Lead, Digital Strategy & Execution

* This role offers a hybrid work model and can be based out of our Toronto office.

At RONA, our employees let their passion blossom every day. Our teams are driven by the desire to help people bring their projects to life and are committed to making a difference in the communities we serve.

We operate or service corporate and affiliated dealer stores. With a distinctive product and service offering and complementary store formats ranging from neighbourhood hardware stores to big box stores, our RONA+, RONA and Dick’s Lumber banners are well equipped to help meet the needs of all DIYers and contractors.

You’ve got the talent? We’ve got the tools! Here, your work and ideas will contribute to building a flourishing organization. Your voice will always be heard and valued. You’ll find career opportunities that live up to your ambitions and be able to further develop your unique set of skills.

So, if you’re looking to do what you love, we could be a perfect match.

Reporting to the Divisional Vice President, Digital, the Lead, Digital Strategy & Execution acts as the business lead for the digital transformation program and as a key point of convergence across the teams contributing to its delivery.

This role is responsible for orchestrating the transformation from a Digital business perspective, maintaining an integrated view of priorities, decisions, dependencies, risks, investments and expected outcomes, and ensuring that program commitments progress in line with the agreed scope, timelines and budget.

The Lead works closely with leaders across Digital, Digital Product, Technology, PMO, Marketing, Merchandising, Supply Chain, Finance and Operations to accelerate decision-making and resolve issues that could impact the successful delivery of the transformation.

The role combines strategic thinking with strong proximity to execution and acts as an orchestrator of the transformation, ensuring that the different components of the program converge toward established business objectives.

Key Responsibilities :

Digital Transformation | 40%

• Act as the business lead for the digital transformation program and maintain an integrated view of all workstreams under Digital's responsibility.

• Ensure, in collaboration with the PMO and workstream leads, that key commitments are delivered within the agreed scope, timelines and budget.

• Maintain a consolidated view of transformation deliverables, dependencies, risks, issues and decisions.

• In collaboration with the Product team, quickly identify gaps or issues that could impact program delivery and mobilize the appropriate stakeholders to resolve them.

• Challenge plans and recommendations when they create risks to objectives, timelines, costs or expected outcomes.

• Prepare and facilitate decisions and escalations required from senior leadership.

• Ensure alignment across transformation workstreams and help prevent decisions from being made in silos.

• Work with the appropriate teams to prepare the organization for changes resulting from the transformation.

Digital Strategy and Decision Support | 25%

• Act as a strategic partner to the Divisional Vice President, Digital, in the evolution of the digital strategy and in transformation-related decisions.

• Maintain a holistic view of the digital ecosystem and how it should evolve over the short, medium and long term.

• Translate complex issues into clear options, recommendations and decisions for senior leadership.

• Contribute to the development of executive presentations, strategic recommendations and analyses required for governance forums.

• Assess the financial and operational implications of key transformation decisions.

• In collaboration with the Digital and Product teams, identify opportunities to accelerate value creation, mitigate risks or improve the sequencing of initiatives.

• Connect current transformation investments to the future evolution of Digital capabilities.

Business, Product and Cross-Functional Alignment | 20%

• Represent a consolidated view of Digital business needs and priorities with Digital Product teams and other functions involved in the transformation.

• Ensure that customer, commercial, financial and operational requirements are clearly defined before major design or prioritization decisions are made.

• Facilitate trade-offs across teams when priorities, constraints or objectives are in conflict.

• Challenge recommendations to ensure they address defined business needs and transformation objectives.

• Maintain an integrated understanding of how decisions within one workstream may impact other areas of the Digital ecosystem.

• Accelerate the resolution of issues requiring cross-functional alignment or decision-making.

Business Cases and Value Realization | 15%

• Coordinate, develop and challenge business cases associated with key transformation initiatives.

• Partner with Finance, Analytics and functional owners to quantify investments, expected benefits and key success metrics.

• Ensure that assumptions, costs and benefits associated with major decisions are clearly documented.

• Maintain a consolidated view of the program's expected value and how it evolves as decisions and investments are made.

• Establish, with functional owners, the appropriate tracking mechanisms to compare realized outcomes against expected business case benefits.

• Identify significant gaps and recommend the appropriate actions, trade-offs or decisions.

Success Measures and Performance Evaluation

Performance in this role will primarily be assessed based on the ability to advance the transformation, accelerate decision-making and drive disciplined program execution. While the role contributes to the achievement of business outcomes, accountability for the underlying business KPIs remains with the respective business and functional owners.

Indicative KPIs

• % of milestones delivered on schedule

• Program budget variance

• Number of critical risks and decisions

• Adherence to scope and effectiveness of change control

• Expected value vs. realized value

• Satisfaction and alignment of key stakeholders

Digital sales, conversion rate, profitability and other operational performance indicators remain program outcomes to which this role contributes, but are not the sole accountability of the position.

Qualifications :

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Strategy, Commerce, Digital or a related field.

• 8 to 12 years of experience in transformation, business strategy, e-commerce, consulting, program management or a related field.

• Significant experience working in complex, cross-functional transformation environments.

• Demonstrated experience coordinating programs involving multiple workstreams, dependencies and stakeholders.

• Strong understanding of digital commerce and the commercial, operational and technology capabilities that enable it.

• Experience developing strategies, business cases and recommendations for senior leadership.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with Product, Technology, Finance, Marketing, Merchandising, Supply Chain and Operations teams.

• Experience in retail, e-commerce or an omnichannel environment is considered a strong asset.

Key Competencies :

• Strong strategic thinking and business judgment.

• Strong orchestration and cross-functional leadership capabilities.

• Ability to influence and mobilize stakeholders without direct authority.

• Strong understanding of transformation management, dependencies and risk management.

• Ability to synthesize complex topics and develop clear recommendations.

• Excellent executive communication skills.

• Strong focus on results, value creation and execution.

• Ability to navigate ambiguity and move decisions forward quickly.

• Ability to maintain a broad enterprise perspective while quickly diving into specific issues when required.

• High degree of autonomy, rigor and ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.

By joining the RONA family, you’ll enjoy many benefits, such as:

• A childcare centre that can accommodate up to 78 children

• A cafeteria with a delicious menu prepared by a dedicated chef, healthy options, as well as FARO Roasting Houses and Tim Hortons coffee stations

• Electric car charging stations

• A fitness centre, sports activities, and showers

• Exclusive employee discounts, plus a 10% discount on store merchandise (at all RONA locations)

• Benefits: retirement savings plan, annual bonuses, student incentive program, etc.

• Access to the GreenShield+ telemedicine platform, including virtual consultations with healthcare professionals and pharmacy services

• Career growth opportunities within the company

• An inclusive and safe working environment

• Promotion of work-life balance

• An employer that’s involved in the community

• And much more!

If selected for an interview, please advise our Human Resources team if you require accommodation during the interview and assessment process and we will work with you to meet your accessibility needs.

RONA is committed to encouraging diversity and inclusion. We are pleased to consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of race, colour, religion, sexual orientation, gender, nationality, age, disability, or any other protected status.