Associate Director, Technology Strategy and Innovation

OMERS•Toronto, ON

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to the Vice President, Customer Success and Innovation, the Associate Director plays a critical leadership role in shaping how Data, AI, and emerging technologies drive measurable business value across the organization. This role acts as the primary bridge between Data & Technology and internal business leaders translating strategy into execution, accelerating innovation, and ensuring technology investments deliver tangible outcomes with a strong focus on Data and AI solutions. You will leverage your deep understanding of products and current technology landscape to provide advisory support to the internal customers for any building or buy products for Data & AI solutions. You will also champion the adoption of AI tools, helping the business understand how these technologies can drive alpha and operational efficiency. We are seeking an individual who excels at building trust-based relationships and influencing technology outcomes across diverse stakeholder groups. The Associate Director must demonstrate strong interpersonal and communication skills, the ability to align technology with business objectives, and a proven track record of delivering results through collaboration.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field; advanced degree (MBA, Technology ) preferred.
8 to10+ years of leadership experience in technology, with a focus on data and analytics and AI Implementation.
Worked in various domain like HR, Finance or Real Estate/Public/Private Investments
Advance working knowledge of SQL and Python
Demonstrated success in technology business partnering or similar strategic roles.
Strong understanding of data, analytics, AI platforms, and emerging technologies.
Proven track record of influencing senior stakeholders and driving business-aligned technology outcomes.
Exceptional leadership, communication, and relationship management skills.
Ability to navigate complex issues with sound judgment and resilience.
Exceptional strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
Strong leadership skills and ability to manage a team effectively through change

Responsibilities

Act as a trusted advisor to internal business units, understanding their strategy, priorities, and challenges.
Participate, build and drive solutions in Proof of concept stage to show value to the customers
Collaborate with technology and business teams to co-develop and execute customer-centric technology roadmaps for Data and AI solutions.
Advocate for the adoption of D&T programs and ensure the programs are in alignment with customer goals.
Establish a scalable engagement model that delivers value to our stakeholders and enhances the relationship between D&T and internal customers.
Stay current with AI updates, AI trends, and industry best practices to ensure innovative and effective solutions.
Lead and mentor a high-performing team of customer success and innovation professionals.
Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement across D&T.
Provide strategic direction, coaching, and professional development to team members.
Demonstrate thought leadership by consistently contributing innovative ideas and insights that drive the business unit strategic direction
Build and nurture strong relationships with the Data and Technology Leadership Team (DTLT) and technology stakeholders across the organization.
Support leadership in developing technology operating/interaction models and strategies.
Act as an intake point for new initiatives and escalations.
Build and orchestrate technology teams with members across the organization to deliver cohesive technology solutions.
Share learnings with D&T to drive continuous improvement and operational effectiveness.
Have strong understanding and working knowledge of Data Platforms and AI products/models
Serve as the subject matter expert on AI models within the business context; explain how models work, their limitations, and their potential application and use cases
Help identify AI Workflows: Collaborate with team members to identify opportunities for agentic workflows, AI-augmented decision-making
Identify and drive innovation initiatives that enable growth, efficiency, and improved decision-making in the organization.
Support the delivery of workshops and training sessions that help leaders shift from "decision-makers" to "learners," promoting a culture of experimentation and AI adoption.
Support the team in navigating the complex ecosystem of AI vendors and tools.
Perform research and competitive analysis to provide framework-driven recommendations on build-vs-buy scenarios
Assess the business impact of emerging technologies, especially in data and analytics.
Develop a strong understanding of technology capabilities in the organization and outside; advise customers and technology leaders on leveraging them for initiatives.