesday to Thursday) with potential for permanent conversion and occasional evening calls.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic initiatives, engagement programs, and enterprise‑wide campaigns from planning through execution.
• Manage multiple concurrent workstreams while aligning with business priorities.
• Develop governance structures, timelines, budgets, risk management plans, and KPIs.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Program management

Project management

Communication skills

Influence without authority

AI tools familiarity

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Lead, Strategic Initiatives & Engagement

Toronto, ON (Hybrid - Onsite Tuesday to Thursday)

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Occasional evening calls (1-2 times per month) may be required

Potential for Permanent Conversion

About the Opportunity

A leading financial services organization is seeking a Lead, Strategic Initiatives & Engagement to support the planning, execution, and delivery of high-profile brand, community impact, and corporate engagement initiatives.

This is an excellent opportunity for a seasoned professional who can balance strategic thinking with hands‑on execution. While strong project management capabilities are required, this is not a traditional Project Manager role. The successful candidate will lead initiatives from concept to completion, navigate ambiguity, influence stakeholders, and drive meaningful outcomes across multiple teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead strategic initiatives, engagement programs, and enterprise‑wide campaigns from planning through execution.
• Manage multiple concurrent workstreams while ensuring alignment with business priorities.
• Develop project plans, governance structures, timelines, budgets, risk management plans, and success metrics.
• Coordinate stakeholders across business functions, leadership teams, external partners, agencies, and vendors.
• Support executive engagement activities, presentations, and communications.
• Facilitate workshops, planning sessions, governance reviews, and decision‑making forums.
• Track milestones, budgets, risks, and dependencies.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational effectiveness and program delivery.
• Contribute both strategically and operationally to ensure successful execution of key initiatives.

Example Initiatives

• Community partnership and impact programs
• Brand and customer trust initiatives
• Mental health and awareness campaigns
• Enterprise‑wide social impact programs

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Corporate Affairs, Social Impact, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience leading complex strategic initiatives, programs, or enterprise‑wide projects.
• Strong program and project management experience managing multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Advanced stakeholder management experience within large, matrixed organizations.
• Experience developing governance frameworks, strategic plans, budgets, risk management processes, and performance measurements.
• Exceptional communication, relationship‑building, and presentation skills.
• Proven ability to influence stakeholders and drive alignment without formal authority.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will bring a blend of:

• Strategic thinking and hands‑on execution
• Program and initiative leadership experience
• Marketing, communications, campaign management, or brand experience
• Community investment, CSR, corporate affairs, or social impact experience
• Employee engagement program experience
• Executive‑facing presentation and communication skills
• Experience working within large, complex organizations
• Strong problem‑solving and decision‑making abilities
• Adaptability and comfort working in changing and ambiguous environments
• Experience managing multiple high‑priority initiatives simultaneously
• User-level familiarity with AI tools and workplace applications

Nice‑to‑Have Experience

• Financial services, banking, or insurance industry experience
• Experience managing agencies, vendors, PR firms, or creative partners
• Exposure to global stakeholders and cross‑regional collaboration
• Social media and campaign experience
• Experience supporting high‑visibility enterprise initiatives
• Global transformation or change management experience

What Success Looks Like

• Delivery of strategic initiatives on time and within scope
• Strong stakeholder engagement and satisfaction
• Improved execution discipline and operational effectiveness
• Achievement of measurable business, brand, community, and engagement outcomes
• Successful collaboration across multiple teams and stakeholder groups

Why Apply?

Lead highly visible strategic initiatives

Work closely with senior leaders and executive stakeholders

Drive meaningful community, brand, and engagement outcomes

Influence enterprise‑wide programs and priorities

Join a collaborative, fast‑paced, and purpose‑driven environment

Opportunity for contract extension and permanent conversion

• Hybrid work arrangement (3 days onsite).
• Primarily focused on Canadian initiatives with some collaboration across North America and other global regions.
• Minimal travel expected.
• Occasional meetings outside regular business hours may be required.
• Opportunity to independently own key initiatives while contributing to larger team objectives.

Interview Process

Round 2: Final virtual interview (45 minutes)

We're looking for candidates who combine strategy, stakeholder engagement, communications, and execution. If you've successfully led complex initiatives in large organizations and enjoy turning ideas into action, we'd love to hear from you.

Use AI for Hiring: Our recruitment process for this role includes the use of AI-based tools to help evaluate candidate qualifications and screen applications.