Director, Strategic Program Management

At Equitable, we believe work should be a place where you feel supported, inspired, and empowered to grow. In our caring and collaborative environment, your curiosity is encouraged, your passion is recognized, and your contributions truly matter. Together, we create meaningful impact, for our clients, our communities, and each other.

The Opportunity: ​ At Equitable, we believe great things happen when we work together. We’re a Canadian mutual company driven by purpose - putting people first and helping Canadians protect today and prepare for tomorrow. If you’re passionate about making a difference and growing your career in an inclusive and collaborative environment, we’d love to hear from you.

Our culture is built on care, passion and curiosity. We put people above all else, strive to be our best and welcome new ideas to deliver positive outcomes.

As the Director, Strategic Program Management, you will play a key role in shaping and delivering a portfolio of strategic initiatives within Individual Insurance. From the earliest stages of program development, you will help define strategic direction, oversee the successful execution of interconnected projects, and ensure initiatives achieve intended business outcomes. In addition to leading a team of project professionals, you will be responsible for program budgeting and expense management, partnering with leaders across the organization to develop annual financial plans, monitor results, and drive accountability. This is an exciting opportunity to influence enterprise-wide initiatives, collaborate with senior leaders and external partners, and help transform strategic priorities into measurable results.

Join one of the region’s top employers and be part of something that truly makes a difference.

Work Arrangements: This is a hybrid role. You will work in our office in Waterloo, ON a minimum of two (2) assigned, consecutive days every other week, plus a fifth (5th) assigned day per month. You are welcome to work from the office more than the minimum requirement and there may be some roles that are required to work in our office more than the minimum requirement.

What you’ll do:

• Lead a team of Project Managers and Business Analysts to deliver business outcomes in support of strategic objectives and ensure excellence in program and project execution.
• Manage a portfolio of integrated projects within a strategic program, ensuring successful delivery to desired quality, on time and within budget.
• Partner with business and technical leaders, and all project stakeholders to plan delivery to strategic direction, manage priorities and implementation plans for all program initiatives.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams across business units, corporate functions, external vendors, and third-party contractors to drive project success.
• Develop and maintain real-time reporting, program and project plans, schedules, and progress updates for strategic initiatives to Executive teams, project leaders and all project stakeholders.
• Lead vendor assessment processes, including RFP evaluations, recommendations, and the development of statements of work.
• Track program risks, issues, and dependencies, driving timely resolution and maintaining momentum across multiple initiatives.
• Oversee program budgeting, forecasting, and expense management, including developing annual plans and monitoring financial performance throughout the year.

What you’ll bring:

• Deep experience leading large-scale programs or portfolios of interconnected initiatives across an organization.
• Proven ability to manage complex projects while balancing multiple high-priority initiatives in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience working with technology-based platforms and a passion for driving innovation and new initiatives.
• Extensive experience in leading, coaching and developing teams of Project Managers and Business Analysts
• Exceptional relationship-building and communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels, including executive leadership, external vendors, and business partners.
• Strong strategic thinking skills with the ability to translate long-term objectives into actionable plans and measurable outcomes.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities, including the capacity to evaluate legal documents, RFP responses, and complex business challenges.
• Strong financial acumen, including expertise in budgeting, forecasting, expense management, and cost-benefit analysis.
• High emotional intelligence, a strong sense of urgency, and the ability to move projects forward through collaboration, patience, and assertive leadership.
  
  

What’s in it for you:

• Career Growth: Regular learning sessions and development opportunities 
• Total Rewards: Incentive pay, annual salary reviews, employer-paid benefits and pension matching 
• Time Away: Competitive vacation plus one paid volunteer day each year
• Flexibility: Healthy work-life balance with employee wellness always top of mind, complemented by a “dress for your day” approach
  
  

We’re committed to fair pay and an inclusive, accessible hiring experience. If you need accommodations or alternative formats at any stage, just reach out to us at careers@equitable.ca. We’re happy to help.

If you’re selected to move forward, our Talent Acquisition team will walk you through all the details of our total rewards program, so you know exactly what’s included. This position is open and we are excited to find the right person to join our team. Your base pay will be based on your skills, qualifications, experience and education.

At Equitable, your resume will be reviewed by real people and all hiring decisions are made by our recruiters and hiring managers. AI tools may be used to support administrative and productivity tasks throughout the recruitment process, but we believe that evaluating experience, skills, and talent potential requires meaningful human interaction.

As part of our commitment to maintaining a secure and trusted workplace, candidates selected to move forward in the recruitment process will be required to complete a background screening in accordance with company policy.

Reports To:AVP, Individual Portfolio and Operational Enablement
Department: Individual Insurance
Term: Permanent Full-Time