Program Manager AI Activation

Toronto, ON
Full time
JR
What you'll do
Reporting into AVP, AI Activation, the Program Manager, AI Activation is accountable for the end‑to‑end program orchestration of AI initiatives across the AI Activation portfolio. This role leads and supervises all Project Managers within AI Activation, ensuring consistent delivery, governance, financial rigor, and executive visibility across all AI programs and projects.
The role operates at the program and portfolio level, translating AI strategy into executable, well‑governed programs that deliver measurable business outcomes.
Program & Portfolio Leadership
Own the AI Activation program portfolio, structuring work from Big Rock → Program → Project level.
Ensure consistent program design, dependency management, and sequencing across all AI initiatives.
Serve as the single point of accountability for program‑level planning, delivery status, and risk management.
PM Supervision & Delivery Excellence
Directly lead, coach, and supervise all AI Activation PMs.
Set clear delivery standards across:
Planning
Milestones
RAID management
Status reporting
Intervene proactively when delivery is off‑track, unblocking PMs and escalating where required.
Governance, Financials & CBA Ownership
Own program‑level governance, including:
CBAs
Forecasting
Financial tracking
Executive readiness
Partner with Finance, PMO, and leadership to ensure funding, benefits realization, and financial transparency.
Ensure all AI initiatives meet enterprise governance and audit expectations.
Tools, Standards & Artifacts
Own and standardize Planview / portfolio tooling for AI Activation.
Define and enforce:
Program and project structures
Documentation standards
SharePoint / artifact organization
Ensure AI Activation artifacts are centralized, discoverable, and governance‑compliant.
Executive & Cross‑Functional Engagement
Act as the primary program interface with senior stakeholders across IT, Finance, Data, and Business teams.
Prepare executive‑ready updates, escalations, and decision framing.
Ensure PM‑level communication is elevated to program‑level narratives suitable for leadership forums.
What you bring
Proven experience leading programs of multiple projects, not just individual initiatives
Strong background in portfolio management, financial governance, and delivery rigor
Comfortable operating between strategy and execution
Able to lead PMs directly, including performance management and coaching
Experience delivering complex, cross‑functional technology or AI programs
We're always looking for great talent! In addition to competitive pay, we offer:
Comprehensive benefits and retirement programs
Performance incentives, Continuing Education Programs
Other perks to support your well-being
Career growth opportunities and product discounts
Broadband Salary Range: $79,000.00 – $131,000.00Salary decisions are also dependent on other factors such as your experience, industry benchmarks, internal equity and other role-specific requirements. For critical roles, the compensation offering will be reviewed to ensure alignment with market rate and conditions and the unique value you bring to the role.
#LI-GT1
This posting represents an existing vacancy within our organization.
We may use artificial intelligence tools as part of our recruitment process to assist in the initial screening of resumes. All hiring decisions, including candidate evaluation, selection, and disposition, are made by human recruiters.
About Us
Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited (“CTC”) is one of Canada's most admired and trusted companies. With more than 90 Owned Brands, over 1,600 retail locations, financial services, exemplary e-commerce capabilities, and exciting market-leading merchandising strategies. We dream big and work as one to innovate with purpose for our customers at every level of our business, investing in new technologies and products, and doubling down on top talent to drive the company forward. We offer competitive salaries and wages to CTC employees, as well as store discounts, supported learning through our Triangle Learning Academy, Canadian Tire Profit Sharing, and retirement and savings programs for eligible employees. As part of our enhanced flex benefits program, we offer mental health benefits in the amount of $5,000 per year for benefits-eligible employees and their families, including total well-being, and mental health tools and resources for all employees. Join us in helping to make life in Canada better through living and working our Core Values: we are innovators and entrepreneurs at our core, outcomes drive us, inclusion is a must, we are stronger together and we take personal responsibility. It is an especially exciting time to join CTC and its family of companies where career opportunities are wide-ranging! Join us, where there's a place for you here.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging
We are committed to fostering an environment where belonging thrives, and diversity, inclusion and equity are infused into everything we do. We believe in building an organizational culture where people are consistently treated with dignity while respecting individual religion, nationality, gender, race, age, perceived ability, spoken language, sexual orientation, and identification. We are united in our purpose of being here to help make life in Canada better.
Accommodations
We stand firm in our Core Value that inclusion is a must. We welcome and encourage candidates from equity-seeking groups such as people who identify as racialized, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIA+, women, people with disabilities, and beyond. Should you require any accommodation in applying for this role, or throughout the interview process, please make them known when contacted and we will work with you to help meet your needs.
We are one of Canada's most admired and trusted companies. With world-class owned brands and exciting market-leading merchandising strategies, we are continually innovating with purpose: to excite and serve Canadian customers from coast-to-coast. We are connected to communities, big and small, from coast-to-coast, offering products and services that reflect the diverse nature of every one of them. From sports to outdoors, automobiles to homes, we know and understand life in Canada like no other retailer can.
We are always on the lookout for curious, creative people who are able to navigate and excel in a rapidly evolving retail environment. If you're ready to take on new challenges – be it in digital, IT, marketing, data & analytics, merchandising, or one of the many other roles we have – there is a place for you here, so apply today.