Program Manager

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. This role offers a unique opportunity to lead a program of strategic, cross-functional projects from inception to implementation, delivering a holistic client experience while leveraging new and existing technologies, with a reimagined operational support model. You’ll play a primary role in integrated planning and delivery with cross business function and vendor resources, influencing both direct teams and broader business stakeholders. 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**: Program Manager
**Reports To**: AVP, Individual Portfolio and Operational Enablement
**Department**: Impact
**Term**: Temporary Full-Time, Twenty-Four (24) Months
**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**:

- Overall Program Management of a strategic program of projects, including primary accountability of project managing project(s) within the program.
- Plan and coordinate the integrated delivery of client experience and operational enablement solutions, with supporting business architecture and process design
- Managing the integration of a vendor delivered technology solution into an existing business systems architecture
- Manage day-to-day relationships with key stakeholders ranging from project managers to executives.
- Co-ordinates internal review by functional areas.
- Co-ordinate and secure alignment with cross-functional teams to plan and implement initiatives consistent with business needs and expectations.
- Plans and directs schedules; co-ordinates project from initiation through implementation with a sense of ownership and urgency.
- Tracks and drives the resolution of issues in a complex environment.
- Manages budget of program and project initiatives
- Manage plan and budget for respective teams
- Works in close partnership with management to interpret strategic intent and develop comprehensive plans that fulfill or surpass defined objectives
- Build strong working relationships with project decision makers, managers, and cross functional team members.
- Communicates effectively across multiple stakeholders to ensure clarity, alignment and momentum regarding (but not limited to) - program or project updates, requirements, deliverables and financial expense management strategy and results.

**What you will bring**:

- Deep experience leading a program, or portfolio of interconnected initiatives across the organization.
- Demonstrated experience delivering the integration of new technologies within an existing infrastructure
- Exceptional vendor management skills with a strong track record of developing and managing integrated project and program plans.
- Proven track record of delivering projects resulting in a redefined business architecture with core reengineering of business processes
- Strong financial acumen for budgeting, forecasting and expense management
- Relevant technology platform based expertise, and a passion for working with new initiatives.
- Project coordination experience, including ability to influence and activity leadership - can demonstrate a proactive and insightful approach to spur collaboration.
- An understanding of cost/benefit analysis.
- A creative problem solver with business acumen - well developed analytical skills capable of understanding business objectives and delivering solutions to achieve desired outcomes.
- Excellent relationship skills and ability to work effectively with people at all levels across the organization including executive leadership and external service providers and partners.
- A strong sense of urgency, and well-organized - a hands-on ability to juggle multiple high priority projects.
- Ability to move projects along incrementally and consistently with patience and assertiveness grounded in high emotional intelligence.
- Strong strategic thi