Program Manager

On behalf of our client, Affinity is seeking a seasoned Program Manager with program and project management experience to oversee a variety of AI initiatives to help provide strategic oversight, steward cross-functional alignment, and shape & enable the use of AI across the organization. The candidate will report to the AI Oversight Committee and to the Chief Technology Officer and will lead and partner with the various business and technology leaders to drive, develop and implement AI initiatives aimed at transforming the organization’s productivity and performance from intake & prioritization to delivery & long-term support.

The ideal candidate develops trust-based relationships with a background in managing digital transformation projects and programs that are not well defined, have changing priorities, and involve multiple stakeholders. Adept leadership and communication abilities and the capacity for self-motivation with a strong sense of ownership and accountability will be essential in navigating multiple executive stakeholders in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities:

· Define program objectives, scope, and deliverables in alignment with organizational strategy and goals.

· Establish, manage, and coordinate AI champions to drive awareness, training, and adoption of AI to empower the organization’s talent.

· Lead and manage the planning, execution, and delivery of initiatives to agreed objectives, scope, schedule, quality, resourcing, and budget.

· Identify and manage project and system interdependencies, ensuring connections between projects and systems are understood and considered across relevant projects by the various team members.

· Ensure initiatives and projects delivered properly transition to operational support.

· Monitor progress diligently, leveraging insights to gauge and disseminate project health, project status updates, milestone achievements, and risk assessments to stakeholders at all levels through regular communications and reports.

· Track program metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs), analyzing data to evaluate program effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.

· Navigate potential hurdles posed by stakeholders and unforeseen scope deviations by implementing proactive strategies to safeguard project integrity and operational sustainability.

· Conduct program reviews, lessons learned sessions, and post-implementation assessments to capture insights and best practices.

· Cultivate collaborative relationships with stakeholders, prioritize workload, clarify roles and responsibilities, and quickly escalate resource gaps and issues.

· Manage, coordinate, and foster collaborative partnerships within and outside the organization, including vendors and contractors.

· Manage and track program and project budgets, actuals, forecasts, and business value.

· Uphold compliance, standards, and industry best practices throughout the project lifecycle.

· Champion continuous improvement and highlight opportunities to improve project management methodologies, processes, and toolsets.

· Other duties as required.

Qualifications:

· Bachelor's degree in business administration, commerce, information technology, information systems, data & analytics, or related field; Professional certifications such as PgMP or PMP are advantageous.

· Experience working with stakeholders in real estate investment, property management, portfolio management, accounting, finance, or valuations functions.

· Experience partnering with executive-level leaders to identify and solve business issues.

· Experience with AI is helpful, but not mandatory. Strong program and project management skills are highly valued.

· Knowledge of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and familiarity with industry trends around AI is a strong asset.

· Proficient in applying program and project management methodologies such as Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid approaches.

· Excellent communication skills with business stakeholders and technical stakeholders. Ability to exercise strict confidentiality.

· Exceptional leadership and interpersonal skills in bringing together cross-functional teams together for a common goal.

· Excellent organizational skills including prioritizing, scheduling, time management, and meeting deadlines to meet quality, budget, timeline.

· Problem solver and flexibility to pivot in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

Top Skills Necessary

· Digital Transformation or AI project experience - 7+ years of progressive program and project experience, ideally in digital transformations that are not well defined, have changing priorities, and involve multiple stakeholders.

· Program Manager – 5+ years of experience managing and coordinating the AI program of use cases, workshops, proof of concepts, pilots, implementations, and related initiatives from intake & prioritization to delivery & long-term support

· “C” level relationship management – 5+ years of experience partnering with executive-level leaders to identify and solve business issues.

Affinity Earn:

Know someone who’s great for this, or any of our open roles? Earn up to $4,000/year for each successful referral through Affinity Earn. You can also earn up to $50,000 for helping us find new clients. Learn about our referral program at https://affinity-group.ca/earn/ or browse our jobs & follow us at https://www.linkedin.com/company/affinity-staffing/jobs/

About Affinity:

Affinity Group is a technology and business consulting and services company. We believe in creating long term relationships between clients and consultants that foster a mutually beneficial partnership. Affinity is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need.

For more information on Affinity, please visit www.affinity-group.ca

Job Number: 12504