Director, Strategy

243 Consumers Road, Toronto, Ontario, M2J 4W8

At Shoppers Drug Mart, we’re innovating health and wellness in Canada. From prescriptions to walk-in clinics, and a beloved loyalty program, we’re caring and supporting our customers in new ways every day.

With more than 1,300 locally owned and operated stores from coast to coast, the Shoppers Drug Mart network is more than a great place to shop, it’s a great place to work. We’re committed to building our talented team who champion collaboration, kindness and inclusivity. Join our team, and help recognize a healthy future for your career and for all Canadians.

Why this role is important?

Reporting to the SVP, Pharmacy, the Director, Strategy & Operations is a strategic partner to the Pharmacy Operations & Transformation leadership team, responsible for driving strategic planning, operational excellence, business transformation, and execution of enterprise and divisional priorities. The Director translates complex business priorities into actionable plans, executive insights, and measurable outcomes. Key accountabilities include coordinating the Multi-Year Plan (MYP), Current Year Plan (CYP), leading cross-functional initiatives, and developing high-quality Board of Directors and executive leadership materials. The role also champions artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and digital solutions to improve productivity, streamline processes, and enhance decision-making. Success requires strong strategic thinking, executive communication, analytical capabilities, and hands‑on execution.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Executive Partnership

• Serve as a trusted advisor to the SVP and leadership team, providing strategic insights, business recommendations, and execution support.
• Lead coordination of MYP, CYP, strategic reviews, and business planning processes.
• Align cross-functional priorities, accountabilities, milestones, and measurable outcomes across Pharmacy and enterprise partners.
• Anticipate business challenges, identify opportunities, and support executive decision‑making.

Board & Executive Communications

• Lead development of Board, Board Committee, Executive Leadership Team, and senior management presentations, briefing materials, and strategic reports.
• Translate complex financial, operational, and strategic information into compelling, concise, data‑driven narratives and actionable recommendations.
• Manage executive reporting processes, coordinating stakeholder inputs, timelines, quality assurance, and final deliverables.
• Anticipate leadership questions and ensure materials demonstrate accuracy, strategic alignment, and executive‑level quality.

Strategic Initiatives & Transformation

• Lead complex, cross‑functional strategic initiatives and transformation programs from planning through implementation and value realization.
• Establish project governance, workplans, milestones, accountabilities, risk mitigation, and performance reporting.
• Facilitate executive steering committees, strategic workshops, and decision‑making forums.
• Drive change management, process redesign, implementation, and benefits realization across Pharmacy, Shoppers Drug Mart, and Loblaw Companies Limited.

AI, Technology & Automation

• Champion responsible adoption of generative AI, automation, and emerging technologies to improve productivity, efficiency, and business performance.
• Identify and implement AI‑enabled solutions for research, analysis, reporting, presentations, workflow management, and executive decision support.
• Partner with IT, Digital, Data & Analytics, and business teams to prioritize and deliver automation and digital transformation opportunities.
• Promote AI literacy, innovation, and continuous improvement while ensuring alignment with enterprise security, privacy, and governance standards.

Operational Excellence & Business Insights

• Identify opportunities to simplify, standardize, and optimize business processes, operating models, and workflows.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives delivering measurable productivity gains, operational efficiencies, and cost savings.
• Develop KPIs, dashboards, business cases, and performance reporting to support strategic decisions and track results.
• Conduct business analysis, scenario planning, and opportunity assessments, translating insights into actionable recommendations.

Leadership, Collaboration & Governance

• Build strong relationships across Pharmacy, Shoppers Drug Mart, Loblaw, and enterprise functions, driving alignment and accountability.
• Influence cross‑functional teams and stakeholders to deliver shared objectives in a matrixed organization.
• Coordinate executive meetings, strategic planning sessions, leadersh