Lead Project Manager, Program

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, our focus is on making a meaningful impact in the lives of Canadians by putting clients at the heart of everything we do. We lead with empathy, act with intention, stay curious, and support one another every step of the way. If you're looking for purpose‑driven work in a collaborative and inclusive environment where your voice is heard and your growth is encouraged, we'd love to connect. Join one of the Waterloo Area’s Top Employers for 2025 and Southwestern Ontario’s Top Employers for 2024 and be part of something that matters. Position Title Lead Project Manager, Program Reports To Simplification Program Vice President Department Corporate Services Term Temporary Full‑Time, (18) Eighteen Month Contract 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 will be doing Leads and facilitates program/project planning and estimation of programs and large project initiatives; Leads cross‑functional teams in planning and implementation of mission critical business initiatives; Manages interdependencies between all value streams and prioritizes initiatives based on business drivers and outcomes; Identifies risks and builds mitigation plans at program level; Builds and monitors change management and adoption plans in collaboration with business owners; Tracks milestones and deliverables and provides management metrics and reporting; Identifies and leads resolution of risks and issues related to program/project milestones/goals, including escalation to management as required; Conducts program/project phase reviews and obtains all necessary sign offs; Monitors strategic business outcomes in collaboration with sponsors and business owners; Provides informal consulting and training of program/project management methodologies to other staff members to ensure participation and awareness; Manages knowledge transfer from project team to support teams and ensures solutions are stable and supportable; Works closely with management to understand expectations and develop program/project strategy and plans to meet or exceed those expectations; Builds strong working relationships with decision makers, functional managers and cross‑functional team members; Maintains relationships with external partners and technology suppliers; Routinely provides stakeholders with status updates on issues and project direction; Frequently translates complex, technical details into simple‑to‑understand business terms and concepts; Demonstrates strong written, diagrammatic and presentation communication skills; Facilitates communications with team members and stakeholders across functional areas; Provides superior client experience; Oversees management of program/project budgets; Oversees or participates in a tendering process, including the analysis of final options; Manages financials at program level and reports cost burn and variances; Exercises strong judgment in discerning between priority and non‑priority issues; Makes decisions independently using logical assumptions and factual information; Makes prioritization decisions on high‑impact / high priority issues on behalf of other team members; Influences direction for program/project teams; Provides indirect mentoring of team on program/project processes; Assists team through changes; Contributes to the creation of and/or adherence to standard policies and procedures, including the Delivery Framework, Change & Release Management, Incident & Problem Management, Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Planning. What you will bring Project Management Professional (or PRINCE 2 certification); Post‑secondary technical or business diploma and/or equivalent working experience; Minimum of 10 years of experience in program/project management; Teamwork and cooperation; Customer insight; Ability to work with ambiguity; Change leadership; Ability to resolve a situation of conflict; Patience when dealing with difficult individuals; Strategic influencing and innovation; Attention to detail; Communication with people from a variety of professional backgrounds; Agile mindset. What’s in it for you A workplace where care, passion, and curiosity aren’t just values, they’re how we work, grow, and succeed together every day; A healthy work‑life balance with employee wellness top of mind; We value open, honest communication between team members, challenging each other to continually improve; Employee resource groups that support an inclusive work environment; An onsite, full‑service cafeteria with a variety of daily options; Regular EQ Together events focused on company togetherness and collaboration. As part of the recruitment process, candidates may be asked to complete an assessment and will be required to undergo background screening, in accordance with company policy. At Equitable, 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. Your base pay will be based on your skills, qualifications, experience, and education. This position is available due to an existing vacancy. #J-18808-Ljbffr